MartialArts/FivefoldDragonMasterStyle
Contents
Fivefold Dragon Master Style
Elemental Dragons
By Sumocat
Background
The Myth: There are stories, little more than whispered rumors, that speak of the existence of Immaculate monks who have transcended even the spiritual elevation of their peers and have achieved the spiritual perfection attained by the Immaculate Dragons. The stories claim they rise to join the Wyld Hunt when the darkness of the Anathema proves too black for others to dispel. They fight with skill unseen even by other practitioners of the Immaculate arts. They channel elemental Essence in ways no lesser Dragon-Blooded can conceive. They are the Fivefold Dragon Masters.
Though no one can honestly claim they have met or even seen one, legends persist about these mysterious beings. Some say they are devoted Dragon-Blooded who have reached the utmost peak of their existence, a single incarnation away from joining the ranks of the Immaculate Dragons. Others insist they are physical manifestations of the Immaculate Dragons themselves, summoned forth by the courage of their disciples and devotees.
In recent days, the rumors of the Fivefold Dragon Masters have grown more frequent. Perhaps in response to the renewed threat of the Anathema, the masters seem to have doubled their efforts to meet the danger, even as the Wyld Hunt declines. Their powerful connection to the Elemental Dragons allow them to meet the Anathema on equal footing. Many are the reports of masters meeting Anathema in single combat, a feat often considered suicidal for any but the greatest of Immaculate monks. More often, it is the might of the master that enables the Hunt to overcome their foe. They are the Realm's secret weapons against the forces of evil.
Despite this, these masters continue to exist as smoke and shadows. Perhaps they are the greatest of the Immaculate monks. Perhaps they are the Immaculate Dragons returned to Creation, or even aspects or minions of the Elemental Dragons themselves. Or maybe they are merely stories intended to strengthen the resolve of the followers of the Immaculate Order, as they witness the powerful return of the Anathema. Whatever the truth, the Fivefold Dragon Masters live and fight for the Realm, if only in the hearts of those who believe in them.
The Truth: The Fivefold Dragon Masters are indeed the greatest practitioners of the Immaculate martial arts. They ought to be - they created them.
Just as the Sidereals use sorcery of the Celestial Circle to maintain control over the closest of their Dragon-Blooded minions, they use their mastery of martial arts to secure their position at the peak of the Immaculate Order. To further this goal, they have created the Fivefold Dragon Master Style, a Sidereal martial arts style that transcends the five elemental dragon styles, emulating and calling upon the might of the Elemental Dragons themselves.
By mastering and utilizing the skills of the elemental martial arts, a Sidereal of the Bronze faction is able to fight and move openly within the Realm. Despite the difference in his anima, no loyal member of the Realm or monk of the Immaculate Order would dare to question the origin of a monk who perfectly executes one of the Dragon forms. Nor could they conceive that anyone other than a devout Terrestrial monk could summon the strength of stone, explode in an aura of flame, or dance through the air on perches of mist. When they call upon even greater power and elemental control, it is assumed the monk must be nothing less than a true master, learned in techniques available to no one else. (In a sense, this is true.) This belief, coupled with the Arcane Fate of the Sidereals, allows them to occasionally appear as great Immaculate masters, then fade away into whisper and legend.
Elemental Dragons: The Fivefold Dragon Master
Weapons and Armor: Characters cannot use this style while wearing armor. All Charms are compatible with the signature weapons of the Elemental Dragon styles.
The Student's Sutra of the Elemental Dragons: Once, there were five dragons...
Charms
Embrace of the (Element) Dragon</b>
<b>Cost: None Duration: Permanent Type: Special Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 5 Prereqs: the complete Dragon Style of the corresponding element
...and their names were Daana'd, Hesiesh, Sextes Jylis, Mela, and Pasiap.
This Charm is actually a series of five Charms, each building upon one of the five Immaculate Dragon Styles. Each of the Embrace of the (Element) Dragon Charms, allows the Sidereal to transcend the limitations of elemental attunement, giving him full use of the style's signature weapon, including use with the style Charms and the weapon bonuses, and eliminating the need to pay the one mote surcharge for using Charms of the style.
