Soap (AST)

**Soap** or **So Pu** is a council elder and future Matriarch Joketsuzoku.

## Biography

### History

Despite her relatively young appearance which would have people mistake her for her mid to late thirty’s So Pu is in fact the oldest living Amazon at over 800 years old. While the usual atmosphere of the council chamber consists of the elders rarely getting out a sentence without another trying to interrupt. When Soap speaks all the other elders in the room go silent. This unusual respect is the result of a combination of things, of which her power, which is unique in the village, is certainly a part.

### Plot

Cologne has held the position of matriarch far longer than any other matriarch in the village’s history. She’s intended to pass it several times, but each time her candidate for various reasons was ruled out. This has strained her support with the council. She’s only kept their support this long by giving over certain powers to them. Even then this is meaningless as she could still take them back at any time. Naturally, there are many on the council who have been looking for new blood.

The situation with Kasumi and Shampoo proved to be the last straw. Their relationship pushed some buttons with some normally neutral members of the council. The council members believed Kasumi was trying to seize power in the village by exploiting the marriage law, despite evidence to the contrary. Since Cologne ended up taking a rather passive response to Kasumi, instead of continuing with her original aggressive one, she had lost support.

They came to Japan to inform Cologne of this new development. She herself wasn’t that surprised, though she was shocked that that So Pu was the one chosen to be her successor. Yes she thinks primarily of the village, not her own petty desires, and has a great deal of experience. It’s just, till now, she showed no real interest in leadership. She was a neutral member, and when she turned, the council turned with her. Cologne asked them not to tell the others so they just said they had come there to observe Kasumi.

Cologne introduced her fellow elders, Cao Yun, Be Dea, Guan Li and So Pu to Kasumi. So Pu found it amusing that Kasumi didn’t remember that she was the one who married her and Shampoo, but in particular wanted speak to Shampoo about her new abilities, this was quickly interrupted as Herb returned with an incapacitated Lemon who had drained all her energy attempting to escape him and was now unconscious in her fox form. Lemon ended up being healed by Jamine and placed under her protection.

She got her chance to talk to Shampoo later after she had gone to sleep using spirit projection. Initially shocked at her presence ithout realizing it, Shampoo began to spirit walk in response to this meeting and the two would go about the town as So Pu explained the basics of spiritual power to Shampoo. She would also reveal that Shampoo's spirit would eventually depart this world and nothing could stop this. As Shampoo assumed this was something to happen soon, So Pu soon corrected her, telling her that she had a long time ahead of her.

The elders gathered again when informed by Shampoo and Ukyo that Kasumi, Ranma and Cologne were captured by the Fox Clan. They were grilling the two about everything that happened when Herb showed up and learned of the events, and shortly after it was confirmed Cologne had escaped as he rejoined them, now in her youthful form, So Pu and Shampoo confirming her identity. Cologne explained she had been forced to get serious, but had overcome them, and further explained as shapeshifters, physical attacks were of little use against them. Herb would also note that the fox clan, likely all kitsunes, were rumored to be the Black Ops of the Musk. Jasmine then joined them, asking them to not further escalate the situation and ensured them she would bring any remaining Amazons outside safely within the barrier currently erected at the restaurant. Cologne also ensured them the kitsune did not seem to mean serious harm.

Sometime later, the restaurant would be surrounded by a large group of kitsunes which both Shampoo and So Pu sense, Shampoo noting many were powerful, very old spirits. Devlin, who had been left in charge as Jasmine departed suddenly, went out and met Peach, the leader of the group of Kitsunes, and Peach asked to see Lemon. Devlin would allow it. Peach apologized for the earlier incident and freed Ranma and Kasumi. Ukyo unexpectedly outdid Shampoo in enthusiasm for their return, rushing to Ranma's side, sending Shampoo into a spin, but Kasumi did quickly join her. Peach then asked to see Lemon who Devlin escorted her to. With the kitsune gone, Kasumi warned them that this was no longer about Lemon, and that Eyebright, Lemon's father, had forced them to reveal Herb's curse and that he was now the target. Cologne explained to the others that being trapped in female form, Musk law did allow Herb to be forced into a marriage which would give the husband Herb's position as heir to the throne.

Peach returned and unexpectedly confirmed for everyone that it was indeed Lemon who had tricked Frost. Peach further apologized, disavowed any participation in Lemon's actions, and gave the life of Lemon to Kasumi as way of compensation. This confused Kasumi, thinking she meant for Kasumi to kill Lemon, but she clarified that Lemon's fate was for Kasumi to decide now, and Cologne further clarified that effectively Lemon was now Kasumi's slave. Peach confirmed this resolved the conflict between them and the Amazons and Cologne was forced to confirm it was. Then as earlier warned the topic turned to Herb and Peach requested they had over the princess. Naturally this was refused by Herb herself who finally appeared. Peach put on a false sense of disappointment and said they would be taking Herb, and departed to rejoin the other kitsunes.

Devlin quickly started making directions, confirming Jasmine was engaged with Eyebright at that moment, and the barrier would not hold indefinitely so they had only about an hour. As he went off to seek reinforcements for the coming battle, the others discussed what to do. The Amazon elders had little choice but to remain out of it. Herb also confirmed his father, while he could intervene, likely wouldn't, and would instead find it amusing. Kasumi vowed to help Herb, and Ranma, Shampoo and Ukyo all did likewise. Ranma would also suggest Ranko was an ace in the hole, to which Shampoo agreed as kitsunes are magical. Before she left So Pu informed Kasumi that while she was in fact a woman, by Amazon law her legal gender was still undecided so if it came down to it she could exercise the male marriage right, in order to save Herb’s life.

