A Savage Wuxia Action Supplement by Matthew Hoeveler

OF BREATH AND FLOW A Savage Wuxia action supplement by Matthew Hoeveler

Sample file OF BREATH AND FLOW

Written by Matthew Hoeveler Art Direction by Steve Spaulding A Vintonet Studios Production

Special thanks to Jan "Jetty" Jetmar and Donovan"DoctorBoson" Bailey from the Unofficial Savage Worlds Discord server for design and editing assistance

Image Credits: Publisher’s Choice Quality Stock Art © Rick Hershey / Fat Goblin Games Joyce Maureira, Scarlet Heroes Art Pack, JE Stock Art, Wikimedia Commons Image Portfolio © Louis Porter, Jr. Design, Jeshields

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 2 Paths 2 New Edges 3 New Hindrances 5 Fu 5 Fu Schools 6 Fu Styles 7 Wu Xing - the Five Element Cycle 13 New Limitations & Modifiers 14 New Powers 14 Traditional Martial Arts Weapons 16 Traditional Weapons Table 17 Sample file

Where the rules refer to a setting, a generic fantasy INTRODUCTION analogue of Classical feudal China, called the Middle Kingdom, is used. The Middle Kingdom, and these rules, There is something undeniably appealing about were originally developed as part of a setting called “The characters who, through nothing but discipline, Mandate of Heaven,” by Vintonet Studios. dedication, and focus, unlock their inner potential and become something more. Of Breath and Flow is a rule system that models one well-known example of this PATHS archetype, the “Warrior of Virtue” - Wuxia, in Chinese - who use their Cultivated Chi to accomplish supernatural In a setting that includes Mystic Wuxia, character feats. Wuxia is more than just throwing fireballs and creation should include a Step Zero, determining the leaping from tree to tree with an amazing soundtrack, Path of a character. The world that is inhabited by those of course. It is about iron clad ethical codes, flawed with Cultivated Chi is in some ways a separate world relationships, emotional entanglements, and conflicts from those who are not Cultivated. These overlapping that one can not simply punch their way out of. worlds care referred to as “Paths.” That said, the Punching bit is pretty awesome, and that’s what this document is mainly about. PATH OF RIVERS AND LAKES Characters who practice Mystic Wuxia are defined by: Characters on this Path are members of the Wulin - the • A School (which defines what styles are available, community of martial artists that are found across and what Wu Kwan Secrets can be learned) the Middle Kingdom. Characters on this Path are the • A Style (which defines what Powers they can choose only characters who can have the Arcane Background from, their Wu Xing Aspect, and their Ethics) (Mystic Wuxia). They are respected members of their Within these pages, you communities, having will find rules not just for taken their bodies and a new Arcane Background souls to a point of focus (Mystic Wuxia) but also a and dedication that only selection of these Schools, the most extraordinary Fu Styles, some Edges of people can manage. and Hindrances, and a Respected, yes, but few new Powers needed sometimes feared or hated, to support characters and depending on how the settings that take more warrior comports themself. than a slight tip of the hat A defining characteristic toward adventure classics of those on this Path is from Five Deadly Venoms Cultivated Chi, expressed to Crouching Tiger, Hidden as Arcane Background Dragon, to Flying Swords of (Mystic Wuxia). People Dragon Gate. with Cultivated Chi can Games that use these be found in all walks rules should include the of life, not only among following Setting Rules: professional warriors. The Wulin includes teachers\ • Born a Hero sifus, doctors, scholars, • Creative Combat courtiers, bandits, monks, • Fanatics priests, and even lowly TheSample High Adventure and farmers.file Any on this Fast Healing rules would path receive the Arcane not be out of place. Background (Mystic Wuxia) for free.

2 in the mind-body-spirit cycle can be an impediment to PATH OF HILLS AND VALLEYS Chi flowing freely. An Ethos is defined either by the Fu style chosen Characters on this Path are not martial artists in the same or, in the case of the Unschooled, it must be defined sense as members of the Wulin. While these characters by the player during character creation. Whatever its may well be frighteningly competent combatants, they prohibitions and goals may be, violating these strictures do not have Cultivated Chi, and are not practitioners disrupts the Character’s Chi flow. The more significant of Mystic Wuxia. They may have other types of Arcane the violation, the greater the disruption. Wherever Background, or no Arcane Background at all. Characters possible, violations should be defined in strict (if not on this Path in the Middle Kingdom have had to be numeric) terms to minimize table debate. adaptable, quick learning, and self-reliant to survive and prosper. Characters on this Path receive four • Minor violations give the character a –2 to his Fu rolls advances during character creation, and therefore start for one week as they take steps to recenter themselves. as Seasoned characters. • Major violations are more disruptive and rob them of all powers for one week of penance and meditation. • Mortal violations cause the character’s Chi balance to NEW EDGES be utterly devastated, and all powers cease to function until the hero completes some great quest or task of ARCANE BACKGROUND (MYSTIC WUXIA) enlightenment to regain it. Wuxia is not simply the ability to punch and kick with deadly proficiency, or fight with weapons, though most AUGURY styles do cover that. Wuxia (as it pertains to an Arcane Requirements: Seasoned, Fu d8+, Notice d6+ Background) is the ability to channel one’s living breath When using Divination, after completing the reading, - Cultivated Chi - by way of discipline and dedication, to roll Fu. On a Success, you gain an Insight into the subject perform supernatural feats. Kung Fu - which translates of the Divination, plus one additional Insight per raise loosely as “hard work” - is key to Mystic Wuxia, but on the roll. These Insights manifest as a moment of one’s Fu might manifest by way of any given skill. Kung realization about what is about to occur, and making Fu can easily manifest as medicine or music, rather than slight adjustments to the flow of Chi to make an event complex Sword forms or brutal body conditioning. In more or less likely. You must be within Smarts range of its essence, Kung Fu + Cultivated Chi + a driving Sense the subject of the Divination to use this ability. For the of Nobility and Honor = Wuxia. next 24 hours, as a Free action, you can spend a Benny When taking this Arcane Background, the player and an Insight to either force a reroll on something that must select a School and Style taught by that School. would affect the subject, or to force a reroll on a trait Alternatively, they can take the Unschooled Hindrance. check by the subject. With GM approval, this Arcane Background can be used to fulfill requirements for Edges as though it were DĂ NÀO INSPIRED Arcane Background (Miracles). Requirements: Novice, Fighting d8, Spirit d6, Arcane Arcane Skill: Fu (Spirit) Background (Mystic Wuxia) Power (Chi) Points: 10 As a student, this warrior is particularly inspired and Starting Powers: 2 dedicated to Fu - talented beyond even their peers in Choose one School of Fu and one style that the chosen the Path of Rivers and Lakes. The Character receives the School teaches. Pick two powers from the chosen style following bonuses, based on the Wu Xing Aspect of their (See Fu Schools, pg 6), ignoring Rank requirements chosen Style. If they also have additional styles (such (unless you have taken the Unschooled Hindrance). as by the Style Apostate Edge) they may take this Edge Fu Styles provide example trappings for powers more than once, but each time it applies to a different granted by that Style. Unschooled characters can chose Wu Xing Aspect. any trapping. Additionally, all Fu Styles have a Wu • Water: After a turn when the character did not move, Xing Aspect (See “Aspects & Trappings”), from the Five +2 to make or resist any Grapple attempts, and any Element Cycle that pervades traditional medicine and foe making a physically defined Test or Support check alchemy. Fu powers can use Trapping Synergy effects does so with a -2 penalty. from this Wu Xing Aspect as well as the Trapping of • Metal: +2 AP on melee attacks their Style, when applicable. • Wood: After a turn where the character moved but Discipline:Sample The Chi of a practitioner of Wuxia flows file did not end their movement in Melee, all attacks are in accordance with their conduct. Should a practitioner -2 to hit the Character. This lasts until the start of the violate the tenants of their Style, the resulting disruption character’s next turn.

