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Single Point Shining Into the Void Style [2E]

Summary:

This is a speculative rewrite of a 3e style for 2e Exalted, using fragmentary public domain information. As this is made from public information retrofitted to an older system, readers are advised to expect discrepancies.

Notes:

I saw a 3e game log of a Deathknight shredding a Lunar and thought, "Hey that would be fun to recreate in 2e." It did not have specific mechanics, only Charm names. These names are, again, publicly available information on dozens of websites. I am not revealing copyrighted game mechanics; I am completely making up mechanics here, in accordance with the long-established and encouraged 1e/2e practice of creating your own Charm trees. Please do not hassle me or send lawyers over this.

If you used this in your own 1e/2e game, please let me know how it went in gameplay! I think it has the potential to be strong, although, as with most other Martial Arts styles, it can't handle all problems and requires support from native Charms.

Work Text:

SINGLE POINT SHINING INTO THE VOID STYLE
Practitioners of this Celestial Martial Art focus on quick sword draws to the near-exclusion of all else. Familiarity with the slashing sword is essential for practicing this martial art, and several of its Charms require a certain level of Melee as well as Martial Arts. The slashing sword (or its artifact equivalent) is the only form weapon for this style. This style may be practiced in light armor.

This style is inspired by communion with the Void. It may only be learned by those with permanent Whispers, or those initiated into Necromancy.

GATHERING LIGHT CONCENTRATION
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 2, Melee 1, Essence 1; Type: Counterattack (Step 9) Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious Duration: Special Prerequisite Charms: None
To swing a sword at a Single Point Shining stylist is to invite a devastating counterattack. This Charm may be invoked after the martial artist is attacked. Three outcomes are possible: if the initial attack hits the martial artist, the counterattack fails and the motes are wasted. If the martial artist dodges, the counterattack hits with precisely the number of successes needed to hit (no extra attack successes) and rolls minimum damage, as determined by the martial artist’s weapon or her Essence. If the initial attack is parried by the martial artist, the counterattack rolls full damage and halves the defender’s Soak (if the defender’s Soak is already being halved, such as when an attack is Piercing, divide Soak by 4.)

At Essence 4+, the martial artist may choose to add 1 to either her Parry or Dodge DV when using this Charm.

Gathering Light Concentration may not be combined with other counterattack Charms or with Charms that would increase the damage of the counterattack.

SHINING STARFALL EXECUTION
Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 1; Type: Supplemental Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: None
The martial artist learns to take calculated risks in battle. This Charm supplements a martial arts attack. If the attack succeeds in hitting, its Speed is reduced by 1, and the martial artist adds her Essence to the damage of the attack. If the attack fails to hit, the attack’s Speed is increased by 2, to a maximum of 6.

No combination of Charms including Shining Starfall Execution can reduce an attack below Speed 3.

SINGLE POINT SHINING INTO THE VOID FORM
Cost: 9m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Melee 2, Essence 3; Type: Simple (Speed 5) Keywords: Form-type, Obvious, Spectral Duration: One scene Prerequisite Charms: Gathering Light Concentration, Shining Starfall Execution
The Essence of the martial artist awakens her sword spirit, endowing it with the capacity for independent action and warning. While in Single Point Shining Into the Void Form, she adds her Martial Arts in successes to Awareness rolls to notice attacks, ambushers, or nearby combat, and rolls twice to Join Battle, taking the better result. If any others are using Charms to act first in battle, this Charm provokes a roll-off between all those attempting to act first, treating the martial artist as having done so as well. Regardless of her result in the roll-off, she will still act in the initiative order before any combatants who did not use such Charms.

Whenever the martial artist attacks someone and successfully deals at least one health level of damage, she effectively attacks twice: observers see her make a lightning-quick cut, and then, impossibly, the sword reverses itself for a second strike, in clear defiance of the laws of nature. She does not suffer multiple action penalties when attacking this way, but her enemies suffer appropriate Onslaught penalties on the second strike. Each time she successfully wounds an opponent with an attack she initiates, she gains one free follow-up attack in this fashion. This does not apply to counterattacks. This unnatural animation does not come without cost. She is treated as a Creature of Darkness while the Charm is active, and may not use or benefit from Holy Charms or effects. As a Spectral effect, this Charm draws upon the power of the Underworld, and costs 1 additional willpower to activate outside the Underworld, Shadowlands, or Labyrinth.

