It is Sophidas, 20th of the Month of Cinder, in the year 95
Fighting Forms
The Martial Arts
Throughout the Old and New World, cultures have developed ways to express violent intent through fatal art forms. These styles have ascended from their beginnings and have become widely adopted, pitted against one another and individuals are measured by what they use and how they use it. Despite their nature to defeat an opponent through blood-seeking action, they are treated as forms of art in themselves by most nobility throughout the world.
Some eternal students take up the practice to master all forms of these Martial Arts, such blade masters are few in numbers and their quest has been made indefinitely more difficult since the discovery of the New World.
Below is a small selection of Fighting Forms encountered.
"It feels like being smothered by a bear."
- A survivor's account of fighting against the Banen’Rhûn
Old World Forms
Byzani / Bacira
Byzani
Referred to as The First Fighting Style, Form One and as Byzani to the Old World or Bacira by the New World, it is a style of fighting that was said to have developed out of the earliest forms of martial combat by races in the Old World and New.
Byzani is often the first style taught to Old World nobles and soldiers alike for its core teachings of flowing attack and defence. Their New World counterparts do not need to start with the form, and it is often seen as too ignoble to learn and unfit for use by the Seventh Cultists. This has led to a great disparity between the relative mastery of the style.
Form Rundown
Byzani does not favour any particular melee type. It is compatible with Blunt, Slash or Pierce weapons.
Byzani is a moderate form, seeking to balance offense and defence. It has the ability to perform greater surprises and fight against multiple enemies.
History: Byzani
The true origins of the style are unknown, many believe that it is an ultimate collection of teachings and moves to turn a commoner into a competent warrior. This line of thought is often why militaries of the Old World favour it, and traditional militaries of the Great Houses disfavour it.
Before the discovery of The New World and interaction with their combatants, the teachings were believed to have been combined by a legendary warrior from the ancient histories of Sasanshahr called General Byzan. Only those with intimate knowledge of the perspective of the New World inhabitants have begun to question this understanding. The New World’s Bacira on the other hand is mired in myth and contested origins, the truth of it is lost to time. Compared to the Human variety, the Elven version has more movement while the Dwarven uses less.
The Great Houses, in reaction to the way Humanity conducts warfare, have begun teaching commoners the style to fill the gaps left in their old way of warfare and the lack of manpower caused by both the Great Plague and subsequent wars with the invaders. The teaching of the form has received a great deal of backlash from the more traditional Seventh Cultists as the form lacks individual character, an essential component of any warrior. This controversy has led to some Seventh Cultists specifically adopting the form to prove the naysayers wrong.
Byzani Abilities
Byzani Affray - An attack with a chance to recover a turn action.
Dual Strike - Attack another close by enemy who is not the one you already targetted.
Blinding Strike - Potentially debuff the target's defence
Mastery Choice - 'Fortunes Favour' or 'Doctrine'
Fortune's Favor
Lucky Break - Gain Stamina if narrowly missed by an attack.
Torrent - An attack with a chance to deal a more or less damage.
Convenient Advantage - When missing an attack, build a counter. At 3 counters, gain a turn action.
Doctrine
Army of One - Gain buffs when out-numbered
Zone Strike - An attack that damage multiple enemies
Rampage - Defeat and opponent and recover 1 turn/bonus action
Use: Byzani
The fighting style is often taught but not mastered, nor is it the worst way someone could fight as it is a functional form. However, it has the unfortunate association as something used by commoners, the uneducated or the simple-minded. Certainly, as an ‘unrefined’ style to be taught.
This contempt for the style has diluted its true potency and potential, the view of its inferiority plagues the ability for those who are taught it to achieve a higher level of competency with it. - Though they are rarely needed, the masses of levies and militias raised for war are generally there to protect the more valuable assets of an army and allow them to win the battles.