3 • Fire: After declaring an attack, but before the attack is The monks of the Belltower seek perfection in the Chi, resolved, spend 1 Benny to add Spirit as an additional and through it, the Flesh, so as to enable them to pursue Damage dice if that attack is successful. perfection in the mind and soul. Masters of the Belltower • Earth: Rather than moving, spend 1 Benny to add can turn their Fu inward, to great advantage. When your Spirit die type as a value to Toughness until the taking this Edge, select a physical Attribute (Agility, start of the Character’s next Turn. Strength, or Vigor). Once per scene, spend 1 Chi as a free action to add your Fu skill die to the next Trait check associated with that attribute. This Edge can be taken WU KWAN SECRETS multiple times, but a different attribute must be selected These edges are only available to be taken by members of specific Fu Schools. EATER OF SOULS Requirements: Heroic, Membership in the Brotherhood ACADEMY OFFICER of Lost Souls, Fu d10+, Arcane Background (Mystic Requirements: Veteran, Membership in the Academy, Wuxia) Spirit d10+, Battle d8+, Command Masters of the Brotherhood’s ways require a mere The character has served with honor and distinction thought to wrap themselves in flickering shadows. in and for the Academy, and has learned tricks and tips Once per turn, as a free action, the Character can use to motivating warriors on the battlefield. The Player has invisibility or teleport on themselves. one free Reroll with the Battle skill in Mass Battle checks. Additionally, allied Extras use a d10 wild die on Group Rolls rather than the normal d6. This does not apply to FLESH OF THE LOST Requirements: Veteran, Membership in the Wild Cards. Brotherhood of Lost Souls, Stealth d8+, Thievery d6+, Arcane Background (Mystic Wuxia) ANOINTED PERFECTIONS The Brotherhood teaches its trusted agents dark secrets, Requirements: Veteran, Membership in the Eternally and enhances the styles it teaches to better assist their Resonant Bell, Agility d8+, Strength d8+, Vigor d8+, Fu operatives. The Character can add shroud to boost Trait d8+, Arcane Background (Mystic Wuxia) at no additional cost. Additionally, Veterans of the Brotherhood add fear, invisibility, and teleport to the power list of any style they know. MYSTIC TATTOOS Requirements: Seasoned, Membership in the Emerald Athletics Society, Spirit d8+, Fu d6+, Fighting d6+, Arcane Background (Mystic Wuxia) Upon taking this Edge, for each of his current Ranks and at each new Rank, choose one of the following powers currently possessed by the character: arcane protection, deflection, healing, speed, warrior’s gift.Chosen powers do not impose a Multi-Action penalty when being cast, but gain the Range (Self) Limitation (reducing the cost by 1 as usual). THE SECRET OF BREATH Requirements: Seasoned, Membership in the Eternally Resonant Bell, Vigor d8+, Fu d6+, Arcane Background (Mystic Wuxia) Chi is the breath of life, and just as a bell’s resonance can cause it to continue ringing, so can one’s breathing revive one’s Chi, if one is present enough. Once per scene, make a Fu check, with a +1 bonus per Rank. On a success, immediately recover 2 Chi, +1 additional per SampleRaise. On a failure, no Chi is gained,file but on a Critical Failure, take a level of Fatigue.

