SolarMelee/Ambisinister
This is an alternate path to get to Steel Devil Style. I wasn't too impressed with the one presented in CB:N. Using my tree Steel Devil Syle's only prerequisite charm is Moth Engulfing Flame Method.
Dual Slaying Stance</b>
<b>Cost: 3 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 3 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms:: None
An exalt who masters this charm allows his essence to guide his blades as if they had minds of their own. While under the effects of this charm an exalt does not suffer the penalty for wielding a weapon in their off hand. In additon he may subtract half of his permanent essence from any penalties incurred by splitting his action between attacks and parries with his weapons. An exalt must be using two weapons to benefit from this charm.
Force Redirecting Engagement</b>
<b>Cost: 5 motes Duration: essence in rounds Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 4 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Dual Slaying Stance
An exalt skilled in the use of this charm can turn the force of his opponents' attacks against them. While this charm is active, the exalt may make a reflexive counterattack after any attack he successfully parries. Further, for every success the exalt's parry beats his opponents parry by he gains an additional die on the counterattack. These dice count towards the exalt's charm bonus dice. An exalt must be wielding two weapons in order to use this charm. This charm is not compatible with Steel Devil Style.
Thunder Follows Lightning</b>
<b>Cost: 4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Extra Action Minimum Melee: 4 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Force Redirecting Engagement
The exalt strikes with blinding speed, bringing both of his weapons in at wildly different angles and flustering his opponent's defenses. The exalt may attack once with each of his weapons at his full pool. If his opponent tries to parry or dodge both attacks raise the difficulty of both defense attempts by the exalt's permanent essence. If his opponent only chooses to defend against one attack they do so at standard difficulty. This Charm may be used while Steel Devil Style is active. An exalt must be using two weapons to benefit from this charm.
Windmill Parry Technique</b>
<b>Cost: 4 motes Duration: One Turn Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 4 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Dipping Swallow Defense
The exalt creates a whirling barrier of steel and essence while using this charm. Until his next action the exalt may parry any attack he is aware of with his dex+melee+specialty+first weapon defense+second weapon defense. An exalt must be using two weapons to benefit from this charm. This charm is compatible with Steel Devil Style. If activated, its effects replace only the reflexive parry granted by SDS.
Moth Engulfing Flame Method</b>
<b>Cost: 5 motes, 1wp Duration: Insant Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Windmill Parry Technique, Thunder Follows Lighting
By leaving a tantalizing opening, the exalt who practices this technique may draw in his foe much like a candle draws a moth. And like the moth, unwarry foes will be consumed. Roll manipulation+melee+the weapon's defensive rating, at a difficulty equal to your opponent's perception. If successful, the exalt automatically parries his foe's attack and may make an immediate counterattack with his other weapon (i.e. the weapon didn't roll the parry with). Add your opponents sucessess to hit as bonus charm dice to this counterattack. This is a semi-perfect defense, applicable to any attack that can be parried. This charm may be acitvated while Steel Devil Style is active. If this charm is activated it takes the place of any parry and possible counterattack Steel Devil Style would grant against that attack. An exalt must be using two weapons to benefit from this charm.
The following are all 2E charms
Rock Parts the River Cut </b>
<b>Cost:2 motes Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Keywords: Combo-OK Minimum Melee: 3 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms:: Any Melee Excellency
The stone sits unperturbed as the river flows around it. The swordsman who learns from the stone allows the world to flow around him while he stands in the center, calm and unaffected. Attacks supplemented by this charm ignore all penalties resulting from cover, the environment, or wounds.
Stream Follows the Bank Recovery</b>
<b>Cost:1 mote Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive (Step 10) Keywords: Combo-OK Minimum Melee: 3 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms:: Rock Parts the River Cut
The stream moves along effortlessly with the terrain, following the path of least resistance instead of trying to force itself over the bank. The swordsman who learns from the stream flows with the course of battle moving with opposing forces instead of trying to fight against them. This charm may be activated when the character fails to hit a target with a melee attack. Reduce the DV penalty of that attack by 1.
Twig Follows the Current</b>
<b>Cost:2 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive (Step 10) Keywords: Combo-OK Minimum Melee: 4 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Stream Follows the Bank Recovery
The twig buoyed along by the water flows along effortlessly; it uses the power of the current to move instead of expending its own energy. The swordsman who learns from the twig uses efficient movements and is buoyed along by the momentum of the battle. This charm may be activated when the character fails to hit a target with a melee attack. Reduce the speed of that attack by 2.
Swell of the Spring Thaw </b>
<b>Cost:4 motes 1 willpower Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Keywords: Combo-OK Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisite Charms:: Twig Follows the Current
After the melting of winter’s snow or the falling of the rains of spring, the river grows in strength and speed. Bolstered by this new power it becomes a rapid, destructive, and unpredictable force. The swordsman who learns from the swollen river learns to tap an inner strength lending that ferocious speed and might to his strikes. Attacks supplemented by this charm reduce their speed to 1 and increase their damage by the character’s essence. If the character’s last action was a missed attack, boost the damage by (essence x2) and add 2 dice to the attack roll.
Unexpected Current Drowns the Unwary </b>
<b>Cost:4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Keywords: Combo-OK Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms:: Swell of the Spring Thaw
Many streams and rivers look the same on the surface, but some are deeper than they appear and possess many unseen perils. Some contain fast moving currents along their beds, which can pull the unwary deep below and dash them against the ground. The swordsman who learns from the hidden current is capable of striking quickly, often times when their opponents least expect it. Lawgiver’s who activate this charm receive an immediate attack at their full pool. This attack may not be a flurry and will occur simultaneously with any other actions in the tick. Apply a DV penalty for the attack as normal and delay the refreshing of the character’s DV by a number of ticks equal to the speed of the attack. If a character activates this charm while guarding, he may not abort out of the guard until a number of ticks have elapsed equal to the speed of the attack. Once this charm has been activated it may not be activated again before the character’s DV refreshes.
Flow Erodes the Bank</b>
<b>Cost:3 motes Duration: Instant Type: Simple (Weapon Speed/-1) Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms:: Unexpected Current Drowns the Unwary
The bank continually deflects the flow of the river, however it does not do so unscathed; each time the river is deflected it takes a small portion of the bank with it. The swordsman who learns from the eroding flow strikes with such force and focus that his opponents will still feel the sting of his cut even if it has been successfully deflected. Activating this charm gives the Lawgiver an attack at his full pool. So long as he rolls at least a single success on his attack roll, he will inflict a minimum of (essence +1) dice of bashing damage against his target. This effect only applies if the target uses its PDV. At essence 5, the Lawgiver strikes with such fury that this charm will apply this effect regardless of the target’s chosen method of defense as his anima amplifies the shock of the weapon’s passage.
Comments
These 2E charms are still on the experimental side. I have a few more but I'm pressed for time at the moment. Let me know what you think.-Ambisinister
While I like the principles, I have problems with Stream Follows the Bank and Twig Follows the Current. Solar charms that only work when you fail don't really fit for me. I don't mind the extra effect on Swell of the Spring Thaw after a miss, but I don't think the other two are very Solar-y. -Panache
