Prax/ObsidianMonolith

Obsidian Monolith Style

Obsidian Monolith is a martial arts style first developed by the First and Forsaken Lion. The style emphasizes intimidation and overpowering maneuvers to force an opponent to face her own inadequacies. Currently the only practitioners of this style are part of the First and Forsaken Lion’s retinue and only the Dusk Caste warrior known as the Imposing Mountain of Despair has mastered the style completely.

Monolith stylists treat mauls, sledges and maces as form weapons in addition to gauntlets, cesti and other blunt force fist weapons. Practitioners of this Style typically also don heavy armor with intimidating appearances, though it’s not a necessary component of the style.

Imperishable Monolith Stance:

 

Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Supplemental

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious

 

Duration: Until next action

 

Prerequisite Charm: None

 

The first technique a Monolith Stylist learns is to blunt the attacks of his opponents, knocking them aside with almost casual ease. When this charm is invoked, the Monolith Stylist gains a +2 DV bonus to his unarmed martial arts parry attempts until his next action. In addition he may parry lethal attacks while unarmed without a stunt.

Obsidian Hammer Blow:

 

Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2, Type: Supplemental

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: None

 

By using this technique, a Monolith Stylist can cause his bare handed blows to shatter bones and leave dents in even the strongest steel. An unarmed attack enhanced with Obsidian Hammer Blow gains a damage bonus equal to twice the Monolith Stylist’s permanent Essence and inflicts piercing damage. In addition treat the Monolith Stylist’s attacks as inflicting lethal damage for the purpose of attacking inanimate objects.

Obsidian Monolith Form:

 

Cost: 6m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Simple

 

Keywords: Form-type, Obvious

 

Duration: One scene

 

Prerequisite Charms: Imperishable Monolith Stance, Obsidian Hammer Strike

 

When this Charm is invoked, the Monolith Stylist’s skin darkens and his muscle mass greatly increases. Minor blows struck against him hardly leave a mark and heavier strikes that would fell a lesser man only give him a moment’s pause. For the rest of the scene the Monolith Stylist’s lethal and bashing soak are increased by his Martial Arts ability and his Lethal and Bashing Hardness are increased by an amount equal to his permanent Essence. The Monolith Stylist may also parry lethal blows while unarmed without a stunt.

Imposing Gargoyle Stance:

 

Cost: 1m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type:/b> Reflexive (Step 10)

 

<b>Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Compulsion

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: Obsidian Monolith Form

 

This Charm can only be invoked when an opponent successfully strikes the Monolith Stylist, but fails to inflict any damage with her attack either because of the Monolith Stylist’s Hardness, some form of magic or gaining no successes on the damage roll. If the Monolith Stylist’s Martial Arts + Essence then exceeds the target’s Dodge MDV, the target suffers a –2 External Penalty on all future attack rolls against the Monolith Stylist for the rest of the scene. The effects of Imposing Gargoyle Stance are not cumulative. Overcoming the effects of Imposing Gargoyle Stance requires the expenditure of 1 Willpower per attack. Automata, undead and those without fear are immune to the effects of this Charm.

Shattered Headstone Prana:

 

Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2; Type: Supplemental

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: Obsidian Monolith Form

 

Calling upon the essence of the earth, the Monolith Stylist hits with such force that the blow strikes to the very core of his opponent’s being. An unarmed martial arts attack enhanced with Shattered Headstone Prana ignores the opponent’s armor. Victim’s of this attack must make a reflexive Dexterity + Athletics roll at a difficulty equal to the number of health levels of damage inflicted by the attack. Failure causes the subject to be knocked back a number of yards equal to the Monolith Stylist’s permanent essence and then suffer knockdown.

Monolithic Endurance Method:

 

Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 2)

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: Imposing Gargoyle Stance, Shattered Headstone Prana

 

When subject to an attack the Monolith Stylist may roll his Stamina + Martial Arts at a difficulty equal to his opponent’s permanent Essence. On a success the Monolith Stylist may ignore all damage inflicted by the attack if it inflicts Bashing Damage. If it inflicts Lethal Damage he can halve it, rounding down, prior to applying Hardness and soak. The Monolith Stylist’s Dodge DV is not applicable against any attack in which Monolithic Endurance Method is invoked.

Howl of the Open Grave:

 

Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 10)

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Compulsion

 

Duration: One scene

 

Prerequisite Charm: Shattered Headstone Prana

 

This Charm can only be invoked when one of the Monolith Stylist’s unarmed martial attacks successfully inflicts at least one health level of damage. The Monolith Stylist then rolls his Martial Arts + Essence adding one automatic success for each Health Level of damage inflicted by the attack. If the successes exceed the target’s Mental Dodge Value the target of the attack is shown a vision of their own demise at the hands of the Monolith Stylist. Mortals must then make a Valor roll difficulty of the Monolith Stylist’s Essence or be forced to flee the battlefield immediately as fast as they are able. Exalts and mortals who succeed on their Valor roll treat their Wound Penalties as External, rather then Internal Penalties for the purpose of their attacks against the Monolith Stylist. The effects of Howl of the Open Grave can be overcome by the expenditure of one point of willpower per attack. Automata, undead and those without fear are immune to the effects of this Charm.

Revelation of Shattered Tombs:

 

Cost: 5m, 1w; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Supplmental

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Compulsion

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: Howl of the Open Grave

 

Once this Charm is invoked the Monolith Stylist becomes surrounded by a dark aura and the smell of turned soil. Each blow he strikes not only carries with it physical force, but also a spiritual chill that cuts right to his opponent’s bones reminding them of their own mortality. For the rest of the scene anytime the Monolith Stylist inflicts at least one health level of damage with his martial arts attacks the target of the attack must make a Valor roll at a difficulty equal to the number of health levels of damage inflicted by the attack. Failing this roll causes the victim to suffer a –3 Internal Penalty on all actions for the next 6 ticks. The effects of this Charm are not cumulative. Automata, undead and those without fear are immune to the effects of this Charm.

Burial of the Unworthy:

 

Cost: 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Supplemental

 

Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious

 

Duration: Instant

 

Prerequisite Charm: Revelation of Shattered Tombs, Monolithic Endurance Method

 

Using this Charm the Monolith Stylist can literally send his opponents to an early grave. This Charm can only be invoked to supplement a Clinch attempt, adding the Monolith Stylist’s Essence as a dice bonus to his attempt to control the Clinch. If the Monolith Stylist successfully gains control of the clinch he flips his opponent to the ground with such force that the impact can cause stone to shatter. Doing so inflicts an amount of raw, piercing, Bashing damage equal to the Monolith Stylist’s permanent essence multiplied by his Strength plus Extra Successes. Each success on the damage roll causes the target to sink three inches into stone or one foot into the earth. Wooden floors are simply shattered outright. If the victim is not killed outright each success on the damage roll also imposes a –1 Internal Penalty on all of the victim’s actions. This penalty is a crippling effect and fades at a rate of one penalty every 3 ticks. In case it needs to be stated, Burial of the Unworthy also causes automatic knockdown even if the target is protected by magical effects that would normally prevent knockdown.

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