Eyebright planned distracting Jasmine giving his wife Peach the opportunity to kidnap Herb. However this failed due to the intervention of Ranko. He explained that he could not let Herb return to the Musk alive given all that had happened, and sooner or later they would kill him before he could return. So there was only two ways this would be allowed to end, Herb surrendering or dying. Kasumi realizing the situation was otherwise intractable declared Herb as his wife by Amazon law.

So Pu explained to the confused Eyebright the nature of the law. With Herb a provisional Amazon until declared otherwise, the kitsunes could not attack him without provoking an Amazon response. Eyebright was angry with this, but So Pu quickly diverted his anger by making a proposal that caught Kasumi of guard. So Pu correctly analyzed that Eyebright was intending a coup against Herb's father, and offered Amazon assistance in such, declaring herself to be the soon to be Matriarch of the Amazons. This was even more a shock to the others, but Cologne confirmed it. Eyebright stood down and agreed to talk, calling off further hostilities for the day. They ended up reaching a provisional agreement. The Amazons would aid in the coup, and in exchange Kasumi would take the official title of Dragon Lord, although the true power would remain with Eyebright.

While Kasumi and Shampoo were visiting Ranko in the hospital So Pu showed up in her spirit form. Shampoo immediately demanded to know why So Pu did it. So Pu noted that Shampoo seemed to have little interest in the Matriarchy, but when this was insufficient for Shampoo, So Pu suddenly swung a spirit blade at her, prompting Shampoo to retreat. Kasumi watched the seeming attack in puzzlement, her own hostility sense untrigger so thus unsure what to make of it. So Pu did not press on, simply introducing the weapon then asking what Shampoo's initial thoughts were, but answered for her, saying Shampoo's thoughts were likely of a passive form, rather than aggressive, and saying that is why. She also said this was likely due to Kasumi's influence, not only on her but Cologne as well.

Shampoo tried to deny it by pointing out she could not defeat So Pu, but So Pu countered it was about initial thought, not ultimate reasoning, reinforcing that Shampoo now likely filtered all her actions through how she believed Kasumi would react and it was having a fundamental affect on her thinking. So Pu would add, though, that she wasn't against this in general, but that it was a trait that was inappropriate for their leader. Kasumi added that her being the leader of the Musk would expose them to the same thing, and So Pu said this was a side benefit. She would then leave Kasumi with one last consideration, that as leader of the Musk, even only as a figurehead, she would be far better placed to make a big difference in the world, then departed.

After Frost’s graduation ceremony Soap followed to the kitsune’s base where he surrendered himself. However he refused as the agreement he set up with the Amazons was far too valuable an asset to give up. He also pointed out that Kasumi would have never accepted him doing this in the first place. She made her presence known when he asked her if this was an ideal opportunity for him to move ahead in his relationship. She wasn’t so sure though. With that the Kitsune went back to celebrating as Herb and So Pu left.

Herb called the elder out for not stopping him knowing it was futile. Soap told Herb that this wasn’t about forcing him to do her bidding. She was simply taking advantage of the situation. She didn’t know Eyebright was going to refuse his offer and if he hadn’t she agreed that Kasumi wouldn’t have accepted it. Herb went back to the restaurant thinking that the fact that both Soap and Eyebright wanting this was something he could leverage.

Siren was curious as to why a 12th circle was sent here so she and So Pu waited for Jasmine to finish ranking Frost as an Archmage. The mage council wanted to confirm the reason for Frost’s rapid growth; however the real reason she was there was that she wanted to see her grandson Herb. Shocked Siren called Soap out for not telling them that Jasmine was the former wife of Dragon Lord Mandrake. While So Pu knew Jasmine had ties to the Musk, she wasn’t aware that they ran that deep. Jasmine assured her that could are less what happened to the Musk as she only had ties to her husband. Siren however remained skeptical. On Soap’s suggestion Jasmine agreed to consent to adding herself to the bargain between the Amazons and the Musk, and this be marked to ensure her cooperation. Though she wasn’t willing to get directly involved, as no matter what he had done Garnet was still her son.

During the meeting with the Amazons to make things official Herb would unexpectedly make several demands to get his agreement. First he demanded that Shampoo and the others in the marriage have full honors restored. Second that Kasumi could marry a male of her choosing and was not limited to him. Third that neither So Pu nor Eyebright would use Kasumi to support their actions while she ruled. And finally that should any fallout come their way due to the coup, both parties would make every effort to protect Kasumi and those around her. Eyebright and So Pu agreed to the conditions and Jasmine guided them into a magical pact to seal the agreement.

## Appearance

There is nothing really notable about Soap’s appearance. She has simple black hair in an equally simple ponytail, and even her face is plain.

## Personality

Amongst the elders Soap is rather neutral. Cologne had her little group of supporters, and opposed to her were her detractors, and Soap fell into the third group, those not aligned to either faction in the council. In fact she’d much prefer to step down and let the younger generation run things. She was content to live my life, unfortunately resent developments forced her hand and she couldn't sit back anymore. She is a big of a traditionalist however with the fact that she doesn’t like to use the Japanese pronunciation of her name.