Gohan's Domain::The site for the most powerful Saiyan!

.hack//SIGN

Introduction

With the widespread use of the Internet and ever-improving connections and hardware, a massive online role playing game has been created named "The World". Millions of people access �The World� each and every day, taking part in great quests and interacting with other player characters. This is all well and good, but what if one of these player characters found that they could not log out of �The World�? Finding themselves trapped in the game, barely remembering what the real world is like or even who they are. A young magician named Tsukasa has become the victim of this very cruel set of circumstances, trapped in the game itself and finding that everything in it has become real to him; smell, touch and more worryingly pain are all felt as if this were the real world. Very soon Tsukasa becomes a wanted character, hunted for by The Scarlet Knights all because of his interaction with a cat-like character. Tsukasa comes across another player named Mimiru but runs away rather than staying to talk. Soon enough others become involved and grow worried for this young boy, baffled as to why he cannot log out. Together they must discover the dark secret behind Tsukasa�s problems and stop it before it spreads throughout �The World�.

Character Biographies

Tsukasa

.hack//Sign revolves around the story of Tsukasa and the strange goings on in �The World�. When he first appears inside �The �World�, Tsukasa doesn�t seem to remember why he is there or what he has been doing. After initially ignoring a girl named Mimiru, he asks if she has ever been unable to log out. Mimiru seems a little confused by this question, not realising at first that Tsukasa really cannot remove himself from the game. Despite meeting many other player characters that wish only to help him, Tsukasa remains distant and untrusting. Eventually Bear learns that the real Tsukasa is actually unconscious in hospital, meaning that somehow his conscious self has been trapped in the game. Over time Tsukasa comes out of his shell, mostly because of Subaru and her warmth and kindness towards him. An omnipotent being has some evil designs with Tsukasa at the centre of it all; clearly this being must be stopped before the repercussions affect the entire world.

Mimiru

Mimiru is a fun loving and outgoing girl who comes across Tsukasa inside a small dungeon within �The World�. Just as all the other players are, Mimiru is immediately drawn to this particular boy and his mysterious background. At first the two hate each other and Tsukasa is more than happy never to talk with Mimiru again, simply ignore her whenever they cross paths. However, over time the pair meets regularly, often just staring out at �The World� and everything within it. Mimiru also grows fond of Bear and takes great interest in his life outside of the game. She is always ready for an adventure, happy to take on �newbies� as comrades and venture through dungeon after dungeon all in the name of fun. The other side to this personality is a girl who cares deeply for Tsukasa, often feeling guilty over different things and accompanying him even when not asked.

Bear

Bear is much older than the other player characters, also meaning that he is much more level headed. Within the newly formed group of player characters, Bear almost takes on the role of the parent or guardian. He has been a part of �The World� since the very beginning and even played much simpler online games long before the current system was a technologically feasible. Simply because he is older certainly does not mean that Bear is any less capable than other player characters; often his great swordsmanship and eye for strategy are relied upon in rough situations. Using his sense and with some hard work, Bear discovers the whereabouts of the real Tsukasa and also learns a rather peculiar and unexpected fact about her...

At times BT�s loyalties are questionable, but at the same time she is a great asset to any fighting force. Just as intrigued by Tsukasa�s predicament as the others, BT carries out her own investigation with the aid of Sora but in the end chooses not to betray the others. Despite her conflicted affiliations, BT seems to be attracted to Kurim and the two share an odd relationship within �The World� but never outside it. Though she is powerful, BT has been killed many times by Sora, as he seems to take great pleasure in proving his skills. It is unclear whether BT seeks �The Key of the Twilight� in order to allow Tsukasa to log out, or use it to accomplish her own goals.

Subaru

Subaru-sama is the head of The Scarlet Knights; an organisation meant to uphold the law within �The World�. She is greatly respected by many player characters and with the knights protection she never has any need to level up or adventure on her own. Ginkan has been her loyal servant for quite some time, but more recently the issues concerning Tsukasa have driven them apart and put the knight�s future in doubt. Subaru quickly grows attached to Tsukasa and shows a great deal of affection towards him. The pair often just sit silently, enjoying each other�s company and reflecting on these strange times. Kurim, a former knight, has become Subaru�s guardian and is always on hand to stave off monsters and other player characters.

Ginkan

Ginkan is the highest ranked member of The Scarlet Knights and answers directly to Subaru-sama. Though in the real world he is just a young man, his manner and personality lead most players to think of him as a much older man. He cares deeply for Subaru-sama but the situation with Tsukasa has driven a wedge between their trust. Ginkan is the first to fall victim to Tsukasa�s newly acquired guardian and it is certainly not an experience he wishes to repeat. It is clear that Ginkan envies the close relationship that Subaru shares with Kurim, especially as the powerful warrior was once part of the Scarlet Knights legion.

Sora

Sora is considered an outlaw by The Scarlet Knights and tends to pick upon those weaker than him. Just like Kurim, Sora has reached the peak level that �The World� allows and he is certainly not worried about using this power against other player characters. He is far from reliable and not trusted by anyone. From what we can gather, anyone would guess that Sora intends to use �The Key of the Twilight� for his own evil plans, but perhaps there is a little more compassion to this player than we see. What we do know is that despite his boorish attitude and arrogant playing style, the real Sora is just a young boy.

Crimson / Scarlet Knights

The Crimson Knights are a group of moderators who work underneath Subaru. They investigate many odd happenings in the world, and make sure things are going smoothly throughout it. They also all have a personal responsibility towards Subaru, in the fact that the moderators must all protect their administrator. But it just so seems that it goes deeper than that.

Episode Listing

01: Role Play
02: Guardian
03: Folklore
04: Wanted
05: Captured
06: Encounter
07: Reason
08: Promise
09: Epitaph
10: Compensation
11: Party
12: Entanglement
13: Twilight Eye
14: Castle
15: Evidence
16: Depth
17: Conflict
18: Declaration
19: Recollection
20: Tempest
21: Despair
22: Phantom
23: The Eve
24: Net Slum
25: Catastrophe
26: Return

Scoring: 6.2