For example, a Sidereal who has mastered all the Charms in the Wood Dragon Style can learn the Embrace of the Wood Dragon, attuning him to the element of the style as if he were a Wood aspect Dragon-Blooded. He no longer pays the one mote per turn out-of-element penalty when using Wood Dragon Charms and gains the +2 damage bonus to bow attacks.
Furthermore, when the Sidereal spends Peripheral Essence on Dragon Path Charms, his anima will display swirls of elemental essence, such as wisps of dust or flame. This display changes if the Sidereal calls on Charms from different Dragon Paths and may even display more than one element at a time. However, this is just a display. It never inflicts damage like a true Terrestrial anima banner, nor does it change the Sidereal's anima power.
Fivefold Dragon Master Form</b>
<b>Cost:15 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 6 Min. Essence: 6 Prereqs: Embrace of the (Element) Dragon (all five Charms)
They ruled the elements and gave shape to Creation, purging it of evil.
The Sidereal executes a kata that blends movements from each of the five Dragon-Path forms. She moves like a violent wind, untamed wave, and raging fire all at once before settling into place like a tree rooted in the earth. In doing so, she summons power from each of the elements she commands.
The solidarity of Earth provides a bonus to her soak equal to twice her Martial Arts score, which also applies to aggravated damage. Furthermore, she can soak lethal damage with her bashing soak total.
The speed and burning heat of Fire adds her Martial Arts score as successes to all dodge rolls, which can also be used reflexively to dodge attacks, and as dice to all damage rolls, which can be lethal or bashing.
The freedom of Air opens her to the sky, allowing her to leap and run distances equal to her normal range multiplied by her Martial Arts score.
The fluidity of Water increases his Martial Arts dice pool by a value equal to her Martial Arts score, which applies to both attacks and parries.
The vitality of Wood allows her to reflexively heal one health level of bashing or lethal damage each turn. The character can speed this healing by reflexively spending one mote of Essence to heal an additional bashing or lethal health level, up to a maximum equal to his Essence score per turn.
In addition to this array of abilities, the Fivefold Dragon Master is also able to apply the benefit of the student's sutra to any of the lesser Dragon-Path Charms, reducing by five motes the cost per turn of using these Charms.
All-Consuming Firestorm of Wood and Wind</b>
<b>Cost:10 motes, 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Martial Arts: 6 Min. Essence: 7 Prereqs: Fivefold Dragon Master Form
The Elder Sutra of the Elemental Dragons: Fueled by high winds and dry timber, a cleansing fire raged across the world...
With sufficient fuel, a fire can rage hot enough to melt anything, perhaps even the Magical Materials. Summoning this power, the dragon master can strike a blow invested with equally powerful heat. When making a Martial Arts attack, the master may add his Essence score as dice to the damage roll. This damage is aggravated.
The attack can be dodged without penalty, but if the attack is parried with a weapon, the flame will still reach the target. The parry reduces attack successes normally, but even if reduced to zero, the flame will spread over the weapon to the target, inflicting its base aggravated damage of Strength + Essence. Even a perfect parry will only block the strike, but it will not stop the flame. The only way to stop the flame is to drop the weapon. This requires a reflexive Wits + Ability roll for hand weapons. Securely attached weapons, such as cesti, cannot be dropped. An unarmed parry offers no defense whatsoever.
Furthermore, if the target is armored and the strike hits, the fire continues to burn, using the armor as fuel. The fire lingers for a number of turns equal to the master's Martial Arts + Essence, inflicting damage equal to the dragon master's Essence score at the start of each turn. The armor soak still applies, but if the target suffers any health levels of damage, including from the initial attack, the armor loses an equal value from its soak. If the armor soak is reduced to zero, the armor is destroyed and the fire is extinguished, having exhausted its fuel. This applies even to armor made from one of the Magical Materials, but enchanted armor reduced to zero is not completely destroyed and can be salvaged and repaired with time, skill, and effort.
