Hummingbird Style

History

Long ago, in the lost epochs of the First Age, Creation was pacified to such a degree that its rulers could contemplate martial endeavors not only as a means of survival, but also of art and spiritual expression. And as they quickly discovered, power rests in both art and enlightenment, waiting to be drawn out. One such Exalt, enraptured by the possibilities of the blade, sought to advance mastery of the sword beyond anything yet known in Creation. In the keening of wind over steel, he beheld a language comprehensible to any,regardless of spiritual station or divine patron. However, the raw expressions of power derived from Exalted mastery of armed battle did not hold the refinements he desired, and the structured lessons of the martial arts were too self-contained, refusing to cohabit with the mastery of technique that is the foundation of all swordsmanship. This long-gone Dawn Caste used his martial genius and the power of his Essence to forge a number of experimental styles that fused the benefits of both melee and martial arts. One of these was the Graceful Hummingbird style. It explored the potential of the agile fighter, who skewers an opponent upon his own power. It proved popular with diplomats, governors, elegant courtiers and seafaring roughnecks. In the Second Age this sublime wisdom is long lost. The Shogunate condemned the sword schools as Anathema work, and emphasized the role of mortal warriors as foot soldiers, serving below Terrestrial heroes. After the Contagion the schools were largely forgotten, the sword rarely looked to for anything other than its utility as a tool. Even at the height of the Shogunate, however, the Graceful Hummingbird was favored by outlaws and scoundrels, many of whom cared little for official proscriptions. It survived in the far West in a few famous pirate dens, and now, as the Age prepares to turn, may be ready for a resurgence. Charms of the Graceful Hummingbird style are unusual in that they may be used to augment attacks made with either the Martial Arts or Melee Ability, so long as the style's signature weapon is used. All Graceful Hummingbird Charms may be placed in Combos with Charms of either the Martial Arts or Melee Abilities; however, if used in conjunction with Melee Charms, they are considered Melee Charms for the purpose of the Combo. Thus, under most circumstances, they cannot be placed in Combos containing both Melee Charms and Martial Arts Charms of other styles.

Weapons and Armor: The Charms of this style can be used only with the foil or rapier and their artifact equivalent, the needle daiklave. This martial art is incompatible with armor.

Complementary Abilities: Practitioners of this style must possess at least three dots of Melee, and most find it advantageous to keep their Melee rating at least as high as their Martial Arts.

NEW KEYWORD: ADAPTIVE Charms which are tagged as Adaptive may experience altered performance if learned by a character who knows certain other Charms. The keyword is backwards-adaptable as well: if a character learns an Adaptive Charm and then later learns a Charm that it is linked to, the Adaptive Charm gains its enhanced performance as surely as if the character had always known that Charm.

New weapons:

Speed Accuracy Damage Defence Rate Minimums Cost Tags
Rapier/Foil 4 +2 +1L +2 3 Dex•• •• P
Needle Daiklave 5 +3 +3L +3 3 Dex •• Attune 5 •• P

Charms

Rooster Greets the Dawn

Cloud-Chasing Advance

Graceful Hummingbird Form

Dipping Heron Riposte

Rose Without Thorns

Haughty Gull Display

Thousand Angry Beaks

Woodpecker Striking Steel

Jeweled Hummingbird Dance

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