IsawaBrian/SolarMartialArtsDefense
Second Edition
Tavern-Fighter Weave
Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 1; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Sunlight Through Branches Technique
Bobbing and weaving like a skilled tavern brawler, the character manages to either intercept or avoid incoming attacks without thinking about it. This Charm is used in response to an attack; for that attack, the Solar can ignore all penalties that apply to her Martial Arts Parry DV when resolving that attack, except for inapplicability.
Glorious Reversal
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 1; Type: Reflexive (Step 2 and Step 9) Keywords: Combo-OK, Counterattack, Leader Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Tavern-Fighter Weave
Not only can the Exalt who knows this Charm seize the moment to act when he is attacked, he may seize his opponent as well. This Charm is used in Step 2, although some of its effects take place in Step 9. The character may ignore all Parry DV penalties on a single Martial Arts parry (except for inapplicability); add the Accuracy of any Clinch Enhancers rather than his ordinary Defense rating. If the attacker is unable to beat the Lawgiver's Parry DV, subtract her total successes from the Lawgiver's Parry DV. During Step 9, the character is considered to have made a counterattack with a number of successes equal to the difference between his DV and his opponent's attack roll. This counterattack may only be used for a clinch.
Jagged Sun Corona
Cost: 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 9) Keywords: Obvious, Combo-Basic, Leader Duration: Until next Action Prerequisite Charms: Glorious Reversal
To get within reach of a Solar Martial Artist is to risk being seared by the Sun’s rays; to dare to strike a Solar is to risk terrible wrath. Until the character’s next action, she may respond to any attack in which she used her Parry DV with a Counterattack in step 9, following normal counterattack rules.
Violent Harmony Meditation
Cost: 5m, 1 wp; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Simple (Speed 5) Keywords: Obvious, Combo-Basic, Leader Duration: One Scene Prerequisite Charms: Jagged Sun Corona, Center of the Whirlwind
With this charm, the character becomes aware of the ebb and flow of combat. She achieves a deep connection with the violence around her, and to attack her is to be attacked in turn. For the rest of the scene, when the Solar uses her Martial Arts Parry DV against an attack, this Charm allows her to make a Counterattack. The Solar may do so a number of times each action equal to her Permanent Essence.
Thousand Sunrays Defense
Cost: 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-Basic, Leader Duration: Until next action Prerequisite Charms: Tavern-Fighter Weave
The Lawgiver's body becomes supple and swift, bobbing and weaving like a practiced fighter. In extreme situations, she may seem to flit about like a sunray, moving with preternatural speed. All penalties to the character's Parry DV, including the results of her own actions, are ignored until the character's next action. This does not affect inapplicability in any way.
Against the Crowd Stance
Cost: 5m, 1 wp; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Simple Keywords: Combo-OK Duration: One scene Prerequisite Charms: Thousand Sunrays Defense
This, and all of my other multifighter Charms are dedicated to Andre the Giant, specifically for the role of Fezzik in The Princess Bride. It is not uncommon for an entire crowd to turn against a Solar. In those situations, a master unarmed fighter develops a series of moves to deal with those who face him. In many ways, their numbers become his ally, as they trip over each other and impede their mutual attacks. Until the end of the scene, the character gains +1 to his DV for every 2 opponents beyond the first (round up, so even 1 extra opponent will grant a +1 DV bonus) within his (Essence) x3 yards. This applies to attacks fired from beyond this range, so long as there are opponents within it-- the Solar can use his enemies as cover! This does count against the character's maximum static value increase for DV. At Essence 4, this Charm gains the Leader Keyword and may be used in mass combat. However, it only adds to the leader and complimentary unit's sum DV for every enemy unit, though the range when activated in long ticks becomes (Essence) x300 yards.
Whirlpool Guardian Style
Cost: 5m, 1 wp; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2; Type: Simple Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader Duration: One scene Prerequisite Charms: Thousand Sunrays Defense
The character creates a whirlpool of Essence around her body. All attacks against the Exalt are drawn into this spiral and directed away from her, allowing her to attack without fear of retribution. For the rest of the Scene, the character suffers no DV penalty from onslaughts, and the defense penalty of all actions she takes is reduced by one, to a minimum of zero.
Storm Shelter Block
Cost: 3m, 1 wp; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader, Obvious Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Thousand Sunrays Defense
The character forms a solid wall of essence across one of her limbs, temporarily creating an impenetrable wall of force that diverts and disperses incoming attacks like a breaker faced with rising waves. The Solar spends 3 motes and 1 willpower during Step 2 of an attack to perfectly parry the attack, negating it utterly, even if it was unblockable. This initial defense eases the way for subsequent blocks; until the character's next action tick, activating this Charm only costs 3 motes. If the character is using a mundane martial arts aid to parry the attacks of immense power-- 25L pre-soak or greater-- the aid will be destroyed, though the parry will still be successful. The character may always parry unarmed using this charm.
