Ebon Shadow Style rewrite

Ebon Shadow Style
As the Primordial War was won a Night Caste Solar died. Already knowing of his great deeds and the end of the war, the recipient of his Exaltation thought herself unworthy of such a storied and grand power. She prayed daily that the Unconquered Sun would pass the Exaltation on to someone more worthy or, at least, bestow on her a different caste. One day her prayers seemed to be answered in the night by the dark from of what appeared to be Ignis Divine himself. He taught her many techniques to take advantage of the shadows and that even at night the Sun is the restless guardian of Creation. Her subtlety and lonesome disposition was only one facet of the many great ways in which the Sun watched over the world.

This tutor passed on to the Solar Ebon Shadow Style, and when she had mastered it she knew that she was not taught by the Unconquered Sun but by his faithful shadow Five Days Darkness. She understood, then, that even the humble and least of Creation’s rulers must be dedicated in their way to the task and take it up however they may. While she was not as inclined as others to shine with golden power, still she could slip through the shadows and root out the enemies that the Ebon Dragon and his Yozi brethren, and others, had left there. She took the name Ebon Shadow’s Graceful Daughter and, though never lauded as a paragon of the First Age Solar society, her wisdom and lessons have been passed on to this day.

Weapons and Armor: Ebon Shadow Style treats as unarmed those attacks made with fighting chains, sai and their artifact equivalents. It is incompatible with armor.

Complementary Abilities: Students of Ebon Shadow Style must have at least two dots of Stealth to learn its Charms.

Image of Death Technique
Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 1; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: None
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: None

Some say that the shadow is a unique part of you, one that flees with your death. Surely, this is yokel superstition confusing the po soul for the shadow, and it is plain to see that dead bodies cast shadows. But are they the same cast by living bodies? When a martial artist activates this Charm he swallows his shadow and takes on a darker aspect of his own, stepping onto the threshold between life and death. A martial artist under the effects of this Charm has no shadow, which other characters may notice with a normal reflexive Awareness roll. The difficulty should range from 1-5 depending on available light and how obvious the shadow would be.

While this Charm is active the martial artist lives on the edge of being a shade, the remnants of the living. He is still alive, but somehow less so. The character adds his Martial Arts rating to his (Stamina + Resistance) when suffering hardship (Exalted, p. 129), whether to stave off death from dehydration or rolling to stay awake for long periods. The character also ignores one point of internal penalty from such hardships. Finally, the time he can hold his breath (Exalted, p. 130) is multiplied by his Martial Arts rating.

If the martial artist stays perfectly still, he appears dead to all mundane senses. Only a magically enhanced diagnosis can tell that he is actually alive and under the effects of a Charm. This is a visual trick that is not a form of influence; it can be seen through with magic like Eye of the Unconquered Sun but characters cannot spend Willpower to overcome the trickery.

Wall Climbing Technique
Cost: 2m; Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: (Martial Arts) actions
Prerequisite Charms: None

While this Charm lasts the martial artist automatically succeeds on any valid roll to climb without mishap (Exalted, p. 145). In addition, she may maintain her full movement rates while climbing, rather than half. The character may “climb” by simply running along a surface, leaving her hands free for other tasks. However, she must keep moving  (covering at least one yard with a Move or Dash action) to do so.

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Action-Only, Combo-OK, Illusion, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

Wrapping a bit of his shadow around his fingers and sending it flying through the air, the martial artist catches the eye of his opponent with a black simulacrum of himself, his foe or some other trick of sight. It vanishes over the course of a few seconds, but it captivates the target. The martial artist rolls (Dexterity + Martial Arts), adding extra successes equal to his permanent Essence, against the Dodge MDV of a target within (Essence x 5) yards. If the target’s MDV is insufficient to protect them, they increase the Speed of their current action by a number of ticks equal to half the practitioner’s Martial Arts rating. A target may prevent this increased wait until his next action tick by spending two Willpower to see through the unnatural illusion, but they may only do so the instant they fail to resist the attack. Once successfully distracted by the illusion, there is no resisting it. A target that has spent Willpower to resist this Charm twice need not do so again for the rest of the scene.

