Latest revision as of 01:17, 6 April 2010

Infinite Viridian Radiance Style

By FourWillowsWeeping.

Background

This style was first developed by two Exalts now known as Green Tara and White Tara - a Wood-Aspect and a Dawn Caste who were both mighty warriors of their time, but somehow incomplete - Green Tara's style lacked offensive power, and White Tara's techniques, while powerful, drained even her considerable strength. After they met, they distilled their two disparate styles into one, which combined the strengths of each while covering their weaknesses. As a result, the style functions slightly differently in the hands of Terrestrials and Celestials.

For Terrestrials, this Style treats spears and arrows as unarmed attacks.

For Celestials, this Style treats the old-fashioned dorje (a double-ended trident) and the phurba (a dagger) as unarmed attacks.

Charms:

Malachite Fist Concentration

Cost: None

Duration: Permanent

Type: Special

Min. Martial Arts: 2

Min. Essence: 1

Prereqs: None

Once he has learned this Charm, the Exalt can always choose to perform a Martial Arts attack that deals Lethal damage, but it does not inflict wound penalties. (Calculate the victim's wound penalties as if this attack dealt no damage.) This wound-penalty suppression effect lasts until the end of the scene.

It is said that Green Tara slew many men, all of them smiling, without pain.

Cost: 2 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Supplemental

Min. Martial Arts: 1

Min. Essence: 2

Prereqs: None

With this Charm, the Exalt doubles the damage of a Martial Arts attack; the attack must do bashing damage for this Charm to function.

White Tara's hands were like a statue's: slender, flawless, and cold.

Cost: 3 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive

Min. Martial Arts: 2

Min. Essence: 2

Prereqs: Malachite Fist Concentration, Alabaster Strike

With this Charm, the Exalt may add her Martial Arts score to a dodge attempt. Being a reflexive dice-adder, this can explicitly create a dodge from no pool.

Cost: 5 motes

Duration: One scene

Type: Simple

Min. Martial Arts: 3

Min. Essence: 2

Prereqs: Swaying Lily Defense

The Exalt radiates bliss. Assuming the relaxed posture of a saint offering blessings, the force of the Exalt's patient gaze is such that opponents must force themselves to attack. Anyone attacking the character must make a Compassion roll and subtract its successes from those of the attack. Furthermore, the Exalt adds his permanent Essence in dice to all Martial Arts actions. Finally, the Exalt adds half his Essence to his Compassion while this Charm is in effect. No more than one Martial Arts Form-type Charm may be active at any given time. If the Exalt activates another Form-type Charm this charm ends. This Charm is incompatible with the use of armor.

Cost: 1 mote per 2 dice

Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive

Min. Martial Arts: 3

Min. Essence: 3

Prereqs: Radiant Viridian Form

With this Charm, the Exalt cures his allies of uncertainty and fear. The Exalt can cancel all the dice penalties hindering a single of the beneficiary's actions, at a cost of 1 mote per 2 dice.

When White Tara smiled, it was like hope itself was reborn.

Cost: 1 mote (1 Willpower)

Duration: Instant

Type: Simple

Min. Martial Arts: 4

Min. Essence: 3

Prereqs: Soul-Healing Gaze

With this Charm, the Exalt can help his allies find hidden reserves of strength. Both the target and the Exalt using the Charm roll Compassion; if they both succeed, the beneficiary gains motes of Essence equal to the total number of successes. The target must be no farther away than (user's Essence) yards. If the Exalt uses this Charm on himself, it costs 1 Willpower instead; he must succeed at 2 Compassion rolls, and gains motes equal to the larger number of successes rolled.

Earth-Bears-Witness Mudra

Cost: 2 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive

Min. Martial Arts: 4

Min. Essence: 2

Prereqs:Radiant Viridian Form

The Exalt calls the earth to witness his attacker's reprehensible actions. Overcome by remorse, the attacker falters. Use this Charm in response to any attack. The Exalt's player rolls Appearance + Compassion; his successes are deducted from the attacker's pool before it is rolled. This Charm only affects a victim who can see the Exalt and has at least one point of Compassion.