4 STYLE APOSTATE UNBALANCED CHI [MAJOR] Requirements: Novice, Membership in a Wuxia School Possibly due to a curse on themselves or their family Through innovation, a diversity of teachers, predilection, line, or perhaps an injury that has disrupted their or some other inspiration, the Character has taken their meridians, this character’s Chi flows more like a stream Fu in completely new directions. Learn one additional than a river. Chi recovery takes two hours. power from a Fu style that is taught in your school, but which you do not already know. Depending on UNSCHOOLED [MAJOR] the background story and intent (GM approval), the Through some rare means, studying ancient texts, Character may learn later powers from either of the observing aspects of the natural world, or possibly just schools, but if they do so, they become beholden to through sheer tenacity and genius, the Character has that second style’s Ethos. If learning later powers is still managed to Cultivate their Chi while not being part of limited to the Character’s original style — representing any School or Style. These rare few, the Unschooled, are merely unorthodox training — then there is no later not able to take advantage of the Born a Hero setting detriment or benefit. rule, and start with only 5 Power Points. Since they are not members of any school, they must define their own VEIL OF TRUST Ethos, and are often seen as dangerous — if skilled — Requirements: Veteran, Membership in the Chamber heretics by others on the Path of Rivers and Lakes. When of a Thousand Veils, Smarts d8+, Notice d6+, Persuasion taking the Additional Powers Edge, they are not limited d8+ . by a style and have free choice of powers, limited by The early lessons taught in the Chamber of a Thousand rank as normal. Veils are, fundamentally, manipulating others into trusting them. The Player can roll Smarts at -2, once per session, to gain the effects of the Connections Edge with a person or group who might have an acquaintance or FU motivation in common, and leverage that connection in some way. The favor they’re willing to engage in depends on the nature of the contact (GM’s discretion) CHI, CULTIVATED AND OTHERWISE but may include loaning gear, warriors, information, or Chi is the energy of life itself, and those who Cultivate a professional with skills the party doesn’t have. their Chi learn to harness it in remarkable ways. Cultivation of Chi requires utter focus and dedication, and sometimes a little bit of alchemy. All living things VEIL OF TRUTH possess Chi in a general sense, though the vast majority Requirements: Heroic, Membership in the Chamber of have no perception of it. The Chi Edge (see the Savage a Thousand Veils, Smarts d10+, Notice d8+, Persuasion Worlds core rules) represents advanced understanding of d8+ one’s living breath, and a basic ability to harness it, but Masters in the arts taught in the most hidden rooms those on the Path of Rivers and Lakes go further in this of the Chamber become so attuned to desire that they process - Cultivated Chi. Once Cultivated, Chi is not a can intuit one’s hidden truths through analyzing speech, stream, but a river. body language, and even one’s Chi flow. Once per session, pick someone with whom you have recently had a significant amount of social interaction (GM SPENDING CULTIVATED CHI Discretion). Roll Smarts at -2 to learn something that Chi is the fuel for Mystic Wuxia in all its forms, but it they perceive as a secret. is useful to non-practitioners of Fu as well. Chi can be used to enhance checks that are essential to survival in a dangerous world, as modeled by the Chi Edge. For those with Cultivated Chi, one point can be spent, once NEW HINDRANCES per turn, to: • Apply the Chi Edge for the turn as normal • Roll and add their Fu skill die or Spirit die to their BROKEN SPOKE [MINOR] Pace for one turn of movement (this does not count Temperament, Injury, or just plain luck has made the as running) character more vulnerable to effects tied to one particular aspect of the Five Element Cycle (See page 13). Pick one Wu SampleXing Aspect among Earth, Water, Metal, Wood, and file CHI RECOVERY Fire. You are Vulnerable to attacks or influences with Chi, in all other ways, is synonymous with Power that Trapping. Beneficial effects with those Trappings Points, and any other ability that refers to Power Points, are -2 to affect you as well. has the same effect on Chi. 5 Included Styles: Drunken Monkey, Heaven’s View, FU SCHOOLS Ocean’s Longpole, Seven Sage’s Script, Shadow’s Breath, Three Kings Humans, as a rule, crave social structures. Where none Wu Kwan Secrets: Flesh of the Lost (Veteran), Eater exist, they create family, tribes, and nations. Belonging of Souls (Heroic) to something larger than the individual is a powerful motivator, and Fu Schools fulfill that role among those who walk the Path of Rivers and Lakes. They provide THE CHAMBER OF A THOUSAND VEILS Description\History: Madame Yu’s Salon is one of a social context for the study of Fu and a safe place for the worst-kept secrets in the Middle Kingdom, but students and teachers to congregate. Some Fu Schools are behind every lie is a deeper truth. While the Salon physical places, while others are purely organizational, itself is an opulent tea house of exquisite refinement, its but in all cases, a School tends to subtly color the Styles influence echoes far and wide. Within the Salon hides they teach. the Chamber of a Thousand Veils, where courtiers, For instance, Jade Emperor’s Pride is a style that is politicians, eunuchs, and Consorts are trained in the taught both by the Academy (the Emperor’s Military deepest of secrets. The Emperor turns a blind Eye to School) and the Eternally Resonant Bell (a remote the Chamber, for reasons that remain, like so much in mountain monastery). If you had a student of each of the Salon, tantalizingly hidden. these schools performing a demonstration of this style Included Styles: Dragon’s Council, Eastern Crane, side by side, it would be clear that they were using Hunting Falcon, Peach Blossom Harvest the same style, but there would be subtle differences Wu Kwan Secrets: Veil of Trust (Veteran), Veil of Truth nonetheless. In the same way that two musicians can (Heroic) play the same song, with the same instrument, and sound different, two Martial Artists can use the same style and yet fight differently. Those differences are THE EMERALD ATHLETICS SOCIETY often attributable to their School. Description\History: The Emerald Athletics Society is an Below is the list of the dominant Schools in the Middle organization with chapters across the Middle Kingdom. Kingdom (a DM is, of course, free to create additional It provides the people with a venue by which they can ones if they so choose). Included in each School’s entry maintain their health and fitness (including traditional is a description of their history and motivation, what medicine, and if needed, financial assistance)… or so Styles the schools teach, and the Wu Kwan secrets that the story goes. It is an open secret that, while the EAS a Character qualifies for. does indeed provide precisely the services it claims, it is also run by Triads, local organized crime groups that are involved in all manner of vice. What is less known THE ACADEMY is that these locations are also hidden Kung Fu schools. Description\History: Fu has been part of the Military of Included Styles: Artisan’s Fist, Drunken Monkey, the Emperor since the dawn of the First Empire centuries Hooded Viper, Ocean’s Longpole, Southern Tiger Fist, ago, and while the rank and file of the Emperor’s Army Three Kings are not capable of Mystic Wuxia, there are those rare Wu Kwan Secrets: Mystic Tattoos (Seasoned) few who are. Included Styles: Iron Ring Fist, Jade Emperor’s Pride, North Wind THE ETERNALLY RESONANT BELL Wu Kwan Secrets: Academy Officer (Heroic) Description\History: Deep in the western mountains, the Belltower, as their monastery is called, sits astride the only pass through the dizzying peaks, tolling its THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOST SOULS bronze bell every dawn and dusk. There are increasingly Description\History: The Brotherhood of Lost Souls is common whispers that monks in the order’s traditional a rumor. Anyone who would know for sure is adamant white and blue robes have been seen across the Middle that they do not exist, that they are a ghost story, but Kingdom, helping those in need. These monks, it is said, the idea seems to inspire fear in anyone from prince to also travel the land in search of those of pure virtue, to pauper, pirate to saint. The truth — if there is one — is offer the order’s teaching, and grant safe passage to the that the Brotherhood exists nowhere and everywhere, Belltower to a chosen few. that they take in anyone who can find them and survive Included Styles: Buddha’s Tears, Celestial Iron Bell, the process (regardless of their background and political Grasping Hand, Jade Emperor’s Pride, Ninth Trigram affiliation), and will teach them the forbidden and lost Wu Kwan Secrets: The Secret of Breath (Seasoned), arts that forge them into implacable, deadly killers. SampleAnointed Perfections (Veteran) file Members of the Brotherhood can eliminate a target and vanish like a tear in the rain.

6 Powers: aspect redirection (V), boost/lower Trait (N), FU STYLES banish (V), blind (N), deflection (N), detect\conceal arcana (N), leap (N), protection (N), relief (N), smite (N) Ethos: ARTISAN’S FIST Minor Sins: Throwing the first punch Background: Long ago, there was a great Fu master Major Sins: Acting in a deliberately offensive\insulting named Putong Ren, who espoused the idea that Fu manner should be for everyone, not just those who had the Mortal Sins: Deliberately causing or spreading natural talent, and whose lives had enough leisure time suffering to devote to professional study of the Martial Arts. He developed Artisan’s Fist, a style that was unadorned, CELESTIAL IRON BELL efficient, effective, easily taught, and among those who Background: This style was developed by an order of are on the Path of Rivers and Lakes, provide practical monks who theorized that the greatest accomplishment application. Paradoxically, this lack of adornment has and attribute of the human creature was its ability to prevented the style’s broader appeal. Those who were endure pain, discomfort, and injury. The Fu they interested in learning were not interested in learning developed channeled Chi into those abilities and has something that was not flashy. become known as a style that created unstoppable Typical Students: Over time, this style has become warriors. An Iron Bell, it is said, that does not ring clear, popular with those who admire its efficiency and but it can be struck again and again without harm. honesty. Often laborers, craftsmen, and trade folk Typical Students: Ascetics, masochists, and warriors can find the time to work the are all drawn to the style for movements into their daily work. different reasons. Masters are Masters and Students both have often bent, ancient, wretched, no official badges or trappings and utterly resilient. of rank. Trappings: Bells, stone, and Trappings: Breathing exercises, light sound, and ritual stances Wu Xing Aspect: Earth Wu Xing Aspect: Wood Powers: barrier (S), blast (S), boost/ Powers: banish (V), bolt (N), lower Trait (N), environmental boost/lower Trait (N), divination protection (N), growth\shrink (S), (S), environmental protection (N), healing (N), leap (N), protection leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), (N), smite (N), relief (N) relief (N), slumber (S) Ethos: Ethos: Minor Sins: Dodging an attack Minor Sins: Using that is unlikely to cause injury disproportionate force in a fight Major Sins: Fleeing a fair fight Major Sins: Showing disrespect for fear of injury to hard work and craftsmanship Mortal Sins: Revealing a secret Mortal Sins: Deliberately weakness in one’s self. destroying an item of craftsmanship for no reason other than to upset or insult its DRAGON’S COUNCIL Background: Developed in the creator court of a previous Dynasty, Source: Wikimedia Commons Dragon’s Council is a style BUDDHA’S TEARS based on the use of Four “Noble” Background: This style was Weapons - the Sword, Staff, developed by wandering monks who felt that they Sabre, and Chain - as well as an empty-hand component. needed to be able to protect themselves on lawless Dragon’s Council is often criticized as not being a “true” roads, but were unwilling to break with their traditions style as most of the formulaic movements seem to have of avoiding suffering and pain. Buddha’s Tears focuses little combat efficacy. Practitioners of the style claim on soft strength, circular movements, and incapacitating that the movements are often meditative, and gift them an opponent without inflicting undue harm. with uncanny perception and understanding of others’ TypicalSample Students: Monks, scholars, and others who motivations and goals. file have no desire to inflict pain. Typical Students: Very popular with the aristocracy, Trappings: Sound (chanting, bells), light wealthy merchants, and any others who are looking Wu Xing Aspect: Water to make a name in the Emperor’s Court. Alternatively,

