MartialArts/RebelliousDemon
Contents
Rebellious Demon Style (version 1.2)
- back to Bassist159.
- back to MartialArts.
- back to TerrestrialMartialArts.
"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history,
is man's original virtue.
It is through disobedience that progress has been made,
through disobedience and through rebellion."
-Oscar Wilde quotes
This was one of those styles that was created in-game, by none other than yours truly. It's definitely one built to play well with Stunts, as many of it's moves are fast-paced and acrobatic in nature.
It has been edited heavily.
Revision History
- Version 1.0
- Document completed.
- Version 1.1
- Massive number of typo's corrected.
- Ever-Watchful Gaze has been revised.
- Seven Breath Decision has been revised.
- Version 1.2
- Backstory behind style changed.
- Final Breath of the Foolish move added.
Background
Not all styles have their roots in the First Age. Rebellious Demon is a style barely more than a year old, developed by a young Half Caste in his attempts to survive against enemies of his father, an Anathema. However, this same style was used to defeat said youth's father. A friend of the Half Caste then dubbed it Rebellious Demon's style - and the name has stuck since then.
Rebellious Demon has been adopted by several Dragon-Blooded Outcaste since then (one of whom developed it's most commonly excepted form). It is a favorite of both spies and assassins who come across it, as it often emphasis fast actions.
Training
Training in the style is rather difficult, as it was a personal style that has been transcribed only recently. Those studying from the books could easily learn it in this method, and many who have fought the Half Caste or his students have learned at least it's basics after several conflicts.
Weapons and Armor
Rebellious Demons are traditionally unarmed. However, many of the techniques can be altered to do so. Perhaps, if the style changes hands more, it could develop more weapon-focused charms.
Charms
Ever-Watchful Gaze| Brave Demon's Dash |Body Before Mind
\ | /
Seven-Breath Decision
/ \\
Advance and Follow - Rage-Inducing Defense
\ /
Rebellious Demon Form
|
Final Breath of the Foolish
Ever-Watchful Gaze
Cost: Two Motes Duration: One Turn Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
The First thing that a warrior learns is that, unless they are constantly paying attention, there is always the chance of being struck with your guard down.
Any Awareness checks made by the character recieve a (martial-arts) die bonus.
Brave Demon's Dash
Cost: One Mote Duration: One Turn Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 1 Min Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
The first lesson many Rebellious Demons learn is that rebellion isn't always the best thing one can do for their health. With this charm, the Demon learns to run and fight another day.
By expending one mote, the Demon adds his martial arts to his movement rate. This can be activated in multiple turns.
Body Before Mind
Cost: One Mote Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min Essence: 1 Prereqs:None
Reaction before thought has cost many martial artists their lives. However, it is not entirely without merit. A cluttered mind can slow down a warrior, and in such an age as this, one cannot always afford to have a clear mind.
The character may launch into evasive maneuvers from any stance - laying down, sitting at a table, kneeling in meditation, or any other - without penalty.
Seven-Breath Decision
Cost: 2 Motes Duration: One Turn Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min Essence: 2 Prereqs:Ever-Wary Gaze, Brave Demon's Dash, Body Before Mind
It was once written that a true warrior should be able to make any decision within seven breaths, regardless of importance. A Rebellious Demon, acting on this logic, calm himself for a moment, and then unleashes a furious series of blows against his opponents.
After iniative is rolled, Seven Breath Decision may be activated. The character may do nothing for a turn, save soak damage. At the beginning of the next turn, the Exalted can re-roll iniative with his essence added to the dice pool.
Advance and Follow
Cost: Five Motes Duration: One Turn Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min Essence: 3 Prereqs: Seven-Breath Decision
While a majority of Rebellious Demons prefer to toy with their opponents, you cannot win a fight on sheer mockery alone. After awhile, a full strike become mandatory. This technique, coupled with it's sister, form the true fighting style of the Rebellious Demon.