The form is still treated similarly in the New World except within Dwarven Cultures and the Komanali. The form is used by Dwarven militaries to form a cohesive fighting unit, though this limitation also prevents its truest potential. The Komanali on the other hand are the only culture that could accurately claim to have the truest masters of it. - Fighting a Bacira Master is said to be as though you were fighting against the course of a river, where everything is simultaneously an attack and a defence, without being able to predict what comes next.
The Royal
The Royal
The Royal Form, the Dance of Duelists, or The Cadence. The form is considered the fighting style of nobles, and most often it is adopted to fight in a one-on-one engagement. It is known to many in the New World as The Noble’s Dance, owing to the Gallic nobles who have introduced it into Great House society.
During a noble’s training, after learning the basics of Byzani. They will move on to The Cadence as it is expected of them to know this form for duels and fighting without expending too much energy. It is rare for anyone from a non-noble line to know the form.
Form Rundown
The Royal Form favours the use of Slashing and Piercing attacks. Its special abilities revolve around those attack types.
The Royal is a moderate form. While it seeks to balance offense and defence, but excels more in situations of fighting One on One.
History: The Royal
Within the mythos of the Old World, the form has its origins in Gallia to one of the greatest kings in history, King Carolus the Great. He is said to have been the founder of the form after using it to defeat over a dozen barbarian chiefs and kings he challenged to single combat. From there, he taught it to his many sons who then taught it to their children and so the form spread across the nobility of the Old World.
The style has gained a great deal of interest from Elves of the Great Houses, especially the Seventh Cultists who are lured in by its elegance brought from such ‘unrefined’ warriors such as humanity. Gallia has taught many willing students the fighting style, in an effort to better equip them to fight against the nobility of Dumanon and Asturias.
The Royal Abilities
Riposte - Increase hit-chance and damage against last opponent to melee attack you
Royal Duelist - A passive buff when fighting 1 v 1
Heartseeker - Once per combat, debuff target's defence and stamina
Master Choice - 'Coup de Grace' or 'Slow Death'
Coup de Grace
Royal Duelist (Coup de Grace) - Increase attack and damage
Royal Stroke - High damage dealing opener
Slow Death
Royal Duelist (Slow Death) - Increase attack and defence, lowers damage
Sever - Once per combat, debuff the target until end of combat
Flourish - Hit the same target 3 times and them perform a finisher
Use: The Royal
The form is taught and in-frequently mastered. Although the user can understand the form by all reason and logic, they can fail to master it due to tempo and flow. It is one of the only styles requiring the graceful guidance of your opponent into their own grave. The form does not often seek one strike to end the fight there and then, rather it builds up successive minor wins to defeat an opponent. - These minor wins come in the form of injuries and psychological impact. Eventually, an opponent will mostly dismantle themselves before the death blow is struck.
Despite its popularity among the nobility, the Form is not favoured for most battlefield conditions as it relies on room to manoeuvre and counter-moves. It is disfavoured by Dwarven cultures, especially the Custodes, for this reason. The Banen’Rhun do not particularly like the form owing to its ‘passivity’ and inability to end someone rightly, and quickly.
Tolosa
Tolosa
Tolosa, The Asturians Form, The Greatest Defence, The Unbreakable Wall. The style has long existed in Asturia and the wider region that it now calls its homeland. But in its earliest inceptions, it was under-utilised.
Through the Asturian conquests, the style has gained new heights in fame and usage, many who once looked upon it as pitiful now see something useful and potentially game-changing.
It is not as flashy as other styles, prioritising defence and limiting excessive energy expenditure to maximise the staying power of a frontline.
Form Rundown
Tolosa does not favour any particular type of weapon. It is taught to be well-rounded enough that even the poorly armed can decently protect themselves.
Tolosa is a defensive form, with emphasis on avoiding being hit while draining the stamina of out of your opponent.
History: Tolosa
Developed from desperation, the form was taught to the armies who fought in the Ravaged Century to prevent death. Manpower was a constant problem, and keeping even the average peasant alive became a higher priority than most countries at the time cared to.