If the target is performing a Guard, Aim or other action that they can normally abort, they cannot do so until they wait through the delay imposed by Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack.

Ebon Shadow Form
Cost: 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: Form-type, Obvious
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Image of Death Technique, Wall Climbing Technique, Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack

The martial artist so internalizes the aspects of the shadow that he seems to become one. Though he is not two-dimensional, he appears as a featureless, black space shaped like himself. In the uncertain realm of shadows, the martial artist is king, and his subjects love and embrace him. In areas where shadows would aid attempts at Stealth, attacks against the martial artist suffer an external penalty equal to half his permanent Essence. When the martial artist is actually sneaking and hiding, Awareness rolls to notice him suffer an external penalty equal to his Essence. Finally, the martial artist may mete out gentle redress or vicious punishment, inflicting his choice of bashing or lethal with his unarmed Martial Arts attacks.

In addition to the benefits above, a martial artist who has Essence 3+, has adopted the Ebon Shadow Form and is in shadow may increase Wall Climbing Technique’s cost by one mote to activate it as if it were not a Charm.

Seven Points of Weakness Strike
Cost: 3m or 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Ebon Shadow Form

Attuned to the shadow realm as she is, the martial artist can find the shadows in her foe’s hearts and, so, the weaknesses that they hide. This Charm enhances an unarmed Martial Arts attack, reducing the target’s soak against the attack by (Martial Arts + Essence), to a minimum of zero. This only affects armor soak if the martial artist pays three motes, but may affect natural soak as well for five motes. It is easier to cut ties to belongings than people.

Limb-Immobilizing Method
Cost: 6m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Crippling, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Seven Points of Weakness Strike

The martial artist slips sinuously through the battlefield to steal away the puissance of his enemies, leaving them open to the finality of his shadowy justice. This Charm enhances an unarmed Martial Arts attack in close combat, and as it snakes through the air trailing black, smoky contrails it cannot be blocked. The martial artist may choose to pull the blow to deal less severe or less total damage without suffering any external penalty. If the attack hits, it also inflicts the equivalent of a Crippling amputation effect (Exalted, p. 152) on one of the target’s limbs, chosen by the practitioner when he activates this Charm. The limb that is targeted is not actually removed, and returns to normal functionality at the end of the scene.

This Charm disrupts the chakra points of the target. Without Occult 3+ a martial artist lacks the mystical knowledge to disrupt the similar patterns that motivate the walking dead and automata.

Paralyzing Touch Attack
Cost: —(+1wp); Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Crippling
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Limb-Immobilizing Method

Refining her ability to disrupt others’ Essence flows, when an Ebon Shadow stylist learns the Paralyzing Touch Attack she becomes capable of increasing the activation cost of Limb-Immobilizing Method by one Willpower. Rather than simply concealing her blow and making it harder to avoid, the swirling shadows that surround her attack twist and fly through the air to wrap around the target, pulling the unprepared victim closer to the shadow realm. Instead of inflicting an amputation effect, the Charm converts any levels of damage that the attack would inflict into a penalty to the target’s Dexterity. This internal penalty applies to all of their Dexterity-based dice pools, though as usual it cannot reduce them below the target’s Essence on its own. However, if the target suffers an internal penalty from this Charm that is equal to or greater than their (Dexterity + Resistance), they are rendered Inactive (Exalted, p. 143). Just like its prerequisite, the effects of this Charm last for the scene.

Elusive Flicker Evasion
Cost: —(1m); Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Form-Enhancing
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Ebon Shadow Form

While the character’s Ebon Shadow Form is active, in addition to the penalty it imposes on others’ Awareness rolls to spot him the martial artist also gains (Essence) extra successes on his Stealth rolls to remain hidden while in concealing shadows. On top of this, the martial artist may reflexively pay one mote to ignore any penalties to his Dodge DV against an attack, in or out of shadows.

