Knifeplay (skill)

Knifeplay

Knifeplay is the art of combat using agility and a sitara. A sitara is a blade finely crafted from the bones of a fallen foe, using the strength of that victim as a foundation for the characteristic of the weapon. An Idras learns how to manipulate the sitara in both defensive and offensive maneuvers, thus becoming a deadly opponent.

Stances

The art of Qa-Sital is a difficult one, and much different from swordplay. The most important concept you must grasp is the interaction of stances and Knifeplay moves.

Each stance is a combination of physical posture and mental state. The Laesan stance is defensive in nature, and so an Abhaen in that stance is better positioned and better prepared for defence.

Each Knifeplay move can only be done from certain stances, and will cause you change stance. For example, lateral slash can be done from the Vae-Sant stance, leaving you in Ein-Fasit. Vertical slash can be done from Ein-Fasit, returning you to Vae-Sant. By choosing your moves wisely, you can flow between stances without ever being forced to stop attacking and change stance.

Abhaen combat is based on combinations of Qa-sital attacks. Many apprentices will begin with the brace form, allowing them to perform two attacks in rapid succession. An attack can be defined as a Qa-Sital strike or a change of stance. With further training in Qa-sital, you will soon learn to strike in triplets, allowing three attacks. Those few who master the Qa-Sital when provoked will be able to strike in a devastating quartet.

Start in the Ein-Fasit stance and perform vertical then lateral slashes. You will finish back in the Ein-Fasit stance, ready to repeat as soon as you regain balance.

            Vertical              Lateral
 Ein-Fasit ----------> Vae-Sant  ----------> Ein-Fasit

You may equally well choose to start in the Vae-Sant stance.

            Lateral               Vertical
 Vae-Sant  ----------> Ein-Fasit ----------> Vae-Sant

Alternately, lacking a sitara, you may use the swiftkick move instead. The stance flow for this move is an alternation between Ein-Fasit and Vae-Sant, like so:

            Swiftkick              Swiftkick
 Ein-Fasit ---------->  Vae-Sant  ----------> Ein-Fasit

Begining from Vae-Sant is also possible, and it would be the same combination of two swiftkicks.

Stance Chart

 --------------------------------------------------
| Move        | x | ? | Stances                    |
|--------------------------------------------------|
| Bleed       | E |   | G -> L -> V -> R -> E      |
| Butterfly   | G |   | E -> L -> R -> G, V - > G  |
| Crescentcut | V | * | R -> L -> V, G <-> E       |
| Feint       | R | * | V -> L -> E <-> G          |
| Flashkick   | R | * | G -> R, E -> L <-> V       |
| Gouge       | L | * | G -> E -> R -> V -> G      |
| Jab         | R | * | L -> G <-> V, E -> G       |
| Lateral     | L |   | G -> V -> E -> L, R -> E   |
| Lowhook     | R | * | L -> G <-> V, E -> G       |
| Pinprick    | E | * | L -> G -> R <-> V          |
| Raze        | V |   | G -> L -> E -> R -> V      |
| Slit        | N | * | R -> G -> E -> L -> V -> E |
| Spinslah    | E |   | G -> V -> E, R -> L -> E   |
| Swiftkick   | R | * | G -> L -> R, V <-> E       |
| Trip        | V |   | L -> R -> G -> V, E -> G   |
| Vertical    | L |   | R -> E -> V -> L, G -> L   |
 --------------------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------------
| KEY                                        |
|--------------------------------------------|
| x - Stance from which move is impossible   |
| ? - Whether move can be repeated by itself |
| N - No stance                              |
| G - Gyanis                                 |
| V - Vae-Sant                               |
| R - Rizet                                  |
| E - Ein-Fasit                              |
| L - Laesan                                 |
 --------------------------------------------

Sitaras

Before carving a sitara, a bone must be cleaned and dried. Be warned that both the preparation and carving steps can take quite a bit of undisturbed time.

Colour    Advantage
--------------------------------
Black     %50 Unblockable damage
Grey      Psychic damage
Clear     Asphyxiation damage
Yellow    Electrical damage
Red       Fire damage
Green     Poison damage
Blue      Cold damage

Skill Table

Name	Rank	Percent	Description
Knifecrafting			The art of the true Predators.
Stances			Smoothly shift between the knifeplay stances.
Lateral			The basic slash.
Ambidexterity			Two hands are better than one.
Vertical			A more powerful slash.
Brace			Combine two attacks at once.
Swiftkick			A swift and accurate kick.
Parry			The ability to parry attacks.
Gouge			A disfiguring slash.
Jab			A piercing blow to the arms.
Feint			Fake out your opponent.
Pinprick			Effectively disarm your foe.
Raze			Attack the defences that would keep your sitara away.
Bleed			Drain the blood of your foe.
Flashkick			A blow to leave them reeling.
Crescentcut			An attack of brute force.
Triplet			Attack with three hits.
Lowhook			Spin low to render legs useless.
Slit			Cut the throat of a helpless victim.
Pommelwhip			They're easier to handle unconscious.
Envenom			Coat your sitara in toxins.
Trip			An effective method of bringing him down.
Takedown			Knock them down from their high horse.
Spacing			Keep yourself beyond arm's length.
Freefall			The blade from above strikes true.
Notching			A crafting skill to enhance your knife.
Edgehook			Catch your enemy's blade.
Backstab			Attack from the shadows.
Cover			Defend your comrades in battle.
WolfCharge			Quickly dismount for hand to hand combat.
Spinslash			A powerful double-cut.
Circle			Move like water, cut like steel.
Knifethrowing			Fling your blade like a projectile.
Trueparry			Your blade makes you impervious.
Prowess			Keep a look-out for openings.
Bloodscourge			Your own essence is as good a poison as any.
Butterfly			A whipping acrobatic attack.
Triad			Dispatch thrice as many.
Tidalslash			Use your enemy's magick against him.
Bladesurge			The spirit of the fighter fully realised.