The Asturians took Tolosa further, turning it into what it is today by instilling better discipline among its infantry line and further tightening the excesses of the form. However, it was out of no great want to preserve the peasantry, but rather a desire to stop the frontline from breaking.
The drafted men did hold, and their holding turned into never breaking. While these brave souls held against whatever was through at them, the Asturian nobility mounted their horses and capitalised on their enemies attempting to break their lines over and over again.
The use of the hammer and anvil was not new to the world, but to the battlefield of what is now the Kingdom of Asturias, it was difficult to pull off successfully.
Tolosa Abilites
Sapping Strike - Your strike is aimed not to 'hurt' your opponent, but to exhaust them more.
Cycle - Switch places with an ally.
Interceptor - Move in-between an ally and enemy should the latter move towards your friend.
Master Choice - Formation or Disparager
Formation
Indominable - Gain buffs if you have not moved
Steady Movements - Move at have speed, avoid AOO, do not lose Indominable
Formation Attack - While in formation with allies, attack with additional buffs
Disparager
Taunt - Force an enemy to attack or approach you
Exhausting Blow - Once per combat, Fatigue an enemy with high stamina damage and debuffs.
Grapple Rattle - VIOLENTLY SHAKE THEM
Use: Tolosa
Tolosa is uncommon to encounter anywhere that is not the battlefield against Asturian forces. Specifically, their trained infantry will attempt to hold the line regardless of the danger. The priority on defence makes the style ill-suited to many forms of combat outside of holding the line. It is a dull affair to watch and so avoided in tournaments, it is considered ungentlemanly in duels and generally avoided being used there.
Perhaps the biggest downside is that it turns the user into a wall, which in some situations is useful in many it is detrimental. That fact has not stopped masters of the form from becoming an immense thorn in the side of anyone seeking a quick and easy kill, preferring to whittle their enemy into boredom and striking when it is least expected form the most credible way of victory for someone using Tolosa.
"For all their prancing around, they fold against the Asturian line."
- A not so uncommon phrase said to improve Asturian morale against Elven enemies
New World Forms
Akavis
Akavis
Akavis, The Breakers Style to the Elves or fondly as The Old and Glorious for the Custodes. Akavis is a uniquely New World style that was developed by the Custodes. Specifically, it was created to counter the individualistic tendencies of Seventh Cultist Warriors on the field and to be better applied to a cohesive unit. Its use has made the Custodes the most popular mercenary group but also seeded a rivalry with the Seventh.
The form is not limited to a particular group of people within the Custodes, rather it is limited to those chosen few who have shown great battlefield prowess and are veterans seen as deserving. They will be trained in the style in order to perform the role of line-breaker infantry, to collapse the centre and cause mass-routes.
Form Rundown
Akavis favours the use of Blunt and Slashing weapons and caters for both with their damaging unique abilities.
Akavis is defensive form that still offers potent offensive capabilities. It can be used to great effect in battlefield control, or defending a single spot to the last.
History: Akavis
Akavis traces its origins to the difficult encounters the Custodes had with Elven warfare in the past. The Elves were well-practised and the Great Houses specifically had almost mythical warriors who honed their skills to incredible heights. Fighting against Seventh Cultists was one of the most dangerous jobs the Custodes were ever given, and Akavis was born from the need to break them. - The style derives its name from Lord Commander Akavis who first implemented the training regime for the form into selected veterans.
It gained its moniker as ‘The Old and Glorious’ after successive wins and then fame was showered upon the mercenary group. It then became more widely taught and used in various encounters. It started to be copied and used by those the Custodes have fought against, and they will rarely acknowledge foreigners having mastered it.
Akavis Abilities
Reposition - Swap places with any willing target at the start of combat or change position
Immense Strikes - Knocks back the target and can dismount enemies
Enduring - Conserve your energy on heavy hits letting you last long in fights.
Master Choice - Beast of Havoc or Displacer
Beast of Havoc
Into the Maw - More enemies that come to you, the more damage you can deal
Bloodlust - Getting injured boosts Maw stacks
Persistent Bastard - Regain additional stamina when hit
Displacer
Avalanche - After being hit a number of time, unleash a powerful attack.