Cost: 3 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive

Min. Martial Arts: 4

Min Essence: 3

Prereqs: Earth-Bears-Witness Mudra

The Exalt arrests an opponent's attack with a dazzling koan. Use this Charm in response to a hand-to-hand attack. He rolls Perception + Compassion, reflexively opposed by the opponent's Lore + Compassion. If the Exalt wins, the attack does not occur. This Charm only affects a victim who can hear and understand the Exalt.

Cost: 2 motes

Duration: Instant

Type: Supplemental

Min. Martial Arts: 3

Min. Essence: 2

Prereqs: Radiant Viridian Form

The Exalt forces his opponents to feel the consequences of their actions; he may add dice to a Martial Arts attack equal to the number of Health Levels of damage he has taken, up to his Dexterity + Martial Arts.

White Tara's mounting fury was like that of a hunting cat: as she grew angrier, her skill increased to frightening heights.

Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: Instant

Type: Extra Actions

Min. Martial Arts: 4

Min. Essence: 3

Prereqs: Echoing Karma Fist

The Exalt looks into the wheel of rebirth and acts as all his incarnations at once. The Exalt may take additional Martial Arts actions this turn equal to his Compassion. These actions may be used to attack, parry, or dodge.

Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower

Duration: One scene

Type: Simple

Min. Martial Arts: 5

Min. Essence: 3

Prereqs: Spirit-Restoring Whisper, King of Wu's Question, Glimpse of Samsara Meditation

While this Charm is active, the character is an agent of the Wheel; double the damage of his attacks before soak against ghosts, and the undead. Additionally, nothing he slays will come back as a ghost; it is sent straight to Lethe and thereafter to reincarnation. Whenever the Exalt is attacked and does not completely fend off the attack via parry or dodge, he may counterattack it as per ordinary counterattack rules.

Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower, 1 lethal Health Level

Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive

Min. Martial Arts: 6

Min. Essence: 4

Prereqs: Infinite Radiance Meditation

This Charm allows the Exalt to exactly understand his opponent's motions, performing a Martial Arts counterattack with a diepool equal to that of the attacker. This counterattack occurs after the provoking attack roll, but it is resolved and takes effect before the provoking attack does. If this counterattack slays the attacker, his attack does not occur. This Charm explicitly allows the Exalt to break diepool caps, since it permits a base dice pool measured on an opponent's competence rather than the Exalt's. Consider the pool that this attack grants to be the Exalt's base Ability + Attribute pool; other Charms may add up to the Exalt's actual Ability+Attribute.

The cataphract laughed at the slender girl threatening him. In a summer-scented whirlwind of Essence, his sword lashed at - nothing. Tara was not there, and the cataphract's limbs were scattered in the four directions. He had time to see the cloud of rosy fire erupt around her before he breathed his last.

Infinite Viridian Radiance Tactics

For Adepts

It is essential that you avoid being hit; you do not have a resources to withstand or capitalize on injury yet. Take advantage of the Form's ability to reduce attacks, and parry as often as you can, reserving Swaying Lily Defense for when your parries fail. Be prepared to divide your action for defense.

If you do not want to slay your attacker, Alabaster Strike is an effective way to take him down; if you are going for the kill, it is more efficient to be armed than to use Malachite Fist Concentration.

For Masters

With Infinite Radiance Meditation, you can make it unattractive for opponents attack you at all, since you will either fend off the attack completely or counterstrike them. In dire circumstances, the combination of Earth-Bears-Witness Mudra and King of Wu's Question is your best defence; it can prevent attacks from even occurring. Coruscating Vengeance Strike is only efficient if you can slay your attacker with your counter, before his strike lands; you may wish to Combo it with Echoing Karma Fist if you feel you need the additional force. It is costly and dramatic, but if you are badly wounded, it may be to your best interest to use echoing Karma Fist with Glimpse of Samsara Meditation.

Comments

Removed old comments. Revamped the style based on new understandings. - willows