Shinigami rule the afterlife, or Spirit World known as Soul Society. The Shinigami live in a certain area within Soul Society known as Seireitei (the Court Of Pure Souls). An area in which no normal soul can even enter. They maintain all order in Soul Society and make sure no one objects their balance. Seireitei is protected by a large wall all the way around and plus that, there is a Spiritual field surrounding the Court Of Pure Souls both over the top and underground. If anyone was to touch the field, they would be turned into dust.
The Shinigami are mostly made up of people who once lived in the Living World as normal Humans, but were unforunate to die and sent to Soul Society by a Shinigami. Those who were not Human first were born in Soul Society. From there if they have talent that could become a Shinigami they can go under training in Seireitei until they graduate and become a Shinigami themselves. The years in Soul Society go much slower than that of the Living World so they can live longer. Most Soul Reaper's are over 100 years old but only look to be in their 20's to 40's.
They are organized into 13 squads. Depending on the combat strength of the Shinigami in question, will determine which group he will be in and what exact position. Each Division has a Captain. The Captain is the strongest out of all their Division and joins in meetings and taking care of paperwork and orders.
Second in line in each Division is a Vice Captain. The Vice Captain is the second strongest under their captain in their Division. Vice Captains are normally the ones which have direct contact and orders from their Captain and spend most of their time beside them.
At the top, Captain of Division 1 is the leader of all the other Captains. He holds the meetings for all the Captains to attend and gives out orders for them to follow. If he doesn't have his own orders, he is given them by Center 46.
Within the Thirteen Divisions is Division 4. Number 4 is different from all the other Divisions. Each member within number 4 is a medical Shinigami. They lack strength and are often pushed around by the other Divisions, and have to follow orders in curing the wounded. They are only really called out at the end of battles, so they can help the wounded without distractions. Division 11 would be classed the strongest out of all the other 12. Each member placed in Division 11 means they have the taste for battle and are reckless. They live for fighting and don't accept defeat.
Within Soul Society, deep within Seireitei is Center 46. Center 46 is a group made up of 40 wisemen and 6 judges gathered and placed together. They are the Goverment supreme of Soul Society. It is the area in which all Shinigami are judged and even the Living World is judged. If the Shinigami cannot come to an agreement and organize themselves, Center 46 is forced to take action. Once Center 46's judgement has been decided and declared, no Shinigami can object to it or they are as a good as dead. Center 46 spares no light sentence and their word is law, no matter how harsh or wrong it may be. The only people who can enter Center 46 are the 40 wisemen and 6 judges themselves and Shinigami Captains with proof of identity.
The Shinigami have two objectives:
I. They Konso (Soul Burial) wandering souls in the Living World and send them to their respective place. Either Soul Soceity if they led a good life. Or to hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft et cetera.)
II. Slay Hollows and clean their sins. Once a Soul Reaper defeats a Hollow, it's heart will return to it's former state before it became a Hollow and be sent to it's respective afterlife. Any crimes a soul commits after he becomes a Hollow do not count when it's sins are washed.
To carry out these tasks, Shinigami travel around with a Zanpaktou (Soul/Spirit Cutter). They look like plain swords to the eye but their abilities are far superior to that of a regular blade and each Shinigami has a unique Zanpaktou no one else can have. Using their Zanpaktou they can wash away Hollow's sins when they are slain and on the end of every Soul Reaper's Zanpaktou hilt, is a little seal mark. This is what they use to Soul Burial wandering Souls in the Living World, by pressing the mark onto the forehead of the Soul.
The Hell Butterfly. Hell Butterflies look distinctivly like Black Swallowtailed Butterflies. These Hell Butterflies appear when a soul has been Konsoed and when a Hollow has been slayed. The Hell Butterfly acts as a transport and takes the soul to Soul Society. If the soul or Hollow led a life of evil, a Hell Butterfly does not appear and that soul is sent straight to hell.
Hell Butterflies also act as some kind of message between Shinigami. When Shinigami see a Hell Butterfly in Soul Society it gives a signal of disturbance which Soul Reapers are able to understand.
Shinigami cannot be seen in the Living World. They are organized so that Shinigami are sent to different locations in the Living World. From there they freely wander around sending wandering souls and chasing after Hollows before they do any damage. Depending on their skill level really depends on where they go. They take turns like shifts so that there is nearly always a Shinigami in the Living World. The only time Captains come down to the Living World is if the enemy at hand is too tough for regular Shinigami to handle. Captains always travel with their Vice Captain to the Living World. The only people in the Living World which can see Shinigami are those known as Hi-Specs. These people merely just have a unique ability to see souls and spirits.
When a soul has been sent up to Soul Society they recieve a ticket and a number from a Shinigami who then directs them to where they will live and who they will live with.
There are four fighting styles Shinigami can use:
I. Zanjutsu (Sword art)
The art of how well they can use their Sword/Weapon to it's full potential.
II. Hakuda (Hand-to-hand)
The art of physical power and hand to hand fighting skills.
III. Houhou (Movement)
The art of how fast they can move, dodge and counter act.
IV. Kidô (Demon Magic)
The art of how well they can use spells and magic.
