MartialArts/CreepingShadowStyle
Creeping Shadows Style
By Thinker
Charms
Shadow Darting Movement</b>
<b>Cost: 3 motes Duration: One Turn Type: Supplemental Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
Studying the principles of shadows the Exalt learns to apply them to their own movements, in order to approach a foe unseen. Darting from shadow to shadow the Exalt using this Charm may add their Martial Arts in dice to any Dexterity + Stealth roll for the rest of the Turn.
Smothering the Light</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Shadow Darting Movement
Applying the principles of shadow to combat the Exalt smothers and suffocates an opponent whom they have held. This Charm may only be activated if the Exalt has their opponent in a clinch, and then only once per Turn. Unless the target breaks the clinch by the end of the Turn they loose one point of Stamina until the clinch is broken. If their Stamina reaches 0 then they immediately fall to incapacitated (Bashing damage) and regain their lost Stamina instantly. If they break the clinch they regain their lost Stamina immediately.
Shadow Denies Shape</b>
<b>Cost:3 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Shadow Darting Movement
Applying the amorphous nature of shadow to combat the Exalt slips out of holds and clinches that would otherwise hold them steadfastly. They may add their Essence to automatic successes to any roll to escape from effects that impair their movement, this includes Charms, and Sorcery as well as mundane holds and clinches.
Creeping Shadow Form</b>
<b>Cost:6 motes Duration: Instant Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Shadow Denies Shape, Smothering the Light
Adopting the motion of the Shadow, instantly fading from the light, and springing up immediately where it fades, the character prepares themselves for combat. The Character may use their Essence score as automatic successes in any dodge roll made against a Charm enhanced attack as they flow away from the Essence contained therein, they may also use these successes as a reflexive dodge should they for some reason have no other dodge dice pool. More the character learns to slip through the tiniest cracks in an opponents defenses, they may add a number of automatic successes to any Martial Arts attack equal to their Martial Arts score, but only if the targets defenses are somehow created by or strengthened with Essence, against mundane defenses the Creeping Shadow Form gives no aid, just as there is no contrast of shadow without light. This Charm is not compatible with armor. Only one Form-Type Charm may be active on a given character at a given time, if another Form Charm is activated while the Creeping Shadow Form is active, it instantly ends the Creeping Shadow Form, replacing its effects.
Night Dampens the Fire</b>
<b>Cost:3 motes, 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Creeping Shadow Form
Drawing upon the power of shadow to suppress, reduce and subdue the Exalt reduces the damage of blows scored against him. This Charm allows the character to remove a number of Health Levels of final damage from an attack against them equal to their Martial Arts score. If the attack carries an effect that requires it to deal damage to be successful (such as poison) and this Charm reduces the damage to zero, then that effect is also prevented from occurring.
Shadow Chokes the Child</b>
<b>Cost:6 motes, 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Night Dampens the Fire
Like the night cold that creeps into the windows at night, and silently kills those within the otherwise warm rooms of Creation, this Charm allows the Exalt to silently murder their foes. The Exalt makes a regular clinch maneuver, leaping upon their opponent in a blur of darkness and death. They may count a number of additional successes on their clinch maneuver equal to their Martial Arts score, and their attempt is totally silent negating all attempts to detect it based on hearing (This is a Perfect Effect) additionally if the attempt is successful the target may not make any noise either until the clinch is broken.
Light Stiffening Blow</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Creeping Shadow Form
Infusing a blow with the shadowy Essence of the underworld the Exalt infuses it with the power to shroud and cut an opponent off from their Essence. If the Martial Arts attack supplemented by this Charm hits (it need not do damage), the Martial Artist rolls their Essence + Martial Arts against a difficult of the targets Essence score. If the roll succeeds then the target looses the ability to regain Essence for a number of scenes equal to the Essence score of the Martial Artist. This includes regaining Essence by any means, including Respiration, Stunts, Feeding (in the case of Abyssal Exalted) or Charms.
Charm Shrouding Assault</b>
<b>Cost:7 motes, 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Light Stiffening Blow
Striking out against their opponents Essence the Exalt attempts to shroud their soul with the power of the underworld. They make a normal Dexterity + Martial Arts attack, so long as the attack is successful and they deal at least one level of damage they may name a single Charm possessed by their target, the target looses access to that Charm for the rest of the scene. They may not activate it for any reason, if this would invalidate a Combo that they possess (I.E. the combo is not legal without the Charm) then they loose access to this Combo as well. If they possess a Combo with the Charm in it but it is valid without it, then they may activate the Combo as normal, but less the effected Charm.
Creeping Shadow Style</b>
<b>Cost:10 motes, 1 willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 4 Prereqs: Charm Shrouding Assault, Shadow Chokes the Child
The ultimate technique taught to students of Shadow in the underworld, the Exalt learns to transform themselves into the living embodiment of the Creeping Shadow. Their touch drains a number of motes equal to their Essence score from anyone their skin comes into contact with, and adds them to their own pool. These motes cannot take the Exalt above their normal maximum and can only be spent on Creeping Shadow Style Charms. These motes are drained anytime they successful make a barehanded attack or each Turn in a clinch, weather they are the one holding or being held. Additionally the cold of their body allows them to deal Lethal damage with their barehanded attacks, and in a clinch, though it does not give them any ability to parry such damage. They may add their Essence to all Stealth Dice pools while this Charm is en effect.
