Deer Country Application

Character Base

• Character Name: Roronoa Zoro
• Age: 19
• Canon (Date/Year Released)/Canon Point: One Piece - End of the Post-War Arc | Episode 515 (September 18, 2011)
• Items Coming Along:
- Canon outfit
- Swords (Wado Ichimonji, Shusui, Sandai Kitetsu)
- Rayleigh's Vivre Card
• Content Warnings for Character: Death, Grief

Character Background

• History: Link
• Core Relationships:

Shimotsuki Kuina

Kuina was Zoro's best friend and biggest rival who shared his dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. However, after she tragically died in a senseless accident, Zoro was devastated and struggled to come to terms with her loss. Her death served as a harsh lesson in the fragility of human life, and that everyone's time on earth is limited. Young Zoro coped with his grief by throwing his body and soul into back-breaking training.

As he grew into an adult, he learned to face challenges with a deep sense of determination and purpose. Now, he is driven by his motivation to become stronger and pursue their shared dream in her memory. Zoro's pursuit of his and Kuina's dream also led him to adopt a strict code of honor, one which he continues to follow to this day. This code emphasizes the importance of discipline, hard work, and unwavering dedication to one's goals. The strength of Zoro's convictions make him a formidable fighter and a solid friend.

Overall, Kuina's friendship and death served as a formative experience for Zoro, shaping his worldview and defining his life's purpose. Even as an adult, Zoro still wields Kuina's sword Wado Ichimonji as a symbol of his respect and admiration for her. It also serves as the metaphorical torch he carries as he fights for the both of them.

Monkey D. Luffy

Zoro's loyalty to Luffy is one of his defining traits, and he respects Luffy's authority and follows his lead without hesitation. He is fiercely protective of Luffy and their crew, and will take on any foe or challenge that threatens them. Despite being someone who prefers to lead instead of follow, Zoro recognizes Luffy's potential as a leader and is the first to call him Pirate King, swearing fealty to him during an emotional exchange early on in the series.

Luffy's dream of becoming the Pirate King is an important source of inspiration and motivation for Zoro, who shares Luffy's drive and determination to become the best at what he does. Zoro fights for Luffy's sake as much as he fights for Kuina's memory. He recognizes that achieving Luffy's dream will require a great deal of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to support his captain and help make their shared dream a reality.

While they have their disagreements and silly squabbles at times, their bond is unbreakable precisely because it's built on shared dreams and a silent understanding that occasionally bewilders the people around them. Overall, Zoro's unwavering loyalty to Luffy and his willingness to put his own dreams aside for the sake of his captain's serves as a testament to the strength of their bond.

"Cat Burglar" Nami

Zoro and Nami's relationship is one of mutual respect and trust, built on their shared experiences as members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Zoro has a deep respect for Nami's intelligence and navigational skills, often relying on her to guide the crew through treacherous waters. In fact, Nami is probably the only person he'll ever admit being lost to (and even then, only if it's just the two of them). Likewise, Nami trusts Zoro to protect her and the rest of the crew with his formidable swordsmanship.

On the surface, they don't seem to have a particularly close or emotional relationship. In fact, their early days together often had Nami finding ways to charge Zoro exorbitant amounts of interest for loans he never needed in the first place. But Zoro can read Nami surprisingly well, even after only knowing her for a short amount of time. We see this when he suspects Nami faked Usopp's murder, and then to test that assumption, he puts himself in a hopeless life-or-death situation. He does this because he trusts their navigator's true intentions to show themselves.

When necessary, the two will offer Luffy their respective points of view regarding a tough choice. Nami's pathos serves as an excellent counterbalance to Zoro's logic and sense of honor. We see this several times throughout the canon, namely with how to handle the abrupt departure of various crew members.