7 those who seek to ape a is arguably the most well- Source: Wikimedia Commons bygone, golden history known expression of find it attractive. Teachers those attributes. Focused can be expensive but are on redirection and soft, not hard to locate. receptive defenses, this Trappings: Movement style hides needle-precise patterns, recitations, counterattacks within wind distracting flourishes. Wu Xing Aspect: Water When not engaged, Powers: boost/lower Trait practitioners, traditionally (N), drain power points garbed in elegant robes (V), healing (N), insight (snow white and sky blue (N), leap (N), protection colors are popular), are (N), relief (N), slumber (S), the very picture of grace smite (N), stun (N) and serenity. Ethos: Typical Students: Minor Sins: Not treating others with the respect that Scholars, artists, and courtiers are all drawn to the style you expect for yourself. for various reasons. Those looking for explosive power, Major Sins: Choosing to not live up to the obligations rage, or rough-and-tumble fighting methods see no of your role, station, or status. value in Eastern Crane. Mortal Sins: Acting against authority without Trappings: Birds, air\wind justification. Wu Xing Aspect: Water Powers: arcane protection (N), blind (N), boost/lower Trait DRUNKEN MONKEY (N), deflection (N), divination (S), insight (N), intangibility Background: Famously irritating to many who walk (V), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N) the path of Rivers and Lakes, Drunken Monkey style Ethos: is a form whose origins are lost both to antiquity and Minor Sins: Losing your temper periodic blackouts. The Masters of this style claim that Major Sins: Starting a fight needlessly it was taught to them by Monkey himself, but like many Mortal Sins: Bravado or cowardice things that the masters of this form claim, there is little evidence to back it up. What has been verified about GRASPING HAND Drunken Monkey is that the form relies on misdirection, Background: Not all warriors strike or evade. Grasping unpredictability, and trickery that is almost completely Hand is a grappling style that trains followers to engage indistinguishable from drunken revelry. at close range, and not to stop engaging until their Typical Students: Bravos, drunkards, beggars, opponent is broken. Grasping Hand has been, in some miscreants, and thieves, if you ask the practitioners schools, converted into a combat sport, but to those with of any other style. The truth of the matter is that most Cultivated Chi, the style is well renowned for being practitioners seem to cherish the absurdity that the style devastating in one-on-one conflict. gleefully exhibits, and often care little for social niceties Typical Students: Students often have physical or decorum. Not surprisingly, the Liquid Courage Edge characteristics in common rather than social or is quite popular with students of this style. cultural ones - more often than not, they are short, Trappings: Beverages, illusions, smoke & mirrors stocky, durable, and shockingly fast. Masters seek out Wu Xing Aspect: Fire students with these attributes, and also prize tenacity Powers: beast friend (N), boost/lower Trait (N), confusion and mercilessness. The School and the teacher\student (N), deflection (N), healing (N), leap (N), protection (N), relationship is of paramount importance as they are the smite (N), stun (N), sound\silence (N) source of accomplishment and progress, and from that, Ethos: tenacity, just as the mountain gets its strength from the Minor Sins: Refusing a drink that is offered to you. bedrock. Major Sins: Passing on a prank or joke - but it has to Trappings: Anatomy, joint locks, stone be FUNNY, not (merely) hurtful. Wu Xing Aspect: Earth Mortal Sins: Refusing to steal out of a sense of propriety. Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), damage field (S), entangle (N), havoc (S), leap (N), protection (N), relief (N), sloth\ EASTERNSample CRANE speed (S), smite (N), stun (N) file Background: The grace, poise, and deadly intensity Ethos: of the crane have long been the source of inspiration Minor Sins: Maintaining range when closing to melee among Martial Practitioners, and Eastern Crane style is possible (preferably grappling)

8 Major Sins: Showing disrespect to a teacher or one’s Mortal Sins: Forsaking conflict or violence (ie, student. becoming a pacifist). Mortal Sins: Betrayal of one’s teacher or students. HOODED VIPER HEAVEN’S VIEW Background: Hooded Viper style, it is said, was founded Background: Ever since the earliest days of civilization, by a physician who came across a snake who was under the Human race has been confronted with one truly attack by a bear. The snake, smaller and weaker, should overwhelming source of power - the storm. Heaven’s have been an easy target, but it repeatedly struck the bear View is a style that aims to channel and model the ferocity where it was weak, its nose, eyes, and even between its of the storm, tempered by the patience and inevitability claws, the only places where its fangs were long enough of the clouds and tides. Practitioners can be found in all to be effective. The physician later took this idea and, corners of the Middle Kingdom. combined with his knowledge of anatomy and Chi flow, Typical Students: This style is popular among soldiers developed a style that relied on precision and repeated, and other professional warriors, as well as sailors (for crippling attacks that used the opponent’s energies whom the storm is a close personal acquaintance), and against them like the way venom speeds through a body guardians such as bodyguards - those who do not shy by using the victim’s heartbeat. Because so much of the away from violence, but equally do not seek it out. success of the style relies on surprise, secrecy is held in Trappings: Wind, electricity, storms high regard. Wu Xing Aspect: Water Typical Students: Hooded Viper students and masters Powers: blast (S), bolt (N), boost/lower Trait (N), damage are generally intelligent, perceptive, and precise. Often field (S), environmental protection (N), fear (N), leap (N), they have a background in medicine and scholarship, protection (N), smite (N), stun (N) and rarely appear to be much of a threat until they are Ethos: pressed into a fight. Minor Sins: Becoming overwhelmed by one’s passions Trappings: Needles, precision finger-strikes, joint or emotions. locks, arcane movements Major Sins: Showing hesitation or mercy in a fight. Wu Xing Aspect: Water

