Shadowdancing
FOUNDING
- Founded in Arc 649
- Founded by a Biqaj mercenary and a Lotharro Jeger
- Developed in Iskara, southwest of Uthaldria
PHILOSOPHY
- Always evade; void, elude, strafe, roll, dodge - the point is to be nimble and mobile, defeat overpowering opponents through superior mobility. Wear them down and capitalize on the weaknesses they create.
- Parry, deflect only if necessary. If blocking, always counter, and lead into either a successful dodge or an upperhand.
- Be fluid - every movement must always lead into another movement, one must always be transitioning into their next move, whether it's a dodge, attack, block or otherwise.
- Weaken foe - hamstring them, cut out their calves, slice through their biceps and triceps, disarm them.
- When the enemy has been thoroughly exhausted and winnowed, finish them swiftly; in all manners and methods, be swift and efficient. If the foe presents any fatal weakness at any time, utilize that moment to finish them immediately.
- Blindsiding - a tenet unique to Shadowdancing. Always stick to the opponent's blindside. The name of Shadowdancing comes from the practice of blindsiding; fight in their shadow, dance around them and debilitate them, the foe unable to catch you.
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
1. Polearms: Combat Spear2. Acrobatics
3. Endurance
4. Strength
Optional Skills
1. Discipline (the fighting style is very efficient and calculated, not adrenal)
2. Detection (to spot weaknesses and perceive dangers)
3. Running (for higher mobility in certain circumstances)
4. Medicine (for anatomy)
TECHNIQUES
Scorpion Strike: Quickly and stunningly strike the foe's weapon from beneath or above, using the advantage of surprise and the force of your muscles to disarm them in an incredibly quick maneuver. Shadow Sweep: After dodging, strafing, rolling, voiding or eluding, quickly follow with a turn and sweep for the calves, hamstring or other lower body muscle. If successful, usually followed by a lunge to the center of the back to finish off a foe.
Rapid Swing: Quickly pull back the spear before flinging it horizontally, and then forward at incredible speeds, often done with a spin or turn of the body. Often lethal - the rapid swing typically goes for the jugular, skull, heart, lungs or intestines.
Snakebite: A quick downward lunge, often done with a jump. Typically a quick and finishing move. Sometimes, this is followed by a throw if the enemy manages to slightly dodge the strike. Snakebite is typically used on foes who have been weakened or who have created an opening. All of the strength of the body goes into this attack, and it usually intends to plunge through the heart.
Dancing Snakebite: A more skilled version of snakebite, often beginning with feints, strafes, spins, jumping spins and other dance-like maneuvers. This ability can follow into many other abilities, but the dancing snakebite is a particularly deadly method of executing it: following an evasive maneuver, one will very quickly throw their weight into their spear and near instantly pin the foe to the ground in a lethal lunge.
Spinning Parry: Twirling the spear rapidly in your hands, either to the sides, front or overhead, block attacks whilst seeking to disarm foes with the motion. Typically seen as a master ability.
Shadowfall: Sweeping or kicking with your legs, send a foe off balance before rapidly following with your spear into a vital organ.
Insomnus: Requires one to know a vertical cartwheel, using the spear as a pole from which to flip with. After landing, pull the spear from the ground using either your under-arm or both arms, duck your head and swing the spear around you in a three-sixty degree motion. Also known as the Full Moon Strike; will rip through all enemies directly surrounding you. Technique created by Keanu Ki'Lozdara
Duskfall: Sweeping with one's legs in tandem with a sweep of the spear, the Shadowdancer - who has lowered to the floor either on one knee or via the 'splits' - throws their enemy off balance with the destruction of their foe's kneecaps or hamstring. Quickly raising from their lowered position, the Shadowdancer slices across the waist level of the foe as they fall or reel back, bringing back the spear to dice their abdomen. Then, with a final lunge, the Shadowdancer either throws or plunges the spear into the heart or brain of the enemy. This ability is meant to annihilate durable or heavily armored opponents, dealing a variety of incredibly damaging blows in a short period of time. Using the opponent's weakness, it is followed with a guaranteed lethal blow in the form of a lunge into one of the two immediately fatal organs. Technique created by Alistair.