Conquerer of the Skies and Seas</b>
<b>Cost:12 motes, 1 willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 7 Min. Essence: 7 Prereqs: All-Consuming Firestorm of Wood and Wind
Only those who called the skies and seas home could escape it...
Upon activating this Charm, the master commands the movements of water and air. The character can walk, run, or leap on or through water without penalty. Furthermore, she can breathe underwater without penalty. She can even launch ranged attacks unhindered.
More impressively, the dragon master can also move through the air with equal ease. She can stand, walk and run on empty air. She can leap on to invisible ledges of air and skip through the sky with ease, able to breathe at any altitude. In theory, the dragon master could touch the surface of the heavens.
While the skies and seas are under the command of the Exalt, their currents flow to protect her. Ranged attacks against her automatically suffer an environmental penalty equal to her Essence score. This can be overcome by Charms normally, but the resistance lasts for the rest of the scene.
Finally, his mastery over air and water extends to beings linked to these elements. Lesser elementals of air and water with Essence 2 or less are absolutely enslaved, when encountered they must obey the Exalt to the best of their ability (some lesser elementals are rather bestial). Stronger elementals with Essence 3-5 must make a willpower roll at a difficulty equal to the Exalt's Essence to resist each command. A command can take an elemental a while to perform, such as "Kill these Lunars!", but the compulsion ends at the end of the scene. Air and water elementals with Essence 6+ - dragons - are immune to this influence. Dragon-Blooded and God-Blooded aspected to air or water cannot be directly controlled, but the master adds his Essence in successes to any attempt to influence them, even if attempted in the middle of conflict.
Flowing Rivers of Molten Stone</b>
<b>Cost:10 motes, 1 willpower Duration: One turn Type: Extra Action Min. Martial Arts: 7 Min. Essence: 7 Prereqs: All-Consuming Firestorm of Wood and Wind
Only those who raged like fire and stood like earth could stand against it...
Like earth made molten, you flow like water and burn like fire. For one full turn, the Exalt gains a number of extra actions equal to her Essence score. These actions may be used all at once or held for use later in the turn. They may be used for any combat roll, including strikes, parries and dodges. Furthermore, the character's movement is doubled for the turn, allowing her to strike multiple targets in a broad area.
The Exalt also becomes as untouchable and invulnerable as a river of lava. The character's soak can completely absorb damage, eliminating the automatic damage die. Anyone who strikes the master barehanded must soak lethal damage equal to twice the master's Essence score. Striking the master with a weapon results in a deduction of twice the master's Essence score from the weapon's base damage. This detracts from the damage of this blow. If a normal weapon is reduced below zero, the weapon is destroyed. If not, the weapon survives but the reduction is permanent until restored. Weapons made of one of the magical materials are not destroyed and do not lose damage capacity, but the damage of the attack is reduced.
While using this Charm, if the character strikes a creature linked to the elements of earth or fire, she may attempt to control it. Lesser fire and earth elementals with Essence 2 or less are instantly under her control for the rest of the scene. Elementals of Essence 3-5 may make a willpower roll against the Exalt's Essence to resist the command. A command can take an elemental a while to perform, but the compulsion ends at the end of the scene. Elementals with Essence 6+ - dragons - are immune to this influence. If the Exalted strikes a Dragon-Blooded or God-Blooded aspected to earth or fire, for the rest of the scene, the Exalt adds her Essence in successes to any attempt to influence the target, even if attempted in the middle of conflict.
Blessing of Life and Creation</b>
<b>Cost:5 motes per turn, 1 willpower to activate Duration: Until released Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 7 Min. Essence: 7 Prereqs: All-Consuming Firestorm of Wood and Wind
Only those who dominated the elements could ignore it...
Calling upon the essence of Gaia herself, the dragon master can withstand any and all injury, allowing the damage to be consumed by fire, sent to the depths of the watery abyss, absorbed by the strength of the Imperial Mountain, tossed to the winds, and spread out like seeds in the endless east.