A Shinigami can master all 4 techniques of fighting styles but each has a limit which cannot be broken. If a Shinigami manages to reach the master level of each style, basically then that is their maximum limit they cannot break. The only way for a Shinigami to break their limit is to become a Hollow. To graduate and become a Shinigami, they must at least have talent in 2 areas, even if it isn't very much. Some Shinigami exceed in one area above, while others exceed in other areas. It's just based on what they are best at.
The Shinigami are mostly made up of people who once lived in the Living World as normal Humans, but were unforunate to die and sent to Soul Society by a Shinigami. Those who were not Human first were born in Soul Society. From there if they have talent that could become a Shinigami they can go under training in Seireitei until they graduate and become a Shinigami themselves. The years in Soul Society go much slower than that of the Living World so they can live longer. Most Soul Reaper's are over 100 years old but only look to be in their 20's to 40's.
They are organized into 13 squads. Depending on the combat strength of the Shinigami in question, will determine which group he will be in and what exact position. Each Division has a Captain. The Captain is the strongest out of all their Division and joins in meetings and taking care of paperwork and orders.
Second in line in each Division is a Vice Captain. The Vice Captain is the second strongest under their captain in their Division. Vice Captains are normally the ones which have direct contact and orders from their Captain and spend most of their time beside them.
At the top, Captain of Division 1 is the leader of all the other Captains. He holds the meetings for all the Captains to attend and gives out orders for them to follow. If he doesn't have his own orders, he is given them by Center 46.
Within the Thirteen Divisions is Division 4. Number 4 is different from all the other Divisions. Each member within number 4 is a medical Shinigami. They lack strength and are often pushed around by the other Divisions, and have to follow orders in curing the wounded. They are only really called out at the end of battles, so they can help the wounded without distractions. Division 11 would be classed the strongest out of all the other 12. Each member placed in Division 11 means they have the taste for battle and are reckless. They live for fighting and don't accept defeat.
Within Soul Society, deep within Seireitei is Center 46. Center 46 is a group made up of 40 wisemen and 6 judges gathered and placed together. They are the Goverment supreme of Soul Society. It is the area in which all Shinigami are judged and even the Living World is judged. If the Shinigami cannot come to an agreement and organize themselves, Center 46 is forced to take action. Once Center 46's judgement has been decided and declared, no Shinigami can object to it or they are as a good as dead. Center 46 spares no light sentence and their word is law, no matter how harsh or wrong it may be. The only people who can enter Center 46 are the 40 wisemen and 6 judges themselves and Shinigami Captains with proof of identity.
The Shinigami have two objectives:
I. They Konso (Soul Burial) wandering souls in the Living World and send them to their respective place. Either Soul Soceity if they led a good life. Or to hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft et cetera.)
II. Slay Hollows and clean their sins. Once a Soul Reaper defeats a Hollow, it's heart will return to it's former state before it became a Hollow and be sent to it's respective afterlife. Any crimes a soul commits after he becomes a Hollow do not count when it's sins are washed.
To carry out these tasks, Shinigami travel around with a Zanpaktou (Soul/Spirit Cutter). They look like plain swords to the eye but their abilities are far superior to that of a regular blade and each Shinigami has a unique Zanpaktou no one else can have. Using their Zanpaktou they can wash away Hollow's sins when they are slain and on the end of every Soul Reaper's Zanpaktou hilt, is a little seal mark. This is what they use to Soul Burial wandering Souls in the Living World, by pressing the mark onto the forehead of the Soul.
The Hell Butterfly. Hell Butterflies look distinctivly like Black Swallowtailed Butterflies. These Hell Butterflies appear when a soul has been Konsoed and when a Hollow has been slayed. The Hell Butterfly acts as a transport and takes the soul to Soul Society. If the soul or Hollow led a life of evil, a Hell Butterfly does not appear and that soul is sent straight to hell.
Hell Butterflies also act as some kind of message between Shinigami. When Shinigami see a Hell Butterfly in Soul Society it gives a signal of disturbance which Soul Reapers are able to understand.
Shinigami cannot be seen in the Living World. They are organized so that Shinigami are sent to different locations in the Living World. From there they freely wander around sending wandering souls and chasing after Hollows before they do any damage. Depending on their skill level really depends on where they go. They take turns like shifts so that there is nearly always a Shinigami in the Living World. The only time Captains come down to the Living World is if the enemy at hand is too tough for regular Shinigami to handle. Captains always travel with their Vice Captain to the Living World. The only people in the Living World which can see Shinigami are those known as Hi-Specs. These people merely just have a unique ability to see souls and spirits.
When a soul has been sent up to Soul Society they recieve a ticket and a number from a Shinigami who then directs them to where they will live and who they will live with.
There are four fighting styles Shinigami can use:
I. Zanjutsu (Sword art)
The art of how well they can use their Sword/Weapon to it's full potential.
II. Hakuda (Hand-to-hand)
The art of physical power and hand to hand fighting skills.
III. Houhou (Movement)
The art of how fast they can move, dodge and counter act.
IV. Kidô (Demon Magic)
The art of how well they can use spells and magic.
A Shinigami can master all 4 techniques of fighting styles but each has a limit which cannot be broken. If a Shinigami manages to reach the master level of each style, basically then that is their maximum limit they cannot break. The only way for a Shinigami to break their limit is to become a Hollow. To graduate and become a Shinigami, they must at least have talent in 2 areas, even if it isn't very much. Some Shinigami exceed in one area above, while others exceed in other areas. It's just based on what they are best at.