Blow-Concealing Gesture Technique
Cost: 2m, 1wp; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Action-Only, Combo-OK, Illusion
Duration: One tick
Prerequisite Charms: Elusive Flicker Evasion

Wrapping her attacks in the expectations of others and the misdirections she knows so well, the martial artist fools everyone into thinking that she does nothing. This Charm conceals all of the practitioner’s unarmed Martial Arts attacks for the rest of the tick with an unnatural illusion, forcing others to believe that she has not made any attacks at all. This affects only characters who are not the direct targets of the attacks, and only those whose Dodge MDV is less than (martial artist’s Martial Arts + Essence). Ebon Shadow Stylists use this Charm to conceal both assassinations in crowded dining parties as well as running street battles between rival schools. It costs two Willpower to see through this unnatural illusion during the tick the Charm is activated; after that time has passed, one cannot remember what one did not see.

Shadow-Body Style
Cost: —(1wp); Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 4; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Form-Enhancing
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Blow-Concealing Gesture Technique

Nearing the pinnacle of Five Days Darkness’ knowledge of the shadow, the martial artist becomes indistinct as he is to his beloved Unconquered Sun. When the character adopts the Ebon Shadow Form he becomes fuzzier around the edges, and is only clearly a humanoid shape of some kind. This duplicates the identity-concealing effect of the Night Caste anima banner (Exalted, p. 98). This does not flare his anima if he has one. In addition, any motes spent from the martial artist’s Peripheral pool on Ebon Shadow Style Charms do not count towards his anima banner flaring, as if they were Personal motes. This does include the initial mote cost spent activating Ebon Shadow Form.

The character may also become even more shadow-like, slipping through the cracks and into any dark place. By performing an appropriate movement action and paying one Willpower, the character’s Move and Dash actions during that tick can validly be made through spaces normally too small for a person to go. He can fit through any space wide enough for a finger and as tall as a handspan. If this movement does not carry him all the way to the other side of a barrier, he must reactivate this effect continually until he exits. Failure to do so inflicts three levels of unsoakable lethal damage on him as he is ejected from his entry point. The martial artist cannot use this effect while suffering the all-seeing rays of direct sunlight from the Daystar or the Unconquered Sun himself.

Shadow-Stepping Motion
Cost: 7m (+1wp); Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 5; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Paralyzing Touch Attack, Shadow-Body Style

The martial artist knows the cold embrace of the shadow realm and treasures it, knowing that it can carry her through any tribulation in any place. This Charm is a special form of movement action, taking the place of the character’s other Move or Dash actions on the tick it is used. Spending seven motes, the character steps into a handy shadow and emerges from another shadow she can see within (Essence x 100) yards. Like Shadow-Body Style’s barrier-bypassing effect, Shadow-Stepping Motion cannot function under direct sunlight.

By adding a point of Willpower to this Charm’s cost, the martial artist can step out of a shadow up to (Essence) miles away, even if she cannot see the destination currently. However, she must have seen the destination previously, either personally or through some scrying magic. Traveling this way takes up the entire span of time between the character’s actions, beginning with the tick the Charm is activated and her next action tick. If the target destination has no suitable shadows within 100 yards, this Charm fails but the cost is not refunded.

Barriers to teleportation and trespass have varying effects against this Charm. Obstructing magic that merely discourages the martial artist from approaching, like a Spirit-Desolating Sphere or Lesser Ward, are useless against it. Effects that pose a physical or physically harmful barrier, like the Ward Against (Creature) thaumaturgical ritual, may be bypassed according to the effect’s rules as if the martial artist were attempting to pass through the barrier normally. Effects that outright bar teleportation are contested as per normal Charm conflict.