While the master keeps both feet planted to the ground, which can be indoors so long as the structure has contact with the earth, he is absolutely immune to any and all physical damage, including aggravated damage. This also protects against any physical impairments, but is only partially effective against mental and spiritual attacks, reducing their duration and effects by half. The character cannot move from the spot without ending the magic. The second he lifts a foot, the Charm ends.
Although it counts as a Charm use during the turn it is activated, it can be maintained during subsequent turns without counting as a Charm activation, allowing other Charms to be used, although Charms that enhance movement cannot be used without ending this Charm.
Forcibly breaking the character's contact with the ground is difficult; he is rooted like an ancient tree. Trying to break the character's contact with the ground requires a Strength + Athletics roll opposed by the Exalt's Martial Arts + Essence. The Exalt is also immune to knockdown or knockback. Destroying the ground beneath the dragon master is also difficult; the magic holds the earth together as the roots of a tree do. Add the Exalt's Essence to the difficulty of attempts to break the ground or its soak value.
While the master is rooted to the earth, he takes on the presence of an ancient elemental of wood. Lesser elementals of wood with Essence 2 or less must obey his commands. Stronger elementals with Essence 3-5 must make a willpower roll at a difficulty equal to the Exalt's Essence to resist each command. A command can take an elemental a while to perform, but the compulsion ends at the end of the scene. Wood elementals with Essence 6+ are immune to this influence. Dragon-Blooded and God-Blooded aspected to wood cannot be directly controlled, but the master adds his Essence in successes to any attempt to influence them, even if attempted in the middle of conflict.
Grasping the Dragon's Heart</b>
<b>Cost:20 motes, 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 7 Min. Essence: 8 Prereqs: Conquerer of the Skies and Seas, Flowing Rivers of Molten Stone, Blessing of Life and Creation
As the fire claimed all that exists, the dragons stood on high and feared not the flame...
The dragon master who knows this Charm need fear nothing. He knows and understands the true might of the Immaculate Dragons. He can use this knowledge to secure his place in Creation even as forces vie to undo it.
So long as the character has the Essence and Willpower to spend, he may undo any injury or ailment to himself, including severed limbs and damaged organs, returning instantly to full health. Even his possessions are restored to perfect condition. Even aggravated damage can be restored, but the amount that can be restored per turn cannot exceed his Essence score. This Charm can be performed in the turn after a fatal injury is suffered, but no later. Scars and permanent damage from older injuries remain.
The master can also perform this Charm on someone else with the same results. For fatal wounds, it must be performed no later than one turn after the character suffers it. No form of magic can restore life after the higher spirit has left the body.
While this Charm has miraculous effects on an injured living being, it is detrimental to living creatures in good health, as well as ghosts and undead beings. If used on a creature in good health (i.e., full health levels), the being is overwhelmed by an overload of living essence, causing euphoric delusions and uncontrolled outbursts. For the rest of the scene, his Wits and Perception attributes are reduced to 1, and he cannot focus well enough to perform more than one action per turn unless enhanced by magic. The dragon master can also inflict this on himself if he so chooses.
Against ghosts, undead and creatures invested with death Essence, including Abyssals and Deathlords, the touch provides no healing, only pain. If successfully struck with an unarmed attack, a vortex of elemental essence surrounds the target, inflicting his Essence score in dice of aggravated damage each turn for the rest of the scene. Unless the magic is dispelled or broken, the target will inevitably be destroyed. Deathlords will invariably know some Charm or spell that can break the magic, but their minions may not be so learned.
Unleashing the Dragon's Soul</b>
<b>Cost:20 motes, 1 willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 8 Min. Essence: 8 Prereqs: Grasping the Dragon's Heart
for they did not exist.
The truth shall set you free. Only a true master of the Immaculate Dragon martial arts can be trusted with the truth about the Order. A Sidereal who has been taught the final technique in the style is such an individual and no force can pry that knowledge from him.
Upon learning this Charm, the Exalt becomes enlightened as to the reality of the Immaculate Order as he is entrusted with its greatest secrets. This knowledge is also a curse, for he cannot share it with anyone other than a fellow master. Even his students cannot be trusted until they too become masters. The master can never voluntarily release this knowledge. Any attempt to force it from him will automatically fail.