Collision - Charge into your target at range to push them.
Ram's Snout - Charge into multiple enemies at once to try and knock them down.
Use: Akavis
The important principle of Akavis is the counter-attack. The Custodes understood that their small statue meant they were at a disadvantage, and so they required the enemy to come to them. This key element is why Akavis favours the counter-attack and attempts to seize the opportunity within for maximum effect.
While the use by the Dwarves makes the style limited in mobility, it is up for debate if the Seventh Cultists have taken the form to its truest mastery by blending in more movement while retaining the essence of the style. Though few respect the bastardisation, regardless if they are Dwarf or Elf, and only since Humanity entered the consciousness of the Elves has it seen a surge in popularity among them.
Volenith
Volenith
Volenith, The Shimmering Blades, more generally recognised as the Elven Form, is a fighting style mostly used by the Seventh Cultists of the great houses. It emphasises a mindset that prefers speed, overwhelming flurries and artistry in doing so.
Although it is common amongst Elves to see the form being used, it is not widely mastered. This is usually because practitioners often deviate slightly from its core and make it more personal. These changes don't deviate from the core principles of the form, however.
The style has stood the test of centuries and has made its mark by besting other fighting styles to become the most prominent. It has only been challenged by Akavis and Muzak, and more recently by The Royal and Tolosa since the arrival of Humanity.
Form Rundown
The form is a versatile high-tempo style that does not discriminate which types of weapons it prefers.
Volenith is an aggressive form that prioritises consistent attacks to overwhelm an enemy. It can either use great movements to achieve this or show grandeur on the field.
History: Volenith
Volenith for what it is, does not have an origin. Most accept that it has always been there and is as much a part of the Elven way of life as anything else is. Those who claim to know its origin or ownership, are frequently looked down upon or disregarded as mad.
It has become a style that has proven to be useful time and time again and has been able to be utilised by those wearing little or a lot of armour. Its greatest successes are tied to the legends of battle-masters of the Seventh Cult, and most practitioners truly believe it stands without equal.
It has proven to be an effective style against even Humanity, with only Tolosa causing the greatest disappointments with its overly defensive nature. Within the New World, few regard Akavis alone to be great enough against Volenith, instead stating that it is the formation fighting that makes up for its weaknesses. Not many have survived a raid by the war bands that use Muzak to judge it accurately
Volenith Abilities
Strike Swarm - Use a bonus action to quickly strike the same target again.
Somersault Strike - When in light armour, leap over the target!
Ring Around - When wearing heavy armour, bash into the target and switch places with them.
Master Choice - Champion or Sentinel
Champion
Everywhere, all at once - Maintain a buff if you keep moving
Fluid Movements - Make yourself harder to hit
Massive Attack - Keep moving to build up for a strong attack!
Sentinel
I, Sentinel - Gain a buff to initiative
Sentinel's Challenge - Mark someone as a challenge, upon defeating them gain a buff
Assured Strike - Sacrifice your defence for a stronger attack
Use: Volenith
Volenith is a common style to encounter when facing Elven combatants, it is often favoured by them as it requires a higher level of mastery to be truly competent with it. Even without such skill using the form, its influences can be seen in the general way people would fight as they attempt to emulate the form properly.
Volenith inherently favours those with swift body movements and naturally higher levels of energy. The style tends to expend energy faster, but in doing so attacks more frequently and can often defeat an enemy with extreme swiftness.
The style is also known for its more serious practitioners putting on a performance as they conduct combat, partially as a means to confuse their foe but also, in the case of Seventh Cultists, to build a reputation and legend of themselves.
Muzak
Muzak
Muzak, The Unrelenting, The Style of the Mountain Folk. The fighting style is one of the most aggressive-orientated fighting forms that owes itself more to a state of mind rather than a pre-determined set of methods and moves to defeat an enemy.
