MartialArts/FifteenMonthsDescendingAir

Resplendent Air Style

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Background

Run in circles all you like. The child you want is with me, so to me your attack must come.

Training

Descending Air is a "diagram" style. The kata students practice look like walking in circles to the untrained observer. Truly, there are a series of invisible circles and ovals in every room, least flows of Essence created by geomancy and the available space to move in. By understanding and practicing moving in certain patterns, students learn to stand in exactly the right place without need of moving quickly. There is much strategy to this style, and at least half of the training focuses on using each charm correctly. Some teachers will drill students endlessly on the possible uses of a charm before teaching the next technique.

Weapons and Armor

There are no form weapons for this style. Any form of armor is allowed, though certain charms have restrictions.

Complementary Abilities

Athletics •• is required to learn this style, as is an Awareness rating equal to the Essence rating for each charm. Integrity •• is required for all post-form charms due to the precise self-control required. Dodge and Stealth are popular ways for students to train their control of their bodies, but are not required by the charms.

Charms

Harness the Breath

Cost: None
Minimums: Essence 3, MA 5
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None

Breathing exercises are the first lesson of Descending Air. Through this charm, the martial artist may hold his breath ten times as long as his Stamina + (Athletics or Resistance) would normally indicate. Also, controlled breathing harmonizes him with his environment; the Exalt respires an extra mote of Essence every hour, or an extra two motes for an hour of rest.

Eight Diagrams

Cost: None
Minimums: Essence 3, MA 5
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None

Rigorous training in the eight modes of engagement, or diagrams, allows taking advantage of the mis-steps of less rigorously trained foes. Defense is the primary benefit gained by students with basic training in the diagrams, as they know what possible angles of attack any opponent could take. The Guard action now not only has -0 DV, but prevents onslaught or coordinated attack penalties from accruing while it is maintained. However, if this Eight Diagrams Guard is used, then the Guard action may not be interrupted - it is treated like any other Speed 3 action.

Five Directions Palm

Cost: 5m
Minimums: Essence 3, MA 5
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Harness the Breath, Eight Diagrams

Five Directions Palm is the name of a technique allowing a counterattack upon the less enlightened. Any opponent who misses the Exalt while she is guarding is a valid target for this charm. The dice pool for this counterattack is Martial Arts + Specialties + the number of successes by which the original attack failed to hit the Exalt's DV. Despite the name of the charm, the Five Directions Palm may be any form of unarmed attack: punch, kick, or even clinch. The appropriate accuracy modifiers apply to the dice pool, and appropriate effects occur if successful, including damage and the possible initiation of a clinch.

Wearing armor, even the least restrictive, prevents some of the motions necessary to allow this charm. Therefore, it simply does not work when wearing armor.

Descending Air Form

Cost: 7m
Minimums: Essence 4, MA 5
Type: Simple
Keywords: Form-Type
Duration: Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Five Directions Palm

This form represents a greater understanding of the diagrams, extending them into three dimensions. The first benefit of this is a more flexible use of the principles; the Eight Diagrams Guard may be interrupted like a normal Guard action while using this Form. No penalties apply to this Exalt's DV or attacks due to the position of either himself or his opponent. High ground, attacks from behind, even unstable footing - all these things are trivial to a master of this style. However, actual restriction of mobility, such as deep mud, water, or ropes tied around the ankles will still be a hindrance. Finally, surprise cannot fully render a master of this form unable to defend himself. While this form is active, attacks from surprise only apply a DV penalty equal to the amount by which the martial artist failed the Awareness roll to detect the attack. However, the attack is still from surprise, so no defensive charms could be used unless they are specifically allowed in such situations (such as Reflex Sidestep Technique).

This perfect way of following the eight diagrams requires flexibility. Armor with a mobility penalty of greater than -0 does not allow for it.

Riding the Draft

Cost: 1m
Minimums: Essence 5, MA 5
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Descending Air Form

Finally achieving a practical understanding of the Essence flows this style focuses on, a unique "zoning" technique becomes available to the martial artist. This charm is used upon entering a clinch, whether voluntarily or not, making it impossible for the opponent to move away. Specifically, even after the clinch is escaped, the martial artist using this charm will still have a hand on the opponent's body, and this charm will grant her the ability to reflexively follow her opponent's every movement so long as that hand remains. This may not be maintained on more than one opponent at once unless the two do not move out of reach of each other. There are two ways for the opponent to force removal of the hand: a successful attack aimed at doing so (external penalty of 3 for the called shot), or a perfect dodge or parry. It need not be a hand which is used to maintain contact, either - any part of the body will do. Example: Feng is fighting Phoenix; Feng is a Descending Air master, while Phoenix is a Lunar shapeshifter. Phoenix grapples Feng, who uses this charm. After Feng escapes the grapple, Phoenix attempts to fly away using wings sprouting from his back. However, Feng is able to ride Phoenix's essence draft, reflexively following the bird-man into the air so long as he maintains contact. Feng is a smart-aleck, so he decides to maintain contact by standing on Phoenix's head.

Hide in the Lee

Cost: 3m
Minimums: Essence 5, MA 5
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Descending Air Form

Another "zoning" technique, this charm is used upon making a successful unarmed attack roll (clinches and attacks generated by Five Directions Palm qualify). From this point on, so long as the martial artist is able to stay within reach of his opponent, he may keep a hand on his opponent and thus sense the tensing of muscles which telegraphs attacks and defenses. Until the opponent moves out of reach, reduce her DVs by Essence against this martial artist, and increase the martial artist's DVs by the same amount. Aside from moving out of reach, the opponent may remove the offending hand from his body in the same ways allowed by Ride the Draft. The same allowance for contact with any body part is also made for this charm.

Direct the Flow

Cost: 4m
Minimums: Essence 5, MA 5
Type: Simple (Speed 3, DV +1/-0)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Hide in the Lee, Ride the Draft

This charm may only be used on an opponent if he is currently afflicted by both Hide in the Lee and Ride the Draft by the martial artist using this charm. Each use of this charm allows a clinch maneuver to be performed on an opponent who is not actually clinched with a regular Martial Arts attack roll. The DV bonus of this action only applies to the opponent who is the target of it, against all others simply the lack of penalty applies.