Combat

From Lithmeria

Combat
Info
Archetype	any
Class(es)	any
Focus	*
Tier	1
Requires	none
Abilities
Resistance	Surviving the first blow
Deathsense	Detecting the departed.
Digestion	Conscious control of how your body handles potions
Positioning	Defend against superior numbers.
Statistics	Advanced knowledge of your stats
Diagnose	An improved feel for afflictions
Tracking	Hunt down a foe
Salves	Rapid use of salves
Victory	The heady rush of adrenaline
Intricacies	A deep understanding of abilities

Lore

So there's three of you and only one of me, you're feeling pretty confident right? Here's how it's going to play out. All three of you fools are going to rush me. You, the big one are going to get in the way of the ugly one. Wait, that last one doesn't narrow it down, does it? The really ugly one, with the thing on his face. Yeah, you. That'll by me enough time to ignore the obvious feint and slash combo from portly here, I can call you portly, can't I? Then, I'll open portly's throat with a backhand slash and step between you two goons. You'll panic and try a wild overhead swing which I'll deflect as I drive my dagger into ugly's eye. Then I'll knee you in the groin and execute a leaping spinkick into the side of your head. How do I know all this gentlemen? Because I've been here before... different faces, different places but always the same result.

-- Executioner Alriska De Hanton

Battle in Lithmeria is chaotic and unpredictable, a million possible scenarios with as many variables. Warriors, rogues, mages and priests each deal with these situations in unique ways, employing their own gifts and strategies. Those who study Combat do so because they want to acquire the basic skills that are useful to anyone who engages in violent pursuits.

Tracking a foe, sensing death and diagnosing the exact extent of ones injuries are all skills that will come in useful, again and again regardless of ones exact approach to slaying foes. Combat is most widely regarded for the ability of positioning which greatly reduces incoming damage from attackers beyond the second. Positioning is often considered a must for those who find their notoriety or power attracting the attention of entire enemy squads on the battlefield.

Though not as splashy or spectacular as the abilities taught to one through their class, combat offers utility benefits that can be just as vital. After all, what good is knowing a thousand ways to slay a foe if you don't know a single way to find them?

Abilities

Resistance

Syntax: RESISTANCE

Energy is ever present in Lithmeria, and the first thing any combatant learns if they want to survive is to direct the energy in their own body into a protective aura. This is a passive ability that gives you your natural resistance to attacks. Without this resistance a single blow from a sword could be lethal and combat would be a very short thing. Although this ability is mostly a passive necessary for warfare you can, with concentration, kick your resistance into overdrive providing a slightly increased damage reduction for a short time.

Deathsense

Syntax: DEATHSENSE [ON|OFF]

While this defense is active you will see the deaths of all who fall, as well as the name of their slayer and how they were sent to the void beyond. If you have this ability the defense will automatically be active whenever you enter the realm.

Digestion

Syntax: DRINK <flask> [affliction] [affliction] [affliction]
Syntax: DIGEST <affliction/NONE>

This ability allows you to control the order in which curatives will cure afflictions you are suffering from. When drinking from a flask you can specify up to three afflictions which will have curative applied to them first, in the order listed. Specifying afflictions in this manner will slightly lengthen the balance time before you can drink another curative.

The digest command allows you to set a specific affliction to which all curing will go first. This uses a small bit of equilibrium and can be over-ridden as usual by specifying when drinking.

Positioning

This passive ability allows you to use your combat training to reduce the effect of sheer numbers the opposing force may have against you. By carefully positioning yourself so that they interfere with each other as they attack you, the damage and afflictions dealt by the enemy will be weaker with each successive attacker. Damage and afflictions are tracked separately for purposes of this reduction.

Diagnose

Syntax: DIAGNOSE [STRENGTH]

While anybody can diagnose to get a feel for what afflictions are on them, those with special training are more aware of their current status. You can now diagnose without using equilibrium, furthermore if you do have equilibrium and use DIAGNOSE STRENGTH instead of simply DIAGNOSE you will receive information about the exact strength of the afflictions you are suffering from at a small equilibrium cost.

Tracking

Syntax: TRACK <target>
Syntax: TRACK NONE

When tracking someone they will appear on your map, designated by the symbol #.

Victory

This passive ability will give you a surge of adrenaline every time you fell a foe. This will enable you to shrug off some of your pain and injuries, and keep going where lesser soldiers may fall. Whenever you land the finishing blow on an enemy you will be healed an amount proportionate to their own power. This ability is more effective when killing the elite soldiers of the world.