Sword School - Dread Crown

[Amanojyaku]

Courage and fearlessness are not the same; it's pithy, but it's true. Overwhelming force and a certain disdain for the conceits of "honor" or "chivalry" can undermine the ideals that many armies raise a flag to, crippling their confidence and allowing fear and despair to herald the end for them... even when they vastly outnumber the enemy. The student of the Dread Crown learns to use this to his advantage, learning techniques that prey upon his opponents' fears.

Intimidation is the key skill of the Dread Crown school, withering glares and supreme self-confidence that leave others second-guessing themselves and their ability. The Dread Crown school prefers Two-Handed weapons, massive pieces whose very size is meant to intimidate, to say nothing of their effect on hapless infantry. It's whispered among those who have faced the Dread Crown that the original techniques were handed down from Malal himself in order to wreak havoc in mortal battles.

Level 1: Apprentice

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

-Action (Knock Down): Use Knock Down actions in martial maneuvers. Apply attack bonuses to the opposed Strength test instead.

Level 2: Initiate

(-2)Profane Consumption: After using this attack, you gain a level of Fatigue.

(2)Sadistic Blow: This attack gains the Sadistic special quality.

Level 3: Journeyman

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

(2)Brutal Onslaught: Your next attack gains a static bonus on the damage roll equal to half of the wounds dealt by this attack.

Level 4: Master

-Mastery (Dread Presence of the Archfiend): Opponents within melee range of you get -1k0 on attacks made against you.

(4)Maleficient Hammer: This attack gains the Sanctified (Chaos Undivided) special quality. If the target would be affected by the extra damage caused by this special quality, they must make a Constitution Test (TN 20) or become Stunned for one round.

Level 5: Grandmaster

(5)Feed the Maw of Hell: This attack deals E damage instead of its normal damage type. If the target dies as a result of this attack, it becomes a minion under your control, with a Threat Rating equal to your level and a Damage Rating equal to its own.