MartialArts/BlackClawStyle2

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Background

Black Claw Style
This Style is not applicable with any armor. Treat attacks with Tiger Claws of the extended fingernail style as unarmed attacks for the purposes of charms in this style.

History
This style is quite rare in this day and age, in fact lost largely during the middle old realm. The style’s main practitioner is the Demon Mara and while it doesn’t emulate her it was learned or developed by her very early in the first age. The practitioners emulate the ideal of a slinky, shadowy night cat. Like the mystique of the black cat and the most seductive women the martial artist is alluring and beautiful. The relatively unassuming nature of the feline is undercut by the instinctual, palpably shadowed, smooth and seductive natural killer most people forget.

Style

Sultry Feline Promise</b>

<b>Cost: 4 motes
Duration: One Action
Type: Reflexive (Step 1 or 2)
Keywords: Combo-Ok
Min. Martial Arts: 2
Min. Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None 

For the remainder of the action the martial artist adds their appearance to their DV calculation. With the enticing promise of sensual pleasure the martial artist hugs the body of their opponent or moves with such sultry grace that an opponent finds it difficult to hit them.

Eyes of the Night Cat</b>

<b>Cost: 5 motes, 1 willpower
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Keywords: Obvious, Shaping
Min. Martial Arts: 3
Min. Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Sultry Feline Promise

Darkness is the friend and the ever-faithful lover of the martial artist. Like the quiet creatures of the night the martial artist is gifted with a token of her lover’s affection. By activating this charm the whites of the martial artist’s eyes become coated in shadow, which licks off ever so slightly, and their irises shift to slitted yellow feline. While this is activated the character is able to see in darkness as long as there is the slightest light but strong light becomes painful.

Presence Enticing Movement</b>

<b>Cost: 3 motes
Duration: One Action
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-Ok
Min. Martial Arts: 3
Min. Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Sultry Feline Promise

By hugging the body of their opponent moving smoothly and seductively along their body like an attentive cat or a whispering temptress the martial artist is able to keep their opponent from moving away. The martial artist must be within half their normal movement to the target for this charm to be activated. If the opponent wishes to move away from the martial artist they must roll Dex + Ath against a difficulty of the Martial Artist’s ((Dex or App) + Ma)/2.

Black Claw Form</b>

<b>Cost: 5 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Simple
Keywords: Obvious, Form-Type
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Eyes of the Night Cat, Presence Enticing Movement

Like the decadent creatures of the night, which they emulate, the students of the Black Claw Style become preternatural alluring masters of feline grace and palpable darkness. While this form is activated the Martial Artist gains two to appearance. Further, appearance based social rolls count as unnatural mental influence. The natural grace of the master is more an extension of their surreal beauty then their actual dexterity, and they may roll appearance in place of dexterity. Finally, they always land on their feet.

Cloaked in Cloying Darkness</b>

<b>Cost: 4 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Black Claw Form

The Martial Artist wraps herself in palpable darkness, cloaking themselves in the seductively moving tendrils of night. While this charm is active the martial artist adds one die to stealth, presence and DV calculations. Further, each health level of damage inflicted while Shadow Razored Claws is activated adds 1L/2B to the Stylist’s soak. This counts as natural soak and caps at appearance in health levels.

Shadow Razored Claws</b>

<b>Cost: 4 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Black Claw Form

Thick shadow seeps from the Martial artist’s hands to convalesce into razor edged solid shadow claws. These ephemeral claws coat the characters own giving them the vicious natural weaponry of the cats they emulate but forged out of the very darkness. They can also coat the claws a martial artist already has. While this charm is activated the martial artist rips streamers of the opponents shadow in thick sprays instead of blood. Blows from these claws ignore hardness, are piercing, and add +(Essence/2) to accuracy and +(Essence) to damage. While standing still the martial artists claws tend to wisp slightly fading off into the waiting air.

Shadow Lover’s Caress</b>

<b>Cost: 2 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-Ok
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Black Claw Form

Like the sweet caress of a gentle lover the martial artist runs a tantalizing finger along the opponent sending electric shivers through them. When the martial artist damages an opponent with a successful attack the target gains an extra –1 wound penalty up to a maximum of the stylist’s appearance rating. Further, the gentle and addicting touch of the martial artist does not cause pain but pleasure. The wound penalties inflicted by this charm are caused by pleasure or sensual numbness not pain.

Inner Darkness Brought Forth</b>

<b>Cost: 4 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Stackable
Min. Martial Arts: 5
Min. Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Shadow Razored Claws, Cloaked in Cloying Darkness

When the martial artist uses this charm a shadowy black cat leaps from the trailing shadow torn from an opponents body. Damage must be dealt to have this effect. These cats last for a scene and tend to melt back into the surroundings shadows if the stylist moves too quickly or travels in an odd manner only to slink back out at the destination. The stylist can have up to their Charisma score in minions. Each new minion drains a willpower from the victim as it leaps forth and causes a –1 internal penalty. The cats have the Martial Artist’s DV and one health level.

The Black Whisper</b>

<b>Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Touch
Min. Martial Arts: 5
Min. Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Shadow Lover’s Caress, Shadow Razored Claws

The gentlest touch and fading shivering touch leaves the victim drained, dying and lusting. This whispering touch is the finest enticement and tantalizing wish. The attacks damage is calculated with Manipulation*2 rather than strength. This attack avoids armor soak and can be delivered with the lightest passing touch. Wound penalties caused by this charm are the result of pleasure or sensual numbness rather than pain.

False Lover’s Strength</b>

<b>Cost: 2 motes, 1 willpower
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Stackable
Min. Martial Arts: 5
Min. Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: The Black Whisper, Inner Darkness Brought Forth

When the martial artist uses this charm a shadowy black cat leaps from the trailing shadow torn from an opponents body. Damage need not be dealt to have this effect take place. These cats last indefinitely and tend to melt back into the surroundings shadows if the stylist moves too quickly or travels in an odd manner only to slink back out at the destination. The stylist can have up to their Charisma score in minions. Each new minion drains the Martial Artist’s Essence from the victim as it leaps forth and adds a +1 to DV calculation for each minion. The cats have the Martial Artist’s DV and Essence health levels. The Martial Artist can later absorb a given minion at a touch to gain the motes the target lost in the formation of the cat.