Sample file

9 Powers: bolt (N), boost/lower Trait (N), confusion (N), Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), burst (N), environmental detect\conceal arcana (N), dispel (S), drain power points (V), protection (N), havoc (S), insight (N), leap (N), protection leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), sloth\speed (S) (N), smite (N), slumber (S), stun (N) Ethos: Ethos: Minor Sins: Not using a Called Shot whenever possible. Minor Sins: Backing down from a direct challenge Major Sins: Teaching the secrets of the style without Major Sins: Surrendering to an inferior opponent a master’s approval. Mortal Sins: Not pursuing something of value solely Mortal Sins: Betraying the trust or confidence of your because doing so would cause conflict master. JADE EMPEROR’S PRIDE HUNTING FALCON Background: As long as there has been authority and Background: Not every fighter wants to get within arm’s power, there have been those who try to harm those with (or leg’s) reach to achieve victory. Some decide to focus it. Not long after the invention of authority came the on weapons that grant an advantage by keeping foes at invention of protection. Jade Emperor’s Pride is a form bay. Practitioners of Hunting Falcon take this further, that focuses on protecting a charge. Legend says that the and focus almost purely on ranged attacks with the bow. Jade Emperor himself taught this style to his Heavenly Like the falcon striking with the sun at its back, these Guard, who passed it, through the Mandate of Heaven, warriors can defeat a target before they even know they to those that guard the earthly Emperor. are threatened. Typical Students: Bodyguards, soldiers, and constables Typical Students: Hunting Falcon appeals to a strange all find the style’s heritage and focus to be appealing. group of people — hunters and woodsmen appreciate Teachers tend to focus on the motivations and ethics of it for its history and utility, aristocrats and scholars find a student more than their physical capabilities. appeal in its noble bearing and calm demeanor, and Trappings: Stone, phantasmal servants finally, anyone who likes to stay far from the threat of Wu Xing Aspect: Metal fisticuffs sees the appeal in its reliance on ranged attacks. Powers: aspect redirection (V), barrier (S), boost/lower Trappings: Birds, wind, sonic, lightning Trait (N), divination (S), havoc (S), insight (N), leap (N), Wu Xing Aspect: Wood protection (N), smite (N), summon ally (N) Powers: blast (S), bolt (N), boost/lower Trait (N), darksight Ethos: (N), farsight (S), invisibility (S), leap (N), protection (N), Minor Sins: Deliberately allowing a ward to be harmed smite (N), sloth\speed (S) Major Sins: Offering protection in bad faith Ethos: Mortal Sins: Abandoning a ward Minor Sins: Going a week or more without honing skills with a ranged weapon. NINTH TRIGRAM Major Sins: Deliberately giving up the element of Background: Developed by an order of Taoist monks surprise. who kept an isolated monastery on the border of the Mortal Sins: Closing to melee when a ranged attack Dust Sea. The order was focused on understanding the is still possible. hidden truths of the universe. Ultimately, a relatively new abbot realized that the truth behind Tao is the IRON RING FIST ninth trigram. This trigram defies limits of names, and Background: A southern style, whose origins are represents the nothingness that is the boundlessness of lost to antiquity, Iron Ring Fist is known for not just reality. These monks focused all their scholarship on devastatingly powerful open hand strikes, but also for understanding this emptiness in word and deed, which the trademark sets of iron rings worn on the forearms of evolved, in time, into this style - a type of Fu that is based practitioners, which is said to add to the style’s punching on the embrace of an indefinable, non-dual nothingness. power, but are also used for blocking and other defensive Typical Students: Taoists, generally, but usually those movements. Even without the eponymous rings, the of a more esoteric bent. It is rumored that many of the style’s aggressive stances, extensive hand conditioning, students of this style are not seeking the void as much and powerful punches make it easily identifiable. as they are fleeing into it from personal demons. Typical Students: This style is known for aggressive, Trappings: Shadow, sonic (chants), invisible actions athletic fighters, especially those with backgrounds in at a distance the labor trades such as blacksmiths and carpenters. Wu Xing Aspect: Water Reputationally, followers of Iron Ring Fist rarely start Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), deflection (N), farsight (S), fightsSample but always finish them. intangibility (H), invisibility (S),file leap (N), protection (N), Trappings: Iron, cold smite (N), teleport (S), wall walker (N) Wu Xing Aspect: Earth Ethos: Minor Sins: Not answering questions with questions

10 Major Sins: Actively pursuing material wealth or fame Major Sins: Passing up an opportunity to add a Mortal Sins: Becoming a warlord, despot, or other dramatic flair to the fight, or to make a decision on position of corporeal power. tactical concerns over showmanship. Mortal Sins: Backing down on a duel that is not against NORTH WIND a clearly superior opponent Background: There were a nomadic people in the frigid western mountains for whom ice, wind, and severity are PEACH BLOSSOM HARVEST constant companions. To these people, frivolity was, at Background: This style grew from the need for the very least, weakness, if not a mortal danger. These traveling physicians to protect themselves. It combines people, known as the High Tribes, are rarely encountered an in-depth understanding of anatomy, medicine — outside of the Iron Range in the west. The language of specifically acupuncture — and fu styles that are focused the High Tribes is almost devoid of metaphor, simile, on precision, into a style that provides adherents with or aphorism, and yet, some argue, it is rich in meaning the means both to inflict debilitating conditions and to just the same. Not surprisingly, their style of Fu is just heal with a touch. as minimalist, powerful, and direct as the rest of their Typical Students: Physicians and scholars are the most culture, and takes the mountain’s wind and Ice as its common adherents, though most masters will teach inspiration. anyone with the requisite intelligence and inquisitive Typical Students: More often than not, students and nature. masters of this style alike are people who find solace in Trappings: Acupuncture, ointments\ungents, chi restraint, structure, and surprising honesty. If nothing manipulation else, students of North Wind style are often plain-spoken, Wu Xing Aspect: Metal “tell it as they see it” people. Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), drain power points (V), Trappings: Ice, wind healing (N), insight (N), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), Wu Xing Aspect: Water relief (N), slumber (S), stun (N) Powers: barrier (S), bolt (N), boost/lower Trait (N), fly (V), Ethos: havoc (N), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), shape change Minor Sins: Refusing medicine to someone in genuine (N), telekinesis (S) need Ethos: Major Sins: Using medicine to kill Minor Sins: Overt shows of emotion Major Sins: Showing mercy when the conflict is still undecided Mortal Sins: Falling in Love or succumbing to hate OCEAN’S LONGPOLE Background: Adherents of this style claim that it is descended from the Longpole boat pilots on the Yellow River, specifically, those who were working for the traveling theatre troupes. To defend themselves from river pirates, they developed a Fu style that was designed to not only fight with staves and other long implements that were commonly found on their boats, but also to fight outnumbered, and do it all with style and flair. Typical Students: This style attracts charismatic extroverts who are both fast and graceful as well as strong - acrobats, gymnasts, and other physical performers are common. Trappings: Whirling movements, distracting flourishes, light, sound Wu Xing Aspect: water Powers: barrier (S), boost/lower Trait (N), burst (N), damage field (S), deflection (N), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), sloth\speed (S), stun (N) Ethos:Sample file Minor Sins: Choosing to fight empty-handed

This game references the Savage Worlds game system, available from Pinnacle Entertainment Group at www.peginc.com. Savage Worlds and all associated logos and trademarks are copyrights of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Used with permission. Pinnacle makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, viability, or suitability for purpose of this product. Mortal Sins: Using Medicine to deliberately inflict Ethos: pain\torture Minor Sins: Destroying or defacing a common written work SEVEN SAGE’S SCRIPT Major Sins: Destroying or defacing a rare or important Background: The Word is Truth, as adherents of this written work form are wont to say. To them, the greatest and most Mortal Sins: Destroying or defacing a written work of defining characteristic of humanity is language, which great cultural or historic importance finds its ultimate expression in writing. A word, written correctly, can carry power and by manipulating the SHADOW’S BREATH way that the words are written, you can manipulate the Background: Throughout history, there have been truth of a thing itself. The style utilizes a lot of sweeping, ways that those who are physically weaker have tried graceful movements that, if they were seen as brush to maintain parity or superiority against the physically strokes, are “writing” words like “strike” or “defend.” advantaged. One of the most commonly used methods Other styles scoff at Seven Sages Script as being effete in the natural world is venom, often combined with and overly formal, but it is hard to argue with results. stealth. Humans further can augment these tactics with Typical Students: Scholars, almost to a one. Those an understanding of medicine, anatomy, and secret who understand and seek hidden truths in arcane script, methods that can turn a mere stab of the finger into talismans, and the power of the word, students are often organ failure. Shadow’s Breath is the expression of this found in aristocratic circles where skill in calligraphy is form. Secrecy is paramount, an adherent commonly uses valuable. misdirection to hide the true power of the form. Once Trappings: Written Word, paper talismans, sigils, an opponent knows your methods, they can find a way brushes & pens to circumvent them. Wu Xing Aspect: Metal Typical Students: Students of Shadow’s Breath are Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), detect\conceal arcana (N), not physically imposing, and many hardly appear to divination (H), empathy (N), farsight (S), illusion (N), l;eap be combatants at all. Partly to maintain their cloak of (N), protection (N), smite (N), summon ally (N) obscurity, Masters select students, not the other way around, and often do so among the most unexpected of populations. Trappings: Shadows, poison, anatomy Wu Xing Aspect: Metal Powers: blind (N), boost/lower Trait (N), darksight (N), drain power points (V), leap (N), light\darkness (N), protection (N), smite (N), sloth\speed (S), stun (N) Ethos: Minor Sins: Giving up a secret without gain or advantage Major Sins: Seeking fame or attention Mortal Sins: Betraying the secrets of the form - teaching the uninitiated SOUTHERN TIGER FIST Background: Tiger Fist is not so concerned with raw power the way Iron Ring Fist is, but instead patterns its stances, movements, and attacks after tigers and other predatory cats. The style depends almost as much on stealth and surprise as it does on clawing attacks. Some schools also teach weapon forms that are adapted to Southern Tiger Fist, the idea being that as humans, we have no natural weapons, so using blades is as natural for us, as claws are for the great cats. Typical Students: The style fits well for people who are methodical, calm, and ruthless, but a large part of Samplethe success of the style hinges onfile physical grace, power, and pride. As such, many of the practitioners are drawn from both aristocracy and performing artists. Trappings: Claws, cats

