Schrift

The name reads as the German word for Script and the Japanese for Holy Letter. Each Schrift takes the form of a single character that Yhwach carves into a chosen Quincy, unlocking a corresponding power whose epithet describes what it does. The whole Sternritter order is built around these gifts, and Yhwach can even foresee which letter a given Quincy would draw before choosing to empower them.

The power stems from Yhwach's inborn Soul Distribution ability, his singular gift for pushing pieces of his own soul into others rather than gathering Reishi the way an ordinary Quincy does. When a Quincy is raised into the Sternritter, they undergo the Engraving Ritual: they swallow a draught of Yhwach's blood, and he then inscribes the initial of a chosen power deep into their soul. Should that holder die, the granted ability flows back to its source. A Quincy can amplify their letter enormously by reaching Quincy: Vollstandig, which also opens techniques otherwise beyond their reach.

Each Sternritter answers to a single lettered Schrift, ranging from Uryu Ishida's A for Antithesis and Bazz-B's H for The Heat to Giselle Gewelle's Z for The Zombie. Lille Barro, who holds X, was the very first Quincy Yhwach ever marked. Two members are exceptions whose letters are merely honorary: Pernida Parnkgjas, lettered C, and Gerard Valkyrie, lettered M, were named for powers they already carried as fragments of the Soul King rather than gifts Yhwach carved. By Tite Kubo's word, even a Shinigami or Arrancar could be given one, should Yhwach so choose.