Overall? *Drool* In specific:

1. IoDT - I'd rather see the mote cost increased than the semi-Arcane Fate effect.

2. DFGA - The last parapgraph is a little confusing and took me two-three reads to decipher correctly.

3. SPoWS - The first sentence does not really make any sense.

4. L-IM - I think there should be an option to spend a temp WP to extend the duration to (M. Arts) hours or perhaps one day.

5. PTA - I think this...may be a little strong, especially when facing foes with low Dex and lots of health levels.

6. S-BS - I'd reduce of going shadow-form to 2 or 3m instead of 1wp.

<3.

Have I told you how awesome you are?

Sadly I'm at work and don't have the time to go Charm by Charm right now, but I'll post comments in any after I get home.

I've wanted this one for a while! :D

Plague of Hats:

Image of Death Technique

My crunch-fu is weak, but should an Essence 1 lead-in Charm to a Celestial Style do so many things?

Plague of Hats:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack

Do contested Celestial Martial Arts Charms, particularly pre-form ones, usually give automatic successes?  I'm not sure I can think of any.

Plague of Hats:

Paralyzing Touch Attack

I'm sure this Charm is meant to enhance Limb-Immobilizing Method, but it would probably be best to explicitly spell it out.

Plague of Hats:

Elusive Flicker Evasion

This seems better than most Solar Stealth Charms, to me.

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Image of Death Technique

My crunch-fu is weak, but should an Essence 1 lead-in Charm to a Celestial Style do so many things?

That is why he added the pseudo-Arcane Fate/QHoD effect at the end.

mercucio:

That is why he added the pseudo-Arcane Fate/QHoD effect at the end.

Uh...what, like it's supposed to be a detriment, or something?  Because it seems like someone who wants to use this style to full potential could get a lot of mileage out of people thinking he's dead.

JimB:

mercucio:

That is why he added the pseudo-Arcane Fate/QHoD effect at the end.

Uh...what, like it's supposed to be a detriment, or something?  Because it seems like someone who wants to use this style to full potential could get a lot of mileage out of people thinking he's dead.

Except when it is your Allies, Contacts, Backing, who think you are dead. The side-effect is indiscriminate.

mercucio:

Except when it is your Allies, Contacts, Backing, who think you are dead.

You don't get those back when you terminate the Charm?

JimB:

mercucio:

Except when it is your Allies, Contacts, Backing, who think you are dead.

You don't get those back when you terminate the Charm?

I just had a thought:

An Infernal with this Charm active who has to keep arguing with his sapient Artifact that he is alive, damn it.

Hee hee hee.

JimB:

mercucio:

Except when it is your Allies, Contacts, Backing, who think you are dead.

You don't get those back when you terminate the Charm?

No. I think you may want to reread the last paragraph of the Charm.

Oh, also in regards to Image of Death Technique you fail to mention how many WP in total must be spent to break the Illusion effect--unless it is supposed to be permanent.

Yeah, I have to agree with Mercucio here; Image of Death appears to be a bit h4x. I'd bump it to Essence 2 (this really isn't an Essence 1 style anyhow) and consider removing the dice bonus effects.

Plague of Hats:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack

How is this Illusion rather than Compulsion?

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Image of Death Technique

My crunch-fu is weak, but should an Essence 1 lead-in Charm to a Celestial Style do so many things?

It may be slightly heavy on the mechanical end, but as an effect that you see and feel as a character it's actually pretty simple.

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack

Do contested Celestial Martial Arts Charms, particularly pre-form ones, usually give automatic successes?  I'm not sure I can think of any.

I'm not really concerned with precedent like that. This Charm can be pretty devastating if you're particularly weak against it, but it's extremely easy for lots of heroes to be running around with Dodge MDVs sufficient to force you to pull on your Excellency super hard to make use of the Charm.

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Paralyzing Touch Attack

I'm sure this Charm is meant to enhance Limb-Immobilizing Method, but it would probably be best to explicitly spell it out.

Thanks for pointing that out.