12 Wu Xing Aspect: fire Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), deflection (N), damage field WU XING - THE FIVE (S), fear (N), invisibility (S), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), sloth\speed (S), warrior’s gift (S) ELEMENT CYCLE Ethos: Minor Sins: Being humble, or not taking due credit for In settings using Mystic Wuxia, Fu styles are affiliated one’s accomplishments with Aspects based on (traditional Chinese) Five Element Major Sins: Drawing a weapon for a reason besides Alchemy or Wu Xing. Each of the five elements exist in combat (excluding practice or training) a cycle of positive and negative influences, waxing and Mortal Sins: Forsaking an accomplishment or waning as each influence becomes more or less prevalent. achievement for humility’s sake In Traditional Medicine, the enterprise of the Physician is to modulate these various elemental influences in a patient’s Chi flow, in the hope of achieving balance, THE THREE KINGS and thus, health. Additionally, each of the five elements Background: This style is known for its sense of pageantry has a Yin and a Yang aspect, though these aspects are and ritual, including movements that are reminiscent expressed in intent, more often than not. For instance, of supplication and kowtowing, that flow seamlessly Fire can be used as a tool or a weapon; those are its Yin into attacks and evasions. It is said that this style was and Yang aspects. developed in a bygone era when three kings strove to rule Note that in the Wu Xing cycle, the Western idea of a single kingdom in the tropical south, while each was opposites between elements is not applicable. Instead, plotting to kill the others. The style that developed not the Wu Xing cycle has a Generative and Destructive cycle. only utilizes weapons seen as Each element reinforces one noble - the staff, sword, sabre other element (the Generative, and chain - but disguises or cheng, cycle) and weakens attacks behind dance-like (Destructive, or wu, cycle) flowing movements. The another. tale of the Three Kings ends Generating Cycle: If a with all three dead by the power used for a Support test other’s hands after a clash has a Wu Xing Aspect that that erupted over a tragic has a Generative relationship misunderstanding. In their with the effect it is supporting final moments, all three (Fire on Earth, for example), realized the weight of their the value of the Support Test folly was an illusion and increases by 1 (+2 with a ascended to the heavenly success, +3 with a raise). plane. Destructive Cycle: As a Typical Students: Students possible Synergy effect, if a of the Three Kings are more power’s Wu Xing Aspect has often than not among the a Destructive relationship aristocracy, or drawn from with a target (Fire on Metal, the ranks of functionaries, for example), a Raise can entertainers, and courtiers have a Dispel effect. who orbit nobility. When a Character picks up Trappings: Flowers, clouds, incense, fruit, phantasmal a new power, a Trapping must be chosen as normal. minions Outside of synergy — described in the Savage Worlds Wu Xing Aspect: Fire core rules — trappings are largely cosmetic. In the case Powers: boost/lower Trait (N), damage field (S), deflection of Fu styles, Trappings are normally suggested by the (N), havoc (N), leap (N), protection (N), smite (N), summon style. ally (N), telekinesis (S), warrior’s gift (S) Fu powers are unusual in that the Wu Xing Aspect Ethos: applies even if a power has a different Trapping. For Minor Sins: Fighting empty-handed instance, when a Character who is using Eastern Crane Major Sins: Neglect or abuse of one’s weapons style picks up Confusion (Trapping: birds), the Fu style Mortal Sins: Showing rudeness or dishonoring a has a Water Wu Xing Aspect. The player decides that worthy opponent Samplethe power manifests as a swirlingfile flock of birds made of water. When using this power, the Trapping of “water” can apply synergy as well as the Trapping of “birds.”

13 Additionally, in settings that include these rules, Wu them is not modified by Multi-Action penalties. The Xing Aspects apply to all powers, from Mystic Wuxia, Modifier is already built intoleap . to Alchemy or Weird Science, to a Dragon’s breath. For this reason, a GM should make note of an effect’s Aspect. WEAPON FORM [+3] Below are descriptions of each of the Elements in the Wu This Modifier can be applied to blast, bolt, burst, and Xing cycle and how they interact: damage field. When applied, the attributes of a weapon Wood (crushes or grows): wood governs Growth and used by the Character (including special properties of Flexibility the weapon) are added to the power’s effect. Without this • Generating cycle: Wood feeds Fire Modifier, a damage field power for instance, might be • Destructive cycle: Wood covers\breaks Earth described as a blinding, weaving pattern of saber slashes and strikes. With this Modifier, the saber's Damage (and Fire (burns\explodes): fire governs Emotions for instance, AP) would add to the normal effect of the • Generating cycle: Fire creates Earth (ash) damage field power. Non-ranged weapons that are being • Destructive cycle: Fire melts Metal added to ranged attacks are assumed to return to the Character’s hand once the attack is resolved. Water (drilling): water governs the Spirit. Ice is the Yin (negative) aspect of Water • Generating cycle: Water Nourishes Wood • Destructive cycle: Water controls Fire NEW POWERS Metal (splitting): metal governs Intellect and Productivity ASPECT REDIRECTION • Generating cycle: Metal enriches Water Rank: Veteran • Destructive cycle: Metal chops Wood PP: 3 Earth (crossing): earth governs Nourishment and Range: Touch Stability Duration: Instant Trappings: Breathing exercises, ritualized movements, • Generating cycle: Earth bears Metal acupuncture\pressure • Destructive cycle: Earth dries up Water Supernatural effects are tied to specific types of Chi (their Wu Xing Aspects), and by manipulating one’s Chi, one can be a conduit for that effect, rather than a target. Once per round, when encountering (or if targeted YIN AND YANG by) an effect that has the same Wu Xing Aspect as the Character’s fu style (or styles), the character can, as a Fu styles that are specifically Yin or Yang aligned Free action, make an opposed Fu check. If the character are rare and powerful. wins the contest, they can redefine the target of the effect Yin is receptive, dark and cold, and destructive to another legal target. If they fail the check, they remain toward all other Elements the target of the effect, and can not evade it. On a Critical Yang is active, bright and hot, and Generative Failure, the effect uses its raise effect, if it has one. toward all other Elements During the following round, the character is Vulnerable Yin and Yang are both Generative and Destructive against effects with the Wu Xing Aspect that is in the toward each other, as each contains and destroys Destructive Cycle over the Element that they have the other, but are not influenced by any of the other attuned to, (See Wu Xing - the Five Element Cycle, Pg Wu Xing elements directly. 13). For instance, after attempting to redirect an effect with the Wood Wu Xing Aspect, the character will be Vulnerable to effects with the Metal Wu Xing Aspect, until the start of their next turn. NEW LIMITATIONS & MODIFIERS INSIGHT Rank: Novice PP: 3 SampleRange: Smarts file THE FOUR PRINCIPLE LESSONS [0] If the powers smite, protection, and boost Trait are learned Duration: Instant with the Range Limitation, the skill check to activate Trappings: Sensing Chi flow, discovering curses or blessings 14 Using this power grants information about a specific Duration: 5 target. With a simple success, the Character can Trappings: Special determine: To the user of Leap, gravity, inertia, and mass are optional. By tapping into one’s Chi, one can float like • If the target is a Wild Card or an Extra. a leaf on the wind… or crash to the ground like a stone • If the target has any powers which are fueled by Power from a catapult. There are two versions of this power, Points (Chi or otherwise). It does not determine what depending on if the character wants to tie it to Strength those powers are, nor what the type of Power Points (Mighty Dragon’s Leap) or Agility (Lotus Blossom Step), they might be. which must be decided when the power is taken. In both • If the target’s ratings are higher, lower, or equal to cases, the Character can leap up to their Pace (with a their own in any two attributes (not skills). height maximum of half Pace). • If the target is Shaken, Stunned, Injured, and\or any Lotus Blossom Step: The Character can move through Status Effect they might be suffering. the air in a straight line, but can change direction by With a Raise, the Character can determine all of the contacting a solid object — a wall, a tree branch, and above, plus: so forth, though that object does not need to be able to support their weight. At the end of their action, the • The relative Ranks (higher, lower, or equal) of all of Character must come to rest on a solid object or fall. With the target’s attributes. a raise, the Character’s weight becomes negligible for the • The relative Rank (higher, lower, or equal) of any two duration, allowing them to come to rest or redirect their skills of the Character’s choice. movement on the surface of water without a ripple, an With two raises, determine all of the above, as well as arrow in flight, or a blade of grass without bending it. any Edges, Hindrances, or Powers the target might have. Mighty Dragon’s Leap: The Character leaps in a straight line, and comes crashing down with great LEAP impact. Anyone adjacent to the space in which the Character lands must make a Strength roll or be knocked Rank: Novice back 1”. On a raise, targets are instead knocked back PP: 1 1d4”. Range: self

