Volcanic Devastation Style - TMA
As its name implies, this style is neither subtle, nor restrained. Instead, it aims to emulate one of the most destructive naturally occuring phenomena in Creation, and unleashing that destruction against its opponents. The method by which it does this is rather novel for a Terrestrial art; A Molten Fist (as practitioners of this style are known) channels elementally aspected Essence through her chakras, namely the Crown of Temperance and the Root of Valor to achieve the style's effects. According to the style's inventor, this unusual approach is both a means of purifying the Essence involved, and to prevent a practitioner to draw more power than she can reasonably manage.
Whether this holds true or not, has yet to be tested.
Volcanic Devastation Style is very new, having appeared only within the last 20 years. This makes it possibly the youngest formally recognized Martial Art known in Creation. It has not spread far beyond its originator, remaining in her hands and those of one or two students.
Weapons and armour:
This style treats the cestus, fighting gauntlet and iron boot (and their artifact equivalents) as form weapons. It is incompatible with armour. Earth- and Fire-aspected Terrestrial Exalted do not pay a surcharge on the Charms of this style.
Complimentary abilities:
Practitioners of this art often cultivate Athletics or Resistance in addition to the Martial Arts ability. Thus, to learn this style, a student must have either Athletichs or Resistance at 3. Additionally, either Temperance or Valor must be at at least 3 dots, and neither virtue may be below 2.
CHARMS:
Mountain Abides Meditation
Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 2;
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
Nothing can truly diminsh the mountain. Air, water, and wood may win temporary victories, but the deep roots and burning heart of the earth ensures that it will endure. This Charm allows the martial artist to draw on this incredible durability. Channeling earth-aspected essence through her chakras, the Molten Fist can shrug off attacks that would cripple or kill lesser mortals.
This Charm may be activated in response to an attack. When activated, the martial artists' Temperance is added to her bashing soak.
Surging Magma Kata.
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 2;
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
A volcano is unpredictable by its very nature. There are few that can predict when or how it will erupt. And when it does, the eruption quite often comes sooner than most expect. Emulating this unpredictability, the martial artist may activate this charm at the beginning of combat to add her Valor to the Join Battle Roll as fiery essence speeds her actions.
Trembling Earth Prana
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2;
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Mountain Abides Meditation
As the volcano wakes, the earth quakes and splits with pain and trepidation, sending animals into flight and making even the soundest footing unstable and treacherous. Bringing her foot down in a mighty kick, the Molten Fist can knock her foes off-balance as the ground heaves and buckles. As she activates this Charm, all foes inside her Essence rating in yards must make a Dexterity + Athletics roll against a difficulty equal to the martial artist's temperance, or be knocked down.
Flowing Lava Strike:
Cost: 3m; Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2;
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Surging Magma Kata
Nothing can long endure the heat and ferocity of a river of molten rock. Lava bores
through stone, vaporizes metal, and cooks flesh in instants. So it is with this Charm. Charging her fists with burning Essence, the martial artist's attack ignores levels of an opponents Bashing and/or Lethal soak equal to her Valor
Volcanic Devastation Form
Cost: 6m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3;
Type: Simple
Keywords: Form-type, Obvious
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Flowing Lava Strike, Trembling Earth Prana
Taking a low, centered stance and flashing her fingers through the Old Realm signs for Fire, Earth and Harmony, the martial artist assumes the Volcanic Devastation Form. Earth essence envelops her fists and feet, along with lines of glowing fire-aspected essence, giving an impression of churning, molten rock. If the martial artist is an Earth or Fire aspected Terrestrial Exalt, the display is even more impressive.
For the duration of this Charm, the martial artist adds her Temperance to her Martial Arts for the purpose of calculating Parry DV, as well as adding dice equal to her Valor to raw damage before soak. In addition, she may choose to inflict lethal, rather than bashing, damage as fiery essence sears and consumes the target's flesh. This Charm is a spectacularly obvious display of supernatural puissance, however, and reduces any attempt at stealth as per a 4-7 mote Anima banner for its duration.
Inviolate Volcano Stance
Cost: 4m; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3;
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: One action
Prerequisite Charms: Volcanic Devastation Form
Even in the midst of an eruption, the volcano is involate. In time, even the short-term devastation of the eruption will only add to its grandeur and majesty. On assuming the Inviolate Volcano Stance, the martial artist may ignore up to her Temperance in wound penalties.
Explosive Caldera Technique
Cost: 4m, 1wp; Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3;
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Volcanic Devastation Form
Sometimes, the volcano erupts not where one would expect, but in an entirely new location, as the fiery essence at its heart seeks new ways to reach the surface. Applying this lesson to her fighting-style, the marital artist may activate this Charm to attempt to have her next attack blindside her opponent. If she succeds at a contested Dexterity + Stealth + Valor roll against her opponents Perception + Awareness, for all intents and purposes, the attack counts as unexpected.
Pyroclastic Flow Assault (capstone)
Cost: 8m, 1wp; Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3;
Type: Extra Action
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Inviolate Volcano Stance, Explosive Caldera Technique
The most devastating effect of a volcanic eruption is known as a pyroclastic flow. Lava may be avoided, or blocked with enough effort. The earthquakes may be endured. However, there is no escape from the terrible power of Earth and Fire in complete harmony that is the pyroclastic flow.
As the martial artist activates this Charm, she gains a magical flurry of attacks equal to her Temperance score. These attacks begin at her full Dexterity + Martial Arts pool -1 for the first attack, with each attack beyond that gaining a further -1 penalty. In addition, she counts all successes on her attack roll twice for raw damage. If Volcanic Devastation Form is active, the dice granted by Valor are not doubled.
Example: Ledaal Xienhua attacks a hapless Lookshyan Officer. Activating Pyroclastic Flow Assault, she gains three attacks (from her Temperance of 3). Not having specialties, artifacts, or other Charms activated, her first attack will be at 8 Dice ( for her Dex + Martial arts of 9, minus one), her second at 7 dice, and her third at 6 dice.