However, to say it is completely random would negate the rigorous training regime the form demands to be used effectively. It has some similarities with The Royal, but rather than be based on the tempo of the combatants involved, it demands that others match its ferocity or be overwhelmed.
Form Rundown
Muzak does not disfavour any of the types of weapons in one's own arsenal. Instead, regardless of the weapon, constant powerful strikes are preferred over all else.
Muzak is an aggressive form, it seeks to overwhelm an opponent in a similar way as Volenith, but it does not favour the utility of lighter and faster strikes.
History: Muzak
Muzak can find its creation myth in the words of The Father, for he wanted to see his children not only survive but thrive. The latter part is where Muzak derives much of its original inspiration, to thrive. - However, those who are well-versed in Volonith may find it familiar yet more brutal.
The Banen’Rhûn developed Muzak over a period of decades, testing and seeing what tactics worked and what did not. They found the greatest success in high levels of aggression, power and fluidity. The combination of these elements has enabled the fearsome reputation of the wielders of this form when encountered in combat. It easily wipes away enemy combatants should they be ill-prepared for a fight.
Warbands are the most well-trained in the form, and the best practitioners can be found engaging in raids against inhabitants of the New World. The form rarely finds an equal on the field of battle, mostly due to the way the Banen’Rhûn operate and pick their targets. It has gained a reputation for being able to crack the speed of the Elves and the battle lines of the Dwarves.
Muzak Abilities
Lethal Hits - Successful hits with normal attack have a chance to deal extra damage
Audacious Charge - Charge a long distance towards an enemy and deal damage to them
Devastating Blow - Overcommit to an attack, but deal more damage and stagger your foe.
Master Choice: Warbringer or Marauder
Warbringer
Unbroken - The lower you HP, the more damage you do
Will Of The Father - When you defeat an enemy, regain some HP and Stamina
Intimidate - Strike fear into the hearts of your enemies and make them falter
Marauder
Warhound - Move quicker and deal more damage at an increasing stamina cost
Maul - Hit a single enemy over and over to apply debuffs
Calamity - leap over obstable or enemies to strike fiercly
Use: Muzak
Muzak lends itself strongly to highly capable individuals who are bred for combat. It puts a great deal of strain on the body to persistently use with its maximum lethality.
The form encourages ferocity, it can in some cases, enter the user into such a state of battle-lust and frenzy that they enter into a heightened mental state where holding back no longer becomes a possibility.
The Banen’Rhûn are even encouraged to know when to use this state of mind, and how to best utilise it without becoming a liability. There is even a well-rumoured state beyond the battle-lust, a higher plane whereby the mind becomes tranquil and the body ever more deadly. Those who believe in its possibility see it as the ultimate presence on the field. To be death itself and the arbiter of life. This mythical level of mastery has only ever been confirmed to have happened to past masters of the style.
"Archers are a dying breed. Crossbows are the future."
- Crossbow salesman
Ranged Forms
Sicamor
Sicamor
The fighting form known officially as Sicamor, but known colloquially as the War Form, owing to its continued practice in the event of war, has a near-mythological status on the field of battle in the Old World. Deployed in great numbers by Dumanon and its armies, the form is known to prefer the use of the Longbow and to tax the archer’s body more to deliver more powerful attacks.
Despite many mainlanders of the Old World seeing the use of bows in war as an activity best left for the peasantry, Dumanon has welcomed the use of archery with open arms to the point that many nobles will gather their best peasant archers to compete in competitions against of noble’s peasant archers. It is not uncommon for Dumanon nobles to be well-practised in the use of Sicamor, and to prefer leading their soldiers from the archery line.
Form Rundown
Ranged form that uses Bows, often practitioners prefer the use of Longbows. Not compatible with Crossbows.
Sicamor is an offensive form that specialises in powershot shots that can sometimes be dangerous for the user through constant strain on their body.
History: Sicamor
The origins of the form are debated among the archers of Dumanon, many claim it to have been born from the deep wood hunters who used more powerful bows to take down more powerful prey and eventually other people. While a strong argument can be made that it originated in Gaerfyrddin and was developed to fight against Dumanon’s expansion.
