MartialArts/ScythefootStyle
Scythefoot Style
By Shakenzerite
Background
Based on the quick and deadly movements of scythefoot dinosaurs, this Style emphasizes mobility and the old adage that one needs no defense against a dead enemy.
Equipment Usage
Scythefoot Style utilizes many kicks, and so there is no penalty to Speed, Accuracy or Defense for using kicks with Charms of this Style. The weapons of choice for Scythefoot practitioners are iron boots, and their divine equivalent of god-kicking boots.
Charms
Bladed Foot Sprint</b>
<b>Cost: 3 motes Type: Reflexive Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: None
Passing by her prey, the Exalt may strike even while moving. Using this Charm allows the Exalt to attack normally when making a full movement action; if she is quick enough, she can even run past his victim before he can react (but not counterattack using a Charm).
Unfailing Talon's Mark</b>
<b>Cost:1 mote/die Type: Supplemental Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Bladed Foot Sprint
Emulating the flashing killing claws of the scythefoot, the martial artist may strike blows that are uncanny in their ability to find their way past defenses and into the target’s soft underbelly. One attack may be enhanced with this Charm, increasing the number of dice rolled on the attack by one mote per die, up to the Exalt’s normal restrictions for dice adders. If kicking, she also does Lethal damage.
Scythefoot Form</b>
<b>Cost:6 motes Type: Simple Duration: One Scene Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Unfailing Talon's Mark
Turning up and simultaneously walking on the balls of her feet, the Exalt stands ready to make a deadly attack against any that approach her, as well as to take down any foe or prey that prevents itself. The martial artist’s blows do lethal damage, and she may parry attacks that do lethal damage without a weapon. Additionally, anyone approaching the martial artist is subject to a reflexive kicking attack as soon as they are in range. Lastly, the martial artist may make a reflexive dodge against all attacks with a number of dice equal to her Essence rating.
Resolute Engagement Method</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Type: Supplemental Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Scythefoot Form
Leaping into battle with an attitude as stiff and intractable as the tail of the scythefoot, the martial artist acts before others can possibly react. She automatically wins initiative, unless other Charms that have a similar effect are used, in which case, she acts before those who do not use such Charms, and all those who would normally beat initiative roll normally to see which supernaturally enhanced combatant acts first.
Prey-Crushing Leap</b>
<b>Cost:5 motes, 1 Willpower Type: Simple Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs: Resolute Engagement Method
Leaping up and over his foe’s head, the martial artist seems to vanish to the target’s view just before coming down on the unfortunate’s skull with lethal force. As a result, the attack does lethal damage and halves the Soak of the target, in addition to adding the martial artist’s Essence to her attack and damage rolls.
Grasping Defense Negation</b>
<b>Cost:4 motes, 1 Willpower Type: Supplemental Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms: Scythefoot Form
The scythefoot is well known for closing in and grappling with prey so that it can gain the advantage and end up disemboweling the unlucky subject as its attention is directed towards a clinch. The martial artist may do the same, making a kick attack against an opponent that she is currently in a clinch with. Since the opponent is in a clinch, he may not typically defend, leaving himself completely open to potentially horrific injury.
Hook Hand Clinch Attitude</b>
<b>Cost:5 motes, 1 Willpower Type: Supplemental Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 3 Prereqs: Grasping Defense Negation
The scythefoot’s toe claws are not its only meathooks; the hands of the scythefoot are just as capable of causing injury, and this is the method after which this charm was patterned. A clinch, hold or throw enhanced with this charm does lethal damage, and the martial artist may add her Martial Arts rating to the damage she causes. Furthermore, each successive use of this charm digs further into the target’s flesh, reducing soak by one per successive use in a scene. If she has an ally that uses this Charm on their mutual prey, then this soak reduction is cumulative for the both of them, though it may never reduce a foe’s soak below 0.
Scythe Harvests the Sword Method</b>
<b>Cost:5 motes Type: Reflexive Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 2 Prereqs Charms: Scythefoot Form
Defense is not the scythefoot’s greatest strength, but some forms of offense can also afford very effacious defenses. Disarmament of the enemy is one of those potentials, and by kicking an incoming blow, a practitioner of the Scythefoot Style may prove that the best defense is still a strong offense. This allows the martial artist to make a roll to parry any one blow; if used against an armed opponent or against a projectile, a counterattack is also assessed against the weapon using the weapon’s damage addition as soak and as health levels. If used to parry an opponent that fights barehanded, there is a normal reflexive counterattack.
Belly-Opening Onslaught</b>
<b>Cost:10 motes, 1 Willpower, 1 Health Level Type: Reflexive Duration: Instant Min. Martial Arts: 5 Min. Essence: 4 Prereqs: Scythe Harvests the Sword Method, Hook Hand Clinch Attitude, Prey-Crushing Leap
Driving forward with her legs flashing and cutting into her enemies, the Scythefoot Follower may drive a small armed force out before the force of her sharp, steel-cutting feet and legs. She may make a number of attacks equal to her Essence + Martial Arts against any number of foes within twice her Martial Arts rating in yards. Attacks made with this Charm do piercing damage.