After a successful attack, the character may roll their [essence + martial arts] as a second attack. This attack is subject to all normal attack defenses.
Rage Inducing Defense
Cost:5 Motes Duration:1 Turn Type:Simple Min. Martial Arts:4 Min Essence:3 Prereqs:Seven-Breath Decision
The Rage Inducing Defense is, at first glance, rather similar to Celestial Monkey style. The two both help with evasion of attacks - however, where Celestial monkey is a much more controlled, mocking thing, Rage-Inducing Defense is truly a mastery of doing the absolute minimum to avoid an attack. Coupled with Advance and Follow, this is a dangerous, deadly thing.
The character may add their essence rating to any dodge rolls.
Rebellious Demon Form
Cost:7 Motes Duration:1 Scene Type:Simple Min. Martial Arts:5 Min Essence:4 Prereqs:Advance and Follow, Rage-Inducing Defense
The furthest-most mastery of the Rebellious Demon technique is the Rebellious Demon Form. An advancement of the prior two techniques, the Form capitalizes on the ability to ever-duck out of reach of the attacker, all the while letting in smaller shots and forcing them to leave open vulnerabilities, before going in for the kill.
The character may add their essence rating to any dodge or athletics rolls. In addition, any 1's rolled on attacks made against them cause one level of unsoakable bashing per 1 rolled.
This is a Martial Arts Form charm. Only one Martial Arts Form charm can be active at any time.
Final Breath of the Foolish
Cost:10 Motes Duration:1 Turn Type:Reflexive Min. Martial Arts:5 Min Essence:5 Prereqs:Rebellious Demon Form
The final move of the style, a secret kept by an early student of the founder, is the Final Breath of the Foolish. It's a rarely used move, only able to capilize on a true oversight by the enemy - however, it is horribly punishing, and very few have ever stood up from it.
On any roll that is a botch, or a failure caused by numerous 1's, the character may activate Screaming Demon Strike. They may then re-roll the opponent's dice pool plus an additional die for every single 1 on the inital roll. This attack does unsoakable lethal. This may be used in the same turn as Rebellious Demon Form.
Comments, Questions, and Complaints
Very accomplished for a first martial art. Just a few thoughts: why place the form so deep into the tree? Below Sidereal level, martial arts tend to follow the very defined pattern of (a few Charms) (Form) (a few Charms) (Ultimate technique). I can see your rationale, in that Half-Caste can only learn up to the Form of an art, but this is built on the assumption that there's more to learn. Perhaps you might consider a reshuffle and have it designed by an Outcaste instead? There's no obligation to (it's an interesting idea as it stands), but it may help fit it into more people's games.
- Half Caste only being able to learn up to the form charm of a Terrestrial style is a common misconception, they can in fact learn the entirity of any Terrestrial style with a essense requirement of 3 or less at it's pinnacle. The up to the form charm restriction is on former Abbysals using one of their charms to reform after death as a ghost with access to their charms, and further only applies to Celestial styles. - Blackedout
As a minor poke, have you considered making Ever-Watchful Gaze give a bonus on the surprise check instead? It's nothing game-breaking, but a cross-Ability perfect effect seems a little excessive for an entry level Charm. SBD's flavour text is a little confusing; perhaps it could be re-worded as 'the martial artist may delay their action by their Essence in initiative ticks without suffering any penalty'? Regardless of the above, the tree is well-conceived, carefully written and quite scrupulously balanced - I'm just being pedantic because I expect the same of everyone who comments on my stuff. I look forward to more! ...DeathBySurfeit
- Thank you! I've taken a lot of your suggestions – if you'll look at the charm tree, both EWG and SBD have been reworked. The only thing I cannot change, however, is the creator. This style was built in-game, by a Solar Half-Caste. However, should I revise it any further, I believe I will make it an Outcaste Dragon-Blooded doing the work. - Bassist159