Sample file

15 TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS

Where possible, these have been designed using Zadmar’s • Entangling (SA): When the wielder makes a raise on Savage Armory (downloadable for free at Drivethrurpg. an attack, instead of doing extra damage, the target com). It is a superlative document for creating weapons may gain the Entangled condition, and with two and armor that are effect-based, balanced, scale well, raises, the target is Bound instead. and can be tuned to include the kind of weirdness of • Exotic (SA): Exotic weapons require extensive training design and use that is a hallmark of traditional Chinese to use effectively (the Exotic Weapon Training edge). weapons. Since it was written for a previous version Without that edge, wielders are -1 to attack and Parry. of Savage Worlds, however, this also requires adding a • Paired Defensive (new): These weapons provide few new weapon abilities, as well as some new Combat an especially effective defense when paired. When Edges (Exotic Weapon Training, specifically). wielded as a pair, they provide an additional +1 Parry bonus, which stacks with the normal bonus for using two weapons. (This is a +1 Modifier inSavage Armory) • Paired Offensive (new): These weapons provide an WEAPON ABILITIES especially effective offense when used in a pair. When wielded as a pair, they provide an additional +1 to Below are abilities found among Traditional weapons, attack rolls, which stacks with the normal bonus for and their effects. The tag (SA) indicates that the ability using two weapons. (This is a +1 Modifier in Savage was adapted from the Savage Armory, the (new) tag Armory) indicates that the ability was written forBreath and Flow. • Tough (SA): This weapon is composed of particularly • Bastard (SA): This sort of weapon is balanced to be durable material or is of an especially solid used with one hand effectively, despite having a construction, and thus has a Toughness of 12 if generally heavier build, and a longer than normal attacked directly, and has three wounds before it is grip allows it to be wielded with two hands if desired. destroyed. If used 2 handed, +1 damage die type. • Unwieldy (SA): A bulky, off-balance, or otherwise • Carried (SA): Carried weapons are too big to sheathe, awkward weapon. -2 to conceal the weapon, and and require an action to ready before they can be readying the weapon requires an Action. used. If strapped to a mount or vehicle, it requires two actions to ready. • Concealable (SA): This weapon is small, flexible, or otherwise easy to conceal on your person without WEAPON FAMILIES making it harder to ready it at a moment’s notice. Opponents suffer -2 Notice to spot the weapon while Some weapons are similar enough in structure and use it is not drawn, and it can be drawn as a free action that they are identical, at least as far as game mechanics from a location that would normally require an action. can lay down without getting needlessly complex. With • Cultivated (new): Cultivated weapons are far more GM discretion, minor differences may exist, such as +1 combat-effective in the hands of someone who has damage for a Meteor Hammer over a Rope Dart, or Cultivated Chi. So long as the wielder has at least one Judge’s Brush over an Emei Piercer. If a character has Chi point remaining, the weapon uses the attributes an Edge applied to one member of a Weapon Family, it listed in the table, below. Without Cultivated Chi, can be reasonably applied to all, such as Exotic Weapon the weapons act as “improvised weapons” as per the Training. Core Rules. (This is a -1 modifier inSavage Armory) • Meteor Hammer, Rope Dart, Flying Claw ·Improvised Weapon, Light: Horse Whisk, • Emei Piercer, Judge’s Brush Acupuncture Needles, Fan, and Hoop\Ring • Guandao, Glaive polearms ·Improvised Weapon, Medium: Ruler, Ruyi Scepter • Ge, Ji (including Qinlong and Fangtian) “dagger axe” • Dangerous (SA): Dangerous weapons are easier polearms toSample hurt oneself in a fight than other weapons. Use • Sun and Moon rings, Wind andfile Fire rings, Deer Antler Innocent Bystander rules when Ganging Up in Melee, Knives, and other “wheel” blades and the wielder can hit themselves on a Critical Failure.

