MartialArts/TheBanner

This is not a complete martial art. Rather, it is but one branch of the Fivefold Way of Battles Style.

Epic Victory - The Banner

The Banner is strikingly clad and always among you. He is fearless, victorious, and larger than life.

Reputation, pageantry, leadership, epics, infamy, reigns of terror, philanthropy, tidings, symbols, heraldry

Characters who learn these Charms as if they were Sidereal Charms may freely Combo them with Sidereal Presence Charms. Such a character may also choose to substitute her Presence Ability for the Martial Arts Ability any time the Charms of the Banner call for a use of the Martial Arts Ability, other than for the purposes of meeting the minimum Ability requisite for learning the Charms.

Perhaps a very, very flashy style with Charms and attacks based on gestures of the character, rather than true attacks. Perhaps with some leadership-oriented group effects, but these will be sideline.

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Intrepid Red Banner

Cost: 
Duration: 
Type: 
Minimum Martial Arts: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: 

(to come)

In The Midst of Things

Cost: 3 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Minimum Martial Arts: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: 

The student of the Banner's first lesson is presence, both socially and in war. She moves quickly, interposing herself where she is most needed, ever at the heart of the battle. This Charm is invoked when the Exalt attempts a Martial Arts parry or attack. If the attack or parry roll does not fail or botch, the Exalt may reflexively move up to her Martial Arts + Essence in yards. This movement may only be used to move towards the center of a battle, or towards a foe more powerful than the last adversary who attacked or was attacked by the martial artist.

Student's Posture of the Banner

Cost: 4 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 4
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: 

Adopting the first posture of the Banner, the martial artist takes on a bold, heroic mein. (under revision) This is a Martial Arts Posture-type Charm.

Virtuous Standard Flourish

Cost: 
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Minimum Martial Arts: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Fivefold Way of Battles Form

A streamer of glittering Essence inscribed with an epic poem of the character's deeds uncoils from the character's weapon or hands, charging her movements with power and inspiring her subordinates to heroism. This Charm may be used in four different ways, but the martial artist may not invoke more than one function of this Charm in a single turn.

• Ensign of Compassion Unfurling
• Ensign of Conviction Unfurling
• Ensign of Temperance Unfurling
• Ensign of Valor Unfurling

(Unnamed Banner Charm 2)

Cost: 
Duration: 
Type: 
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Fivefold Way of Battles Form

(instant supplemental, makes the character equal his greatest foe for a short time?)

Force-of-Personality Gesture

Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Ensign of (Virtue) Unfurling, Unnamed Banner Charm 2

The martial artist focuses the fury and awesomeness of her presence into a single blow, changing the hearts of men. This Charm is activated before a normal unarmed Martial Arts attack is rolled. If this attack damages the target, the martial artist takes one temporary Willpower point from her target and adds it to her own pool. This cannot allow the martial artist's temporary Willpower pool to exceed her permanent Willpower score. Additionally, the successes on the attack roll can be applied as successes on a Presence roll to terrify the target or to convince the target to fight on the same side as the martial artist. Apply a difficulty penalty to this Presence roll equal to the current wound penalty that the target suffers from, plus one if the Banner-adept is a longtime enemy, and in the case of attempts to convince the target to switch sides, plus one if the Banner-adept is obviously untrustworthy.

Master's Posture of the Banner

Cost: 
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Force-of-Personality Gesture

(definite leadership effects, move-to-aid effect, probably some attack bolstering)

Comments

Even the most distasteful of tasks will be obeyed when the consequences for disobedience are even more distasteful. When this Charm is used against a target within (martial artist's Essence x 10) yards, the martial artist commands her foe to perform a certain task, which can be anything attainable within the scene, but can't be obviously suicidal. Until the target complies with the order, though, the martial artist's attacks against her have their raw damage increased by the target's Willpower score.