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Elusive Flicker Evasion

This seems better than most Solar Stealth Charms, to me.

I'd rather have most Solar Stealth Charms than just a few more successes.

mercucio:

1. IoDT - I'd rather see the mote cost increased than the semi-Arcane Fate effect.

It's not really there as a balancing factor. Resisting hardship and holding your breath is a pretty basic effect, as is appearing dead when you aren't as long as you remain completely unmoving. I put the illusion in Image of Death Technique specifically because: "You! But...I killed you over the bridge at Kwan Wai!" "Clearly, you know not the extent of my ninja arts!"

mercucio:

2. DFGA - The last parapgraph is a little confusing and took me two-three reads to decipher correctly.

In addition to that, how about:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack:

A target that has spent Willpower to resist this Charm twice need not do so again for the rest of the scene.

If the target is performing a Guard, Aim or other action that they can normally abort, they cannot do so until they wait through the delay imposed by Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack.

mercucio:

3. SPoWS - The first sentence does not really make any sense.

Seven Points of Weakness Strike
Cost: 3m or 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Ebon Shadow Form

Attuned to the shadow realm as she is, the martial artist can find the shadows in her foe’s hearts and, so, the weaknesses that they hide. This Charm enhances an unarmed Martial Arts attack, reducing the target’s soak against the attack by (Martial Arts + Essence), to a minimum of zero. This only affects armor soak if the martial artist pays two motes, but may affect natural soak as well for four motes. It is easier to cut ties to belongings than people.

mercucio:

4. L-IM - I think there should be an option to spend a temp WP to extend the duration to (M. Arts) hours or perhaps one day.

Hm, perhaps.

mercucio:

5. PTA - I think this...may be a little strong, especially when facing foes with low Dex and lots of health levels.

I initially considered making the Inactive threshold (Dexterity + Essence). What think you?

mercucio:

6. S-BS - I'd reduce of going shadow-form to 2 or 3m instead of 1wp.

I don't believe we're going to see eye-to-eye on that one.

mercucio:

JimB:

Plague of Hats:

Image of Death Technique

My crunch-fu is weak, but should an Essence 1 lead-in Charm to a Celestial Style do so many things?

That is why he added the pseudo-Arcane Fate/QHoD effect at the end.

No, that's not why I added that.

mercucio:

Oh, also in regards to Image of Death Technique you fail to mention how many WP in total must be spent to break the Illusion effect--unless it is supposed to be permanent.

That's not how unmentioned Willpower costs work for influence.

Sojko:

Plague of Hats:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack

How is this Illusion rather than Compulsion?

Because it tricks you into fighting or defending where there is no foe, as opposed to making you want to do so.

Plague of Hats:

1. IoDT - I'd rather see the mote cost increased than the semi-Arcane Fate effect.

It's not really there as a balancing factor. Resisting hardship and holding your breath is a pretty basic effect, as is appearing dead when you aren't as long as you remain completely unmoving. I put the illusion in Image of Death Technique specifically because: "You! But...I killed you over the bridge at Kwan Wai!" "Clearly, you know not the extent of my ninja arts!"

Then you need to clarify the heck out of that section of the Charm.

Plague of Hats:

In addition to that, how about:

Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack:

A target that has spent Willpower to resist this Charm twice need not do so again for the rest of the scene.

If the target is performing a Guard, Aim or other action that they can normally abort, they cannot do so until they wait through the delay imposed by Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack.

Looks good.

Plague of Hats:

Seven Points of Weakness Strike
Cost: 3m or 5m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Ebon Shadow Form

Attuned to the shadow realm as she is, the martial artist can find the shadows in her foe’s hearts and, so, the weaknesses that they hide.

That makes much more sense.

Plague of Hats:

mercucio:

5. PTA - I think this...may be a little strong, especially when facing foes with low Dex and lots of health levels.

I initially considered making the Inactive threshold (Dexterity + Essence). What think you?

I think that would be perfect.