16 WEAPON TABLE: TRADITIONAL WEAPONS TYPE DAMAGE MIN STR WEIGHT COST 3-section Staff Str+d8 d8 8 100 Two hands, Reach 1 OR Two hands, +1 Parry, Exotic, Entangling OR Two hands, +1 die type for damage 9-ring Sabre Str+d8 d10 10 250 Bastard, d10 Raise Damage 9-section Whip Str+d4 d4 3 250 Tough, d10 Raise Damage, Entangling, Exotic, Concealable, Dangerous, -1 to parry but reduces target’s Parry by 1. Two handed, Reach 1, OR one handed, AP 1 Acupuncture Needles Str+1d4 d4 0 100 Cultivated, exotic, range 3/6/12, d10 raise damage, AP 2 Awl Str+d4 d4 2 100 Concealable, Raise damage d6 Butterfly Swords Str+d6 d6 6 250 Paired Defensive, Paired Offensive Crutches Str+d4 d4 2 100 +1 Parry, AP -1 Dagger-axe (ge, ji, etc.) Str+d8 d8 20 250 Reach 1, Two Hands, AP 2, Carried Emei Piercers, Judge's Brush Str+d4 d4 2 250 Paired Offensive, exotic, AP 1, Concealable, d8 Raise Damage Fan Str+d4 d4 4 250 Exotic, Cultivated, Cover (light), +1 Parry, Paired Offensive, Short range 3/6/12, AP -1 Flying Daggers Str+d4 d4 2 100 Concealable, range 3/6/12 Glaive Str+d8 d8 10 250 Reach 1, Two Hands, Carried, d12 Raise Damage Hook Swords Str+d6 d6 6 250 Exotic, Paired Offensive, Paired Defensive, Can lose paired and have Reach 1 Horse Whisk Str+d4 d4 2 250 +1 Parry, AP 1, Concealable, Cultivated Horse-Chopping Sabre Str+d10 d10 13 250 Two handed, Tough, AP 1 Monk’s Spade Str+d10 d10 11 250 Exotic, Two handed, Carried, Entangling, +1 Parry, Tough Ring\Hoop Str+d6 d6 7 10 Cultivated, exotic, +1 Parry, Tough Rope Dart, Meteor Hammer Str+d6 d6 4 100 Exotic, Concealable, Dangerous, Entangling, -1 Parry, two handed, Reach 1. Depending on weapon design, d12 raise Damage OR AP 1 Ruler Str+d6 d6 6 100 Cultivated, AP 1, d8 Raise Damage Ruyi Scepter Str+d8 d4 6 250 Cultivated, AP 1 Sabre\Da-Dao Str+d8 d8 8 250 Da-Dao has Bastard and Unwieldy Sleeve Arrow 2d8 d4 4 500 Range 3/6/12, Concealable, requires an action to reload, d12+1 raise Damage, AP 2 Snake Lance Str+d6 d6 6 250 +1 Parry, Two hands, Reach 1, Carried Spear Str+d6 d6 1 250 +1 Parry, Two Hands, Reach 1, Carried, Fragile (toughness 8), if thrown range 3/6/12 Staff Str+d4 d4 1 10 +1 parry, Two hands, Reach 1, Carried Sword Str+d6 d6 6 250 AP 1, d8 Raise Damage Wheel Str+d8 d6 8 250 Exotic, Unwieldy, Paired Offensive, Paired Defensive Wolf-toothSample Club Str+d10 d10 24 100 file Two handed, AP 2, d12 raise Damage, Carried

17 and longer, and somewhat less concealable than Emei WEAPON DESCRIPTIONS Piercers. • Fan: Traditionally, fans were occasionally equipped • 3-Section Staff: A length of wood of about the same with bladed ribs and were used not just to distract length as a staff, divided into three sections, each a foe, but to slash with the edge of the fan, and connected by a stout chain. An expert can use one block with the metal ribs. Fans used by those with end of the weapon to strike while using the other Cultivated Chi could be those purpose-built for to block or entangle, and rapidly shift from a long combat, or utterly mundane, and enhanced by their ranged whipping strike to a close range flurry. Chi to the same purpose. Additionally, in the hands • 9-Ring Sabre: Almost identical to a normal sabre, but of one who is Cultivated, a Fan can be thrown with with 9 metal rings that are attached to the back of the deadly accuracy. heavy blade, adding more weight to the weapon’s • Flying Daggers: Double-edged daggers, often made striking surface. from a single piece of metal, that normally have a • 9-section Whip: Nine metal segments, each about short tassel or ribbon running from the base of the the width of a fist, connected by chain, and ending grip. When thrown, the tassel ensures that the dagger with a pointed striking section at one end. Sometimes flies tip-first. used in pairs, a skilled combatant can weave a wall of • Glaive: A family of polearms with broad, slashing whistling, slashing metal from a weapon that can be blades, including the massive Guan-Dao which is concealed with ease. in many respects a large sabre with a 6 foot long • Acupuncture Needles: Long, thin needles, designed grip. Glaives are often equipped with ringed blades for medical use. As a weapon, they are thrown with (similar to a Nine-Ring sabre), tripping hooks, tassels, startling accuracy, striking acupuncture meridians to and the like, normally on the back of the blade. There great effect. is sometimes a counter-weight at the butt of the shaft • Awl: Adapted from a leatherworking and as well, which can be fashioned as a spear-tip or woodworking tool, and Awl is similar to thin, non- smashing club. bladed dagger with a needle tip, and is used almost • Hook Swords: A dynamic and adaptable weapon, exclusively with stabbing strokes. Hook Swords are used commonly in pairs. Each • Butterfly Swords: Single-edged, broad bladed hook-sword is in many respects a sword like any short swords, about the length of one’s Forearm, other, and is equipped with a bladed hand-guard and equipped with a curved hand-guard, Butterfly and a stabbing spike or blade at the pommel, but Swords are almost exclusively used in pair, and are rather than a stabbing tip, these swords end in a also known as Murder Knives or Finishing Swords. metal hook that can be used to entangle an opponent’s • Crutches: A length of wood at least as long as the weapon, capture a limb, or trip a foe. Most notably, wielder’s forearm, with a reverse hand-grip that by linking the paired swords hook-to-hook, a fighter sits at a right angle to the length of the weapon. can combine Hook Swords into an impromptu bladed Traditionally assumed to be an adaptation from a lash, granting reach. Switching from a pair to a single crutch, these weapons are known for being defensive reach weapon is an action. weapons of exceptional capacity. • Horse Whisk: A short sceptre, about the length of a • Dagger-axe (ge, ji, etc.): A polearm that found forearm, tipped with a large tuft of hair, often made common use in large standing armies and is in some from the mane or tail of a horse. Also describes fly ways similar to a halberd. Attached to a stout pole swatters, dusters, hand-brooms, or other flexible, often more than 6 feet long, a Dagger-axe (and its short objects. variants) has an axe-like chopping blade, with a • Horse-Chopping Sabre: Even larger than a da-Dao, second blade set at just over 90 degrees from it these are large, single bladed swords that are often (used for tripping and limb-crippling slashes), and found in use by infantry that face off against mounted occasionally a spear-tip for thrusting attacks as well. opponents, as the long and heavy blade is said to be • Emei Piercers, Judge's Brush: Metal rods normally able to hit a rider even after cutting through their less than a foot long, these weapons are used almost horse. exclusively in pairs, and are designed to exploit • Monk’s Spade: A hafted weapon with a reverse minute openings in the opponent’s defense with crescent at one end, and a blunt, shovel-like, paddle very close range, precise, puncturing strikes. Emei at the other. This was designed to be able to keep a foe piercers are shorter, barely longer than the length of at a safe distance, possibly entangled and harmless, aSample hand, but have needle-sharp tips at both ends and or dispatched bloodlessly. file a swiveling ring that is normally worn on the middle • Ring\Hoop: Heavy, metal rings used in some styles of finger, which lets a skilled user make distracting Kung Fu as a training aid, normally around 6 inches spins with the Piercer. Judge’s Brushes are heavier across. When fighting, they can be used to block with the ring, or striking with the ring held in the fist. 18 • Rope Dart, Meteor Hammer, Flying Claw: A family because the style and use of the weapon is remarkably of weapons designed around a weighted end on a different than in “western” settings. rope or light chain. The Flying claw ends with a trio • Sword: Called the King of Weapons, swords are of claw-like blades, the Rope Dart ends with a pointed defined by a long, flexible blade, sharpened on tip, and the Meteor Hammer a larger, blunt weight. both sides, and use a stye that focuses on stabbing, • Ruler: About the size and shape of a Sword, and in the slashing (as opposed to chopping), and overcoming hands of the Uncultivated, without blade nor point the opponent’s defenses through grace, discipline, at its tip. Sometimes made from materials that are and accuracy more than raw power. This weapon is not combat-effective, such as a string of coins, welded listed here because the style and use of the weapon together into the shape of a sword. This category also is remarkably different than in “Western” settings. includes walking sticks, or anything else that might • Wheel: This is a family of bladed weapons that conceivably be swung in the manner of a sword, includes Sun and Moon rings, Wind and Fire rings, including the Tailor’s ruler that gives it this name. Deer Antler Knives, and other circular