Project NEMESIS

Also known as the Dancing Demon Head Discipline, Iron Face was developed by strange tribes living in the Grave of Fools. The Truils call them White Faces (wear skull make up from the white clay) and the Ulds call them Skull Dancers. These people revere iron and steel, engineering and metallurgy as the masculine equivalent of childbirth. Blacksmiths are their priests. As such, every member of the tribe may receive metal weapons and equipment based on their birth rank, gender and rite of adulthood. But shields are seen as sacred tools as necessary to survival in the Cold Barrens, so each and every child receives a shield when they turn thirteen.

The Common Sword and Dagger Style -- or Common Style -- is a style formulated for merchants, finding themselves more and more upwardly mobile, after they figured they better learn the noble sport of sword-craft. It was not difficult finding mercenaries to teach them to hold swords like a thoroughbred officer.

This fencing martial path uses a single one-handed sword used one handed. It is about quick foot work combined with accurate slashes and quick thrusts. It seems to be a favourite with jovial pirates, gentlemanly thieves and slumming aristos - as if anyone could tell the difference.

The crossbow is the height of the Uld’s mechanised technology. It’s power is fantastic but slow. But the Ulds are nothing except cunning and the nation’s crossbowers are greatly feared by their neighbours’ soldiers.

The warrior-priests from the Monks of the Sky revere the sky full of weather and storms. They see the sun, moon and stars, the rain and clouds and lightning as sacred features and events. Because of this devotion their holy symbol is a lightning bolt and their weapon is the spear.

Melhanese Staff Fighting can only be performed with a long walking staff, properly weighted. It is a very athletic discipline and benefits greatly from high levels of dodge, parry, and weapon:staff in order to get all of the synergistic effects as well as the basic benefits of the talents. The intention of this path is to provide a very active, cinematic fight scene with plenty of multiple actions driving the narration. It was inspired by a Livejournal discussion regarding Star Wars combat stunts using Reign.

The monks of the Resplendent Willow monastery practice a strange form of pacifistic self-defense which they claim helps center the mind and body. The monks say that excessive effort in one's actions degrades the self, and that one should strive to achieve a state of "effortless effort" in all things. Though the philosophy escapes many, the efficacy of the techniques is undeniable. Their regimen combines intense studies of body language and spatial awareness, meditative exercises, and the occasional surprise beating to train students to avoid blows by the barest of degrees. Practitioners learn to avoid strikes without the frantic capering of the Insouciant Monkey school, but instead through measured and well-timed avoidance, never moving more than they have to.

The jungles of Helluso and Milonda are home to several species of big cats, which are viewed, depending on the person doing the viewing, as symbols of fortune both good and bad. Regardless of personal views, however, these creatures are universally respected as consummate stalkers and hunters.