Sword School - Dancing Leaf

[Amanojyaku]

To have power is not to be strong. Adepts of the Dancing Leaf discipline are taught that true strength can be observed in the leaves that dance upon the wind, never again to be struck or cornered, or in the willow which bends with force but is never injured. Victory is not achieved by defeating one's opponent, but by allowing him to be defeated by his own actions. Thus, this discipline was developed to be the perfect defense, the best choice for those who wish to win without fighting. Dancing Leaf maneuvers employ fluid movements and almost supernatural semblances of their namesakes, allowing the adept to outmaneuver an opponent as she avoids their attacks with ease. The highest forms of the Dancing Leaf turn an opponent's strength against him, using your enemy's own power as a deterrent.

Acrobatics is the key skill for the Dancing Leaf discipline, fast and fluid movements that allow the adept to bend and flow around attacks like a willow switch. The preferred weapons of the school are Parrying weapons... more specifically, folding fans specifically made to block weapons and maybe give a scolding swat in return. It's thought that kenku or kitsune were the first to use this style, though the naming conventions used in its techniques hint at a dryad origin. The Wheel may never know for certain.

Level 1: Apprentice

-Weapon (Parrying): Use Parrying weapons with your martial maneuvers.

-Action (Dodge): Use Dodge actions in martial maneuvers. Any attack-related advantages you apply to the special attack are instead applied to your next standard attack against the enemy whose attack you dodged. That attack may not be a Special Attack.

Level 2: Initiate

(-2)Non-Aggression: This attack may only be used on a target that has attacked you since your last turn, if you successfully Dodged or Parried that attack. You may only apply this to actions that include an attack with a weapon - you cannot apply this to an Aim action, for example.

(2*)Mocking Dryad Stance: Gain +2 to your Static Defense for each time this advantage is taken against an enemy whose attack you have successfully Dodged or Parried until your next turn. You may only apply this to Dodge, Parry, or Fight Defensively actions.

Level 3: Journeyman

(-1)Skill (Acrobatics): As part of this attack, make an Acrobatics check against the Static Defense of the target. If it fails, the attack fails.

(2)Cloak of Falling Leaves: You gain concealment until your next turn. You may only apply this to Dodge, Parry, or Fight Defensively actions.

Level 4: Master

-Mastery (Mantle of Rose Petals): Melee attacks that miss you provoke an Opportunity Attack.

(3)Weeping Autumn Leaves: If you successfully Dodged or Parried a melee attack from the target since your last turn, add the target's Strength in rolled dice to this attack's damage roll.

Level 5: Grandmaster

(4)Dancing on the Wind: You may move up to your speed, after all other actions as a result of this attack have been resolved. This movement does not provoke Opportunity Attacks. You may only apply this to Dodge, Parry, or Fight Defensively actions.