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. |