By Unleashing the Dragon's Soul, the Exalt places his spirit in tune with those of the Five Elemental Dragons, allowing him to channel their power as if it were his own. For the duration of the scene, his anima blazes with elemental essence, surrounding him in the totemic image of an elemental dragon. This display bolsters his endurance and durability, providing him with a number of extra -0 health levels equal to his Essence score. These health levels are temporary but may be restored by magic, such as Grasping the Dragon's Heart, while the Charm is in effect.
As often as once per turn, the Exalt can channel the essence of his anima into a dragon breath attack with speed and accuracy bonuses equal to his Essence score. Range is 30 and base damage is 25L. This attack counts as a dice action and may inflict damage based on any one of the elements, whichever the master thinks will be most effective. The breath can also be used for utility purposes, such as a cascade of water to douse flames, a duststorm to cover an escape, etc.
Furthermore, for the rest of the scene, the Exalt enjoys the benefits of Hurricane Combat Method, Perfection of Earth Body, and Consuming Might of the Fire Dragon, at no further cost. He may also call upon the magic of the Tsunami Force Shout or Soul Mastery as often as once per turn, also at no further cost. In the case of Soul Mastery, the turn of preparation is not necessary, but the magic must still be unleashed within his Essence in turns from the time it is summoned.
Elementals of all types with Essence 5 or lower instantly recognize the character's power and acquiese to his wishes. Lesser Elemental Dragons and other elementals with Essence 6+ treat the Exalt as an equal, allowing him to deal with Celestial censors as if they are his peers, although they may not be so civil once the Charm ends. This confers no power of command over them, but it allows him to attempt to influence them at reasonable levels of difficulty. Greater Elemental Dragons will treat him as they would a lesser dragon.
Believers of the Immaculate faith, including devout Dragon-Blooded, will view him as an Immaculate Dragon, a mortal incarnation of one of the Five Elemental Dragons, and eagerly obey his will. Other Dragon-Blooded and God-Blooded of elemental patronage must make a Willpower roll at a difficulty equal to the Exalt's Essence to resist each of his commands.
Finally, the true master of the Dragon Paths is able to apply the benefit of the elder's sutra to any of the lesser Dragon-Path Charms, reducing the cost per turn of using these Charms by ten motes and one willpower.
Comments
As a rule, I don't comment on MA Styles. However, I rather like this one :)
A few nits to pick-
Sidereal Super Styles follow a fairly regular naming convention; The Fivefold Shades of Elemental Dragon Mastery may have been a more appropriate name.
-- [sumocat] The style was under construction prior to the release of the Sidereals book. It was changed to fit the conventions, but the old name stuck.
Second, the Student Sutra is not terribly useful for the pre-student Charms; they're all permanent and have no costs. Instead of the typical 5 mote reduction, you might wanna grant something like a 2-3 mote reduction on the Immaculate Styles. Considering the higher pre-reqs to get to the Form...
-- [sumocat] As stated in the Form description, the sutra also applies to the prerequisite styles, which means it is actually more useful than the usual sutra.
Third, I'm not so sure I'm cool with the idea of a Charm being able to destroy the 5MM and bypass perfect defenses. Especiallly without a system to govern such. The way the Firestorm is written, it sounds quite a bit like an anti-HGD. 'Even a perfect parry will not stop the damage!' is a bad phrase, IMO. (See the Accessible Content debates ;)
-- [sumocat] Actually, there are Charms that can destroy the 5MM, but this is not one of them. I specifically state that the 5MM are not destroyed, but armor may be rendered unusuable until restored. And technically, the quote is "Even a perfect parry will only block the strike, but it will not stop the flame." The mechanics for this event are unchanged from those listed for a successful parry.
Fourth, while rooted with Blessings, can the Exalt move? I mean, he clearly can't run, but can he fight with, say, archery?
-- [sumocat] Yes. There are no restrictions other than those listed.
Overall, I like the idea and the thematics of the Sutra; some of the Charms and effects are just a bit iffy :) DS