This Charm has one of the Four Flaws of Invulnerability common to all Solar perfect defenses.
At Essence 5, the Solar may purchase this Charm a second time to provide an alternate use. If faced with a flurry, the character may spend 3 motes, 1 willpower to simply block all attacks in that single flurry, providing more efficient defense against a single attacker.
Unscathed Rejection Defense
Cost: --; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 5; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Prerequisite Charms: Storm Shelter Block
The Solar develops the ability to "store" pre-prepared invocations of Storm-Shelter Block in advance. The character may prepare one invocation of Storm Shelter Block for the regular 4 mote cost, which she may then invoke again at any time when it would ordinarily be used. Preparing a Storm Shelter Block counts as a Charm Action; using it later does not. The motes used remained committed until the invocation is released. At Essence 6 or higher, the Lawgiver may prepare up to her Martial Arts score in invocations of Storm Shelter Block, reducing their cost to 3 motes each.
Celestial Defiance Totality
Cost: 14m, 2wp; Mins: Martial Arts 7, Essence 7; Type: Simple (DV -0) Keywords: Combo-Basic, Leader, Obvious Duration: One Scene Prerequisite Charms: Unscathed Rejection Defense
Scorning the assaults of lesser beings, the Solar creates a flow of whirling, defensive Essence around his body. He may access this Essence for his most potent defenses. Until the end of the scene, the Solar gains a complete discount on a number of Storm Shelter Blocks equal to his permanent Essence every Action. This may not be combined with effects that allow Storm Shelter Block to be used as a non-Charm activation, except for "hanging" defenses such as those produced by Unscathed Rejection Defense. In that case, the Solar may still pre-prepare invocations for free; however, each use of those free invocations later counts against a Celestial Defiance Totality discount on activation, just as it did during invocation-- the character may not "double up" to produce 14 or more free Storm Shelter Blocks in a single round! The discount does of course apply to Storm Shelter Blocks used as a part of a combo.
Brilliant Sunlit Defense
Cost: --; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Storm Shelter Block, Third Martial Arts Excellency
The superior martial artist can act without thinking, providing himself a final defense that no opponent could have foreseen. In the hands of a Solar, such a technique will prove even greater, utterly annihilating any incoming force and turning it into the softest of touches. By spending an extra 1 mote, 1 willpower, the character may make a Storm Shelter Block a Step 6 Reflexive Charm. This increased cost is compatible with Unscathed Rejection Defense, but is not discounted by Celestial Defiance Totality until the Solar's Essence is 8. If used with Unscathed Rejection Defense, the cost must be paid when the invocation is stored.
Iron Palm Block
Cost: 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader, Obvious Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Become the Anvil, Infinite Martial Arts Mastery, Second Martial Arts Excellency
The Solar charges her fists and feet with potent Solar energy. Brilliant arcs briefly burst into the air, essence guiding the Lawgiver to strike down all incoming attacks—even those which are purely of energy themselves. Do not half the Lawgiver’s Martial Arts Parry Pool. This parry may be applied regardless of usual applicability, including for surprise. The character may use this to parry attacks that have no physical component, attacks that target the character’s essence or are otherwise supernatural, but may not be imposed in the place of a standard MDV or resistance roll.
If the incoming effect is a roll vs. difficulty (such as versus the Solar's Essence) that is not resisted by the Solar, the Solar may add her Martial Arts score to the difficulty number. If an attack contains a component that would cause the Solar to fail to be able to use this charm, such as a compulsion or shaping effect, the Solar may elect to spend a willpower point in addition to the Charm’s regular cost to counteract all of the incoming effect (cancel a charm, negate sorcery, etc.) Inspired by Leti.
Unending Vortex Defense
Cost: --; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Whirlpool Guardian Style
The Solar's mastery of both his essence whirlpool and defensive katas increases, allowing the defensive preparations to handle increasingly greater loads. All incoming attacks are directed into the force of the Lawgiver's defensive momentum. The vortex works in inverse as well, driving the Solar to be able to defend from any direction-- even above or below. This Charm enhances its prerequisite. While Whirlpool Guardian Style is active, the character does not suffer penalties to DV from Coordinated Attacks and multiple opponents. Even if faced with the maximum number of attackers, the character can use his entire body, every limb and movement aimed to parry attacks. No opponent in such a situation gains the benefit of an unexpected attack. This does not alter unexpected attacks from other sources.