Usopp

Zoro and Usopp have a relationship of mutual respect and camaraderie, despite their different personalities and approaches. Zoro recognizes and values Usopp's capacity to put the safety of those under his care first and his strength of convictions. Zoro invites Usopp to join the crew, acknowledging his willingness to risk his life for what's important to him, and helps him make up for what he lacks in brute force.

Zoro wants what's best for Usopp, even if he can't exactly empathize with his self-doubt. When Usopp berates himself for not being more helpful during a battle, Zoro suggests that he rest. Although it didn't exactly validate Usopp's feelings, his words still come from a place of warmth and caring. Similarly, Zoro insists that Usopp apologizes to Luffy before rejoining the crew because he recognizes the importance of owning up to mistakes and trusting each other.

Zoro's relationship with Usopp shows that he values people for reasons beyond physical strength or putting on a brave face. Heart and conviction are what measure a person's worth, and Zoro recognizes and values that in Usopp.

"Black-Leg" Sanji

These two argue. A lot. If Zoro and Sanji are facing each other, you can bet with 99% certainty that they're yelling, trading blows, or both. While Zoro is a serious and stoic man who values strength and loyalty, Sanji is a flamboyant and dramatic man who values Western ideas of chivalry and romance. They have vastly different personalities and approaches to life, and this has led to both a petty rivalry and a constant competition over who's the superior man.

When they stand shoulder-to-shoulder, however, they become a force to be reckoned with. If the safety of their captain and crew is involved, Zoro and Sanji can put aside their insults and bickering to get the job done. A couple examples of this are their team-up during the Davy Back Fight and their seamless carrying-out of Luffy's orders after Aokiji freezes Robin.

At the same time, they've developed a deep understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Zoro is aware of Sanji's martyr complex and refuses to allow him to sacrifice himself for Luffy as long as he's got any say about it. Sanji, meanwhile, knows Zoro is a prideful man who will take great pains to hide the full extent of his injuries from the crew. While they may not always see eye to eye, their bond is still strong, and they have each other's backs when it truly counts.

It's also worth noting that Zoro is a man who thrives on challenge. While many onlookers may think they hate each other, there's something to be said for having a friend you can have a knock-down, drag-out fight with, who will still show up for you at the end of the day.

Tony Tony Chopper

Zoro's relationship with Chopper is like that of an older brother looking out for his younger sibling. From the moment Chopper officially joins the crew, he gravitates toward Zoro as both a source of protection and inspiration. Zoro, meanwhile, will carry Chopper around, scrub his fur in the bathhouse, and defend him from threats without a word of complaint. He is also quick to offer encouragement and praise when Chopper accomplishes something. Although Zoro says he doesn't fight for revenge as a general rule, he will openly make an exception if you hurt his boy.

At the same time, Zoro doesn't coddle Chopper. The best example of this is when he reprimands Chopper for crying and blaming Luffy after he's traded away to a different pirate crew during the Davy Back Fight. While Nami scolds Zoro for disregarding Chopper's real feelings of hurt, Zoro's tough-love approach is exactly what Chopper needs to hear at that moment. It's easy to interpret the exchange as Zoro being intolerant toward other people's messy emotions, but it's worth noting that we don't see him criticize Chopper's tears outside of this one instance. Zoro's words may have been callous, but they likely came from a genuine place of caring for Chopper's state of mind while he was forced to stay with a different crew. Zoro also knows the world is a cruel place, especially where pirates are concerned, and he wants Chopper to be prepared for that fact.

Overall, Zoro seems to take the most responsibility for Chopper's well-being and safety. He encourages him when he does well, and drops harsh truths if he believes Chopper needs to hear them to get through an ordeal. Just as an older brother would do, Zoro is always there for Chopper, offering him guidance and support in any way he can.