Although many disagree about where it came from, it has become a central part of Dumanon’s armies as it has become wildly adopted among its regiments. Sicamor has been used to great effect against the unarmoured or lightly armoured infantry of Gallia and even against their lighter cavalry.
It gained a status close to mythological during the wars Dumanon fought against Gallia. Where it was deployed in great numbers to whittle down and ‘dismantle’ their enemies' willingness to fight. As this occurred in several engagements, rumours started to spread that it was capable of dismounting fully armoured knights with one arrow or even tearing through two knights in one mighty shot.
Sicamor Abilities
Havoc Shot - Draw your bow to the point of personal injury, huting yourself while dealing immense damage.
High Ground - Take advantage of elevation to line up your shots with ease and accuracy.
Addled Shot - Deal less damage with a shot, but slow your target down instead.
Master Choice: Imperial or Skirmish
Imperial
Rapid Swap - Drop your bow and enter the fray, swapping to melee as a bonus action.
Archer Formation - Buff another Sicamor archer near you to get into formation together.
Imperial Kiss - Knock a rider off his horse, or a bird out of the sky, or a man off his feet.
Skirmish
Flowing Movement - Stay light on your feet and use cover. Increase your defense.
Rhythm of the Battle - Hitting the same target over and over again will unlock a Crescendo.
Crescendo - Deal significantly more piercing damage on your last shot.
Use: Sicamor
Sicamor is a highly valued form in Dumanon, and those that can learn it and become skilled with it are often prized despite whatever background they come from. No matter what benefits crossbow usage has over the use of the Longbow, The Imperium actively engages in singing its qualities as a method to demoralise its enemies from engaging with Dumanon in warfare. - Gallia however has a particular distaste for the form, and rumours from the previous war against The Imperial suggest that Gallia cut the fingers off captured bowmen to spite their use.
The form is only compatible with bows, and not the use of crossbows or arbalests. Although the preference is the use of Longbows, the shorter-ranged bows benefit from the forms used. Some Komanali have been introduced to the practice, though many teachers have noted that they ‘want to move too much rather than aim’.
Chemaco
Chemaco
Despite some debates, it is unknown which came first. Chemaco or Volenith. They both utilise the same principles of use, to overwhelm targets with a volume of attacks to defeat their opponents. In the truest fashion of Seventh Cultists, there is an added flair and showmanship often accompanying the use of Chemaco. It is commonly known as the ‘Elven Form’ to humans.
Chemaco has been the most widely used ranged fighting style upon the continent, overshadowing a lot of others that have tried to become mainstream but failed. It has even been somewhat adopted by the Custodes, though without the additional flair.
Form Rundown
The form is not compatible with the use of Crossbows. It is a high-tempo form that has added flair during use.
Chmaco is an aggressive form that can rain down a hail of shots on their opponents to try and deal with them quickly. It pushes the user to be more mobile and have an active defence.
History: Chemaco
Chemaco has been widely used across Awenasa for centuries, it is -the- fighting style used by anyone who is serious about bowmanship and its practitioners often have a certain disgust towards the other forms of archery brought over by the Old World.
The fighting style has undergone a number of changes since it encountered humanity and its way of fighting. It has slowly started to remove much of the flair from its style as it started to be used in general combat with adversaries such as Asturians in the field. The human style of warfare does not work well with showmanship, and many practitioners fear the art form will die out because of it.
Despite the worry over the artistry of Chemaco, the form is often credited with blunting the tip of the Asturian spearhead in the south. The skill of Chemaco archers and their rate of fire is claimed to have prevented House Ritan from being completely overrun by the humans as it showed a dangerous weakness in the Asturian method of war.
Chemaco Abilities
High Ground - Take advantage of elevation to more line up your shots with ease and accuracy.
Shot Swarm - Gain an extra turn action, at the cost of stamina and accuracy.
