MartialArts/AgileMonkeyFrenziedPantherStyle
Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Style
By Toclmi
Background
Going back to before the Usurpation, a pair of Luna’s Chosen worked their way through developing a potent Martial Arts style. One Lunar possessed a panther totem while the other a lithe monkey. The mundane style was quite impressive, when enhanced with essence the benefits became much more valuable.
Exalted characters using this style may use Claw-type weapons or Gauntlet type fighting aids. (Gauntlets of Distant Claws is compatible for melee attacks, the ranged attacks do not receive any benefits the following charms provide) As you will notice the charms do not provide lethal attacks or blocking on their own, the creators having no such need.
Charms
Dancing Monkey</b>
<b>Cost: 3 motes per target Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Dexterity: 2 Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
The Exalted’s body moves with supple grace and lightning quick reflexes. With complete control of his body the character becomes a much harder target to hit, add a difficulty modifier to hit the character equal to his Essence score, this modifier applies to all subsequent attacks for the turn if the antagonist splits their dice pool or uses an extra action charm. If the attacker successfully attacks (even if they fail to do damage) the Exalted using this charm when making multiple attacks, then the modifier no longer applies to remainder of their attacks.
Guided Rake Attack</b>
<b>Cost:3 motes Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Perception: 2 Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
The character activates this charm and becomes more aware of holes in her opponents defenses. By attacking weak or light armored areas, the Exalted bypasses some of the soak her target has. Mechanically, on any Martial Arts attack enhanced by this charm half the total armor value of her opponents soak. This has no effect against soak from stamina or soak otherwise considered natural. This charm must be activated before the attack roll is made.
Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Form</b>
<b>Cost:7 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Strength: 3 Min. Dexterity: 3 Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Dancing Monkey, Guided Rake Attack
The Exalted doesn’t enter this form by performing any special techniques or series of moves representing a kata. The distinction is rather more subtle, like a cat becoming the hunter, or perhaps a monkey becoming very aware of his surroundings. The effects from this may very depending on the Exalt. The pupils enlarge, movements become more efficient, while focus and awareness take control. The Exalted is ready to spring away from or towards his target in an instant, always keeping perfect balance. Never really staying in one spot, the character almost paces back in forth when using this Form-charm.
Double the Exatled’s Dexterity for all dodge attempts while in this form, if for some reason the character can not make a dodge action she may dodge reflexively using her dexterity, the exalted can not make more reflexive dodges in any single turn than the number of points she possesses in Martial Arts. Add the Exalted’s essence score for purposes of determining damage. All athletics rolls involving running, jumping, climbing, tumbling, balance, or otherwise similar instances, reduce the difficulty by 2 while the character is in this form. This ability can not reduce the difficulty to or below 0, but the story teller may decide to make some rolls trivial enough to not require a roll at all.
This charm is not compatible with armor that imposes a negative mobility modifier on the character. If the character is wearing armor that does have a mobility modifier but does not suffer from its effects (Properly attuned Moonsilver armor, or maybe a charm to reduce this penalty) then this form charm may take effect. Characters can not use more than one Martial Arts Form-type at a time.
Primate Positioning Technique</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Dexterity: 3 Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Form
The character tenses slightly preparing for an unexpected attack as his enemy fumbles around trying to inflict harm. Immediately after any unsuccessful attack made against the character, he may activate this charm. The Exalted lunges at his target and makes a Martial Arts counter attack adding his essence in dice to the attack roll.
Furry Flurry of Fury</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes, 1 WP Duration: Instant Type: Extra Action Min. Dexterity: 4 Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Form
The character rains down a flurry of devastating attacks against his opponent or opponents, intending to rend them unconscious or finish them off, leaving a single victor. The Exalted receives additional actions equal to his essence score, these extra actions must be attacks yet the original action of the character may be used as a normal dice action. Extra Action charms may not be used in a turn where the character split his dice pool.
Essence-Body Defense</b>
<b>Cost:3 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Stamina: 3 Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Form
Unfortunately, even the fastest and most alert still take hits sometimes. The character focuses her essence to help negate the effects of a single attack against her. Add her Stamina score to both Lethal and Bashing soaks against any one attack. In the case of a more threatening attack, the character may use her force of will to help absorb the damage even further. If an incoming attack is going to deal Aggravated damage then the Exalted my also spend 1 Willpower when activating this charm to add her Stamina in soak against the attack.
Bone-shattering Panther Prana</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Strength: 4 Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther Form
The Exalted focuses essence into her attack, allowing for tremendous physical power behind her blow. Muscles bulge with essence as she tears into her opponent. Double the character’s strength for purposes of determining damage on any Martial Arts attack made using this charm.
Agile Monkey</b>
<b>Cost:8 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Reflexive Min. Wits: 4 Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Primate Positioning Tech, Furry Flurry of Fury
By allowing the mind and body to flow in harmony through the enhancements of essence the character may activate this charm to achieve a higher state of reflexive prowess through both outlets. While this charm is active, the character doubles his Wits when determining initiative as well as adding a number of dice equal to his Wits score to all Martial Arts Attacks.
Frenzied Panther</b>
<b>Cost:8 motes, 1 WP, 1 HL/damage Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Strength: 5 Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Essence-Body Defense, Bone-Shattering Panther Prana
This charm is usually activated when in dire situations or by those of who that can more than handle the side effects. The character sacrifices endurance and stamina in favor of dealing out more lethal blows. By channeling essence into specific areas to enhance her body, the exalted takes from other areas. The Exalted adds 1 point of raw damage for every health level she sacrifices; when activating this charm the character must spend at least one health level, treat this wound as bashing damage. In addition, all wound penalties are halved, rounded down. After this exhausting and taxing charm ends; wound penalties apply as normal and the character receives an additional +1 difficulty to all roles involving Endurance and Resistance until the wounds are healed that were sacrificed when activating this charm.
Luna’s Last Caress</b>
<b>Cost:10 motes, 1 WP Duration: Instant Type: Simple Min. Strength: 5 Min. Dexterity: 5 Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 4 Prereqs: Agile Monkey, Frenzied Panther
Through force of will, application of essence, and sheer physical capabilities, the Exalted may launch a devastating attack. The character’s body seems to shimmer, becoming slightly transparent in a nimbus of glowing essence. Faster than the eye can see he makes a Martial Arts attack against his opponent as almost every muscle in his body contracts. The character usually targets areas of vital importance, either slashing a major artery, ripping out a heart, tearing off a head, etc. Without of the use of a perfect defense, this attack is unavoidable. Armor and natural soak still apply but shields, parries/blocks, and dodges are all ignored. The character adds his Essence in automatic successes to the damage total after it is rolled.