Nico Robin

Zoro's relationship with Robin is characterized by a quiet understanding and mutual respect. Although Zoro didn't trust Robin at first, their serious and focused personalities meshed well from the start. This can be seen as early as Skypiea, where Zoro is shown being very amicable and protective toward Robin. He listens to her talk about archeology with genuine interest, and he is the one to catch her after she collapses from a brutal attack. In other words, Zoro respects Robin's intellect and knowledge of history, often turning to her for information on the places they visit and the people they encounter. He also accepts her presence within the crew surprisingly early on in their relationship, viewing her safety as his responsibility, despite her shady past and his own initial misgivings about letting her travel with them.

At the same time, Zoro is initially careful to maintain neutral feelings toward her for as long as he's unsure about her true intentions. He states this is because he can't afford to let his reaction time be dulled by any trace of doubt or hesitation, which means leaving room in his heart for the possibility that Robin may be either a friend or an enemy.

This changes during their stay in Water 7, after Robin willingly gives herself up to the World Government in order to keep their crew safe. From that point onward, Zoro is fully committed to protecting Robin as family, and he helps Luffy spearhead the charge to rescue her by crashing a train into a government fortress. Their bond as crewmates is strengthened by their shared experiences on their journey to the end of the Grand Line, and they have each other's backs in times of need.

Franky

Zoro's time with Franky has been comparatively short, but he values Franky's creativity and inventiveness and fully accepts all of his eccentricities and manly emotions. This is in spite of Franky's rocky introduction to the gang, and the fact Zoro helped trashed his house in retaliation. But that's in the past, and a lot's happened since then! When all is said and done, Zoro knows Franky is a good man who sticks to his convictions and cares about the people who are under his care. They've fought and bled together as members of the Straw Hat crew, and Zoro trusts him with his life.

Brook

Likewise, Zoro's spent even less time with Brook. But as fellow swordsmen, there is a surprisingly quiet understanding between these two. It was Zoro who retrieved Brook's shadow for him on Thriller Bark, and it was Zoro's sacrifice for Luffy that helped Brook realize how special the Straw Hats are not just as a crew, but as a family. Brook is one of the few people who knows the lengths Zoro will go to, to keep everyone safe. Zoro knows that Brook knows this, and he graciously accepts Brook's offer to protect him while they're fleeing Sabaody.

Character Personality Through Key Moments

(2+) Negative Traits:

Zoro is arrogant despite his youth and inexperience. In Zoro's hubris, he took on a Level 100 swordsman in the One Piece world's equivalent of a tutorial area. He promptly got sliced open like a fish. Later, he spent an arc openly challenging God to a knife fight. He eventually gets struck by lighting. Nami is appalled by his blasphemy, but Chopper thinks it's cool 😎

Zoro can act cold. When Usopp wants to rejoin the crew, Zoro says he won't accept him back until he apologizes to Luffy. In truth, Zoro cares deeply for his friends. At the same time, he places logic and honor over his emotions. This is his way of showing he cares about the crew's stability and survival. But to those who don't know him well, his harsh demeanor often gives the opposite impression.

Zoro is prideful and doesn't always communicate with his mouth-words. Normally this is fine, because he's surrounded by people who love and accept him. But he regularly hides his injuries, seldom asks for help, and can make major decisions on the crew's behalf without informing them. This can have consequences, such as Luffy assuming Zoro went on a murderous rampage in Whiskey Peak, and Luffy not knowing he's still severely injured when they're at Sabaody. Zoro also refuses to admit he can't tell basic directions, much to the chagrin of the people around him.

Zoro is violent. Swords are made for killing people, and Zoro believes you must accept and embrace this fact in order to become a master swordsman. Thankfully, he has a moral compass, and he doesn't kill indiscriminately or use unnecessary force. At the same time, he's unafraid to lean into his own bloodlust when it serves him. He's also been known to sport a devilish grin when he finds a reason to let loose in combat, and he's absolutely the type of person to lick blood off his own blade while trash-talking somebody.

Zoro still has a lot to learn. His defeat in Sabaody, and his inability to show up for Luffy during the War, shows that Zoro is still very much "a frog in the well" despite his progress as a swordsman. Zoro has become painfully aware of this fact throughout his journey.