Slip Away - Retreat without provoking an attack of opportunity, at the cost of your accuracy.
Master Choice: Hunter's Mark or Elegance
Hunter's Mark
Hunter's Prowl - A passive buff to your stealth and initiative.
Quick Step - Increase the distance you can move per turn without sacrificing accuracy.
Mark Target - Mark a target to focus on. If you land the killing blow, get a lasting buff.
Elegance
Successive Hits - If you hit the same target more than once in a turn, regain some stamina.
True Strike - Focus your aim on your opponent and forget about the danger around.
Deliverance - All ranged attacks have a chance to inflict a debuff on your opponents.
Use: Chemaco
Chemaco is considered a difficult form to truly master, the art of the form and the flair that many associate with it is often considered part of the mastery of it. Chemaco masters are highly sought after among the Great Houses and even more so by House Ritan during its conflicts with humanity.
The form is only compatible with bows, and the use of a crossbow by most Chemaco users is thought to be disgusting and the removal of a core cultural importance of Chamaco despite whatever advantages the use of those weapons brings.
Mersace / Tassi
Mersace / Tassi
Despite being what was mostly considered the ‘general’ way of fighting with a ranged weapon, what is today known as Mersace is but a number of minor additions into the way using a bow and later a crossbow that has since had a name designated to it. The name originates from a Gallian Lord who coined it and outlined its principles in a treatise.
Mersace cares little about the type of weapon used at range, but more about the best practice principles of use that encompass all types of bow.
Form Rundown
Mersace is a versatile and 'general' form. It is compatible with all types of bows and in different situations.
As Mersace utilises the Crossbows, it does not need to excel at killing enemies. Rather it provides ways to weaken them and drain them of their stamina.
History: Mersace
Mersace’s origins are humble like the hunter, and then refined by use over time and even more as its application turned to warfare. Although not everyone agrees with the common name of the form, others such as Sassanshahr prefer to use ‘Tassi’ which encompasses similar principles - Dumanon spites Gallia by refusing to call it Mersace and instead uses Tassi as well, the name Mersace eventually stuck with the development of crossbows and manuals that Gallia produced relating to its use.
Despite being of Gallic origin, Gallia is perhaps not the most avid user of Mersace’s principles but rather Asturias is. Deploying the crossbow in great numbers the Asturians have become one of the ‘leading experts’ in how to properly conduct warfare with such weapons and fighting style.
In Gallia’s attempt to provide a greater fighting chance to the Great Houses against Asturias and Dumanon, they have supplied them with instructors of the fighting method along with crossbows to utilise. Houses Kitzra and Tzukyn were the most eager to adopt the use of the crossbow compared to their sister houses.
Mersace Abilities
High Ground - Take advantage of elevation to more line up your shots with ease and accuracy.
Bash - If an enemy gets too close, use an attack of opportunity to push them two tiles away.
Counter Battery - If your attack has recently hit you at range, improve your accuracy to get your revenge.
Master Choice: Battler or Dragon's Bellow
Battler
Braced - Buff yourself when an opponent tries to move you, and stay steady.
Guardian - Protect an ally who is under attack, boosting their defenses.
Retaliation - If you get hit for more than 10HP, hit back with a swift melee strike.
Dragon's Bellow
Dragon's Territory - Hunker down and don't move; boost your offense at the cost of defense.
Drake's Snap - Add a little special something to your gunpowder.
Wyvern's Bite - Stress your weapon, striking harder for more stamina.
Use: Mersace
Mersace can be used with any type of bow and as such is one of the more versatile forms that can be used. Its widespread deployment across numerous battlefields and relative ease of understanding has made it a popular form used by most nations.
Due to the influence of Asturias and other factors that have been more common in occurrence on the battlefield, such as armour, the form has geared itself more towards whittling down opponents with weapons that cannot otherwise outright kill them. This has extended the use of archery beyond being a peasant killer on the field, and those who use Mersace, are potentially more dangerous against armoured opponents.
Author: Hokan
Page Created by: Hokan