Fighting Styles

## The Dance of Death

Traversus is a dangerous realm, and with danger comes the crossing of blades. If one is to survive such an encounter, they best train their body and wit. Thankfully centuries of conflict have left behind cultures that have mastered the art of warfare in their own ways. Commonly known as "Styles", individuals train themselves in these "philosophies of war" pioneered by ancient masters, or (if they are feeling particularly inventive) evolved into new combat styles for a new generation of warriors. As the old saying goes, "War is the father of innovation".

## Righteous Warriors of the Levissian Empire

#### Ashen Templar Training

The training of an Ashen Templar incentives heavy, crushing blows that can be dealt to numerous enemies, while keeping them at arms length. This style is typically employed to combat undead foes, as the colossal slams easily break through rotting corpses and prevent any festering claws from getting too close. Attacks in this style are slow, and designed to be used with heavy armor, so faster foes may be able to exploit the time it takes between swings. This style incorporates greatswords, warhammers and flails. The first two weapons are usually swung in horizontal or overhead arcs with two hands, while the flail is held in one hand with a shield, usually a tower shield, is held in the other, which can be used to slam into oncoming foes.

#### Dawnbreaker Training

The Dawnbreakers are the nautical knights of the Levissian Empire. As such, their training involves many techniques well-equipped for naval combat. They incentivise using the environment, such as barrels, crates and ropes, and are always shifting their weight, able to stay upright no matter the conditions. This fluidity is combined with an intense focus on ambidexterity, allowing Dawnbreakers to fight with a weapon in either of their hands (or often time both), keeping a hand free to grab hold of ropes should the need arise. Typical weapons include cutlasses and hand-crossbows, quickly weapons that can easily be held in one hand. They wield these weapons with a certain flair and fluidity, emblematic of the ocean that they safeguard. Supposedly, some Dawnbreakers have received munitions from the Steel Accord, weapons known as chimes, which are ideal for their conditions, and they are often wielded during naval combat.

#### Sin-Eater Techniques

Closely guarded by the illusive Sin-Eater order, Sin-Eaters train in vicious and savage combat, utilising a variety of techniques to always have the upper hand on their opponents and dispose of their targets as efficiently as possible. The most common armaments for a Sin-Eater is a greatsword held in one hand, accompanied by a specialised parrying dagger. Sin-Eaters incorporate acrobatic flips and slides, raking their dagger into the ground as a fulcrum as they descend upon their prey. They typically try to kill their marks with as few strikes as possible, carving wholly through their opponent’s body with the blade of the greatsword, mercilessly ending their life.

## Sturdy Warriors of Kyo-Tashi

#### Dragonturtle Style

As patient as they are colossal. Masters of the Dragonturtle style are capable of creating a stalwart and unbreakable defence, deflecting each blow from their oppressors with a shell of their own. Practitioners equip themselves with single handed blades and a shield of significant length, they have been known to also employ heavy armor, however masters of the style put 100% of their faith into their shields and their ability to block deadly swipes with such. Dragonturtle warriors begin engagements on the defensive, maintaining perfect eye contact with their opponent, parrying and blocking attacks with their shields through their peripheral vision. Even the most proficient of battlemasters have moments where their prowess fumbles, even if at a slight, a foot out of place, an unusual grip on their weapon, a slight hesitation, it all appears in the eyes of a Dragonturtle warrior's opponent, and as quick as the the turtle jaws snap, the warrior ripostes within an instant. Exploiting their fumble, these warriors attack decisively, guiding their blades to neutralise their foe in one strike.

## Vagabond Warriors of the Path

#### Barbed Daemon Style

Coined in inspiration from his first encounter with a Daemon, Baldwin evolved the **Dragonturtle Style** after the loss of his shield. Barbed Daemon Style maintains many of it's predecessor's stances, but forgoes a shield in favour of an open hand. This change resulted in a more "active defense", with an emphasis on parries, grappling and fisticuffs, battering away the opponent's weaponry and debilitating them through punches, kicks and grapples. As Baldwin once said to his mentor, 'why wait for an opening, when you can create it yourself?' This "butchering" of a sacred Kyo-tashian fighting style would often be scoffed at as "barbaric" by sword craft puritans, critiquing how it often leaves the utiliser open for ripostes themselves, but those who face against the "renegade style" cannot dismiss it's decisive and brutal nature.