(2+) Positive Traits:

Zoro is resilient in the face of failure. His crushing defeat at the hands of Mihawk leaves him broken and weeping, but he still promises Luffy he'll never lose again. To that end, he is always training, and seeking ways to improve himself as a warrior. After being unable to show up for Luffy during the War, he finds the humility to get on his knees and beg Mihawk to train him.

Zoro is loyal. He follows Luffy's commands without question. He challenges Luffy when he thinks he's not doing his job as captain. He's sacrificed his life and dreams for the sake of Luffy and the crew. Zoro is the senior-most member of the Straw Hats, and he's never abandoned or betrayed Luffy, even when it would have been advantageous to do so.

Zoro is level-headed. When Robin leaves the crew, Zoro's first instinct is to stand back and assess the situation from a distance. When Usopp quits, Zoro calmly enforces Luffy's orders to evacuate their broken ship when Luffy is too emotionally compromised to do it himself. When the crew is caught in a full-on assault by the World Government, Zoro tells everyone to hold the line on the battlefield until Luffy can rejoin them. For this reason, it's been said that Zoro takes on a Vice Captain-ish role whenever the crew is in crisis mode.

Zoro is lucky. When he gambles, he tends to win big. He once bet his actual arm in a game between himself and a cursed sword, and he walked away unscathed. When he crashed a train into a government fortress, he chose to let fate take the wheel instead of coming up with an actual plan...and it worked! Zoro loves testing his luck as much as he loves testing his strength and skill.

Zoro is compassionate. In contrast with his cold and aloof demeanor, Zoro actually has a warm heart. He's often among the first to challenge those who unjustly wield their power against the weak and the innocent. We see this in his introduction, where he's willingly being crucified for defending a little girl from a government official's rabid pet. He agrees to being starved for one month, so the townspeople will be spared from further retaliation from the government. He also eats the girl's gift of onigiri after a Navy officer stomps it into the dirt, because he still wants to acknowledge and accept her expression of gratitude.

Deer Country Attributes

• Canon Powers: Zoro is a skilled swordsman who uses the santouryuu three-sword style. He's capable of incredible feats, from cutting steel, to slicing train cars in half. He has an assortment of techniques in his arsenal for any occasion, including situations where his swords aren't drawn or he's otherwise unarmed.

When pushed or strained, Zoro's spirit projects illusory heads, arms and swords from his body. This is a manifestation of his willpower, and it gives him the appearance of an Asura demon. Even though he physically doesn't possess nine swords, his spirit damages his opponents in a way that they momentarily believe he does. He's also capable of hearing "The Breath of All Things", a spiritual ability where he's especially attuned to his surroundings. This helps him cut anything he wishes, and to not cut whatever he wishes to leave unharmed. It also allows him step out of the way of falling debris or flying bullets.

Additionally, Zoro has shown the ability to stagger and intimidate small groups of weak-willed people by staring at them real hard (yes, I know that sounds ridiculous sdldkfsf IT MAKES SENSE IN CONTEXT).

Lastly, he's tough as nails and very much a strong boy. He's got comically-absurd strength (dude lifted a building), and his body can withstand stupid amounts of punishment. Despite being a "normal" human with zero Devil Fruit powers, he's seen as a monster or a demon by many in the One Piece world.


• Blood Type: Paleblood
• Omen: Wolverine
• Blessed Day: November 11
• Patron Pthumerian: The Tower
• Blood Power Manifestation: Many of Zoro's spiritual-based powers will be linked to his Paleblood (particularly the ability to manifest illusions in his environment, as well as his way of striking intense fear into the hearts of weak-willed opponents). In Trench, his attunement to his surroundings will also be augmented, so that he develops a passive ability to "hear" people's emotions.

Writing Samples

One: PSL
Two: TDM
Three: TDM

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• Player Age: 35
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