At Essence 6+, the martial artist gains a second free follow-up attack, effectively attacking three times each time she attacks and wounds an enemy. Single Point Shining Into the Void Form is incompatible with other Form Charms.

SIX-DEMON SCABBARD BINDING
Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3; Type: Supplemental Keywords: Obvious, Spectral Duration: 1 tick Prerequisite Charms: Single Point Shining Into the Void Form
The martial artist visualizes attempts to alter her nature as incoming attacks, which she cuts through. When she enters Single Point Shining Into the Void Form, she may also invoke this Charm. The Spectral effect surcharge of 1 Willpower is paid at this time, if outside the Underworld, Shadowlands, or Labyrinth. As long as the Form Charm remains active, the martial artist may reflexively spend 1 mote to perfectly defend against all Shaping that targets her, or her worn or carried items, for one tick. This usage does not count as a Charm activation.

At Essence 6+, the martial artist may choose to intercept Shaping aimed at her companions, or any creatures or items within (Martial Arts + Dexterity) yards. The cost remains 1 mote per tick.

LIQUID STEEL FLOW
Cost: 2m +3m per dot; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Melee 3, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious Duration: (Martial Arts) actions Prerequisite Charms: Single Point Shining Into the Void Form
The martial artist moves with impossible fluidity and grace. For the next few actions, she uses Dexterity rather than Strength to meet attribute minimums for her weapon, and to determine its damage. Additionally, she may temporarily raise her Dexterity by paying a surcharge of 3 motes per dot. She may not spend more than her (Martial Arts + Essence) in motes on this Charm.

No combination of Charms including Liquid Steel Flow can raise her Dexterity more than 1 above its normal maximum (6 for an Essence 5 or below character.)

VOID-SLICING SPECTRAL WIND
Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Melee 3, Essence 3; Type: Supplemental Keywords: Combo-OK, Spectral Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Single Point Shining Into the Void Form
At this level, the sword arts of the martial artist transcend space. This Charm supplements a single martial arts attack made with a slashing sword (or its artifact equivalent), causing the force of the attack to strike a target up to (Martial Arts + Dexterity) x Essence yards away as a violent wind capable of splintering shields and stripping flesh from bone. The first time in a scene this attack is made, it is Unexpected. Regardless of whether it is expected or not, the attack gains the Piercing tag, and becomes unblockable (though it can be dodged normally.)

As a Spectral effect, this Charm draws upon the power of the Underworld, and costs 1 additional willpower to activate outside the Underworld, Shadowlands, or Labyrinth.

SPECTRAL NOVA FLARE
Cost: 10m; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Melee 5, Essence 3; Type: Extra Action Keywords: Combo-Basic, Obvious (see text), Spectral Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Liquid Steel Flow, Six-Demon Scabbard Binding, Void-Slicing Spectral Wind
This Charm produces a supernatural flurry of (Martial Arts + 1) spectral wind attacks that cannot be blocked, have the Piercing tag, and ignore weapon Rate. The martial artist may direct all these attacks at the same target, or at different targets, but all targets must be within (Martial Arts + Dexterity) x Essence yards. If Spectral Nova Flare and Void-Slicing Spectral Wind have not yet been used in this scene, or if their use has not been noticed by those being attacked, these attacks are Unexpected. Only in retrospect, after the martial artist swings her sword and her victims take grievous wounds, will it be obvious what has happened.

There are no multiple action penalties for this flurry. Only the highest single DV penalty out of all the individual attacks applies to the martial artist. As a Spectral effect, this Charm draws upon the power of the Underworld, and costs 1 additional willpower to activate outside the Underworld, Shadowlands, or Labyrinth.

At Essence 6+, the follow-up attacks from Single Point Shining Into the Void Form apply to Spectral Nova Flare, generating more piercing, unblockable spectral wind attacks when enemies are damaged. If the initial attacks are Unexpected, they, too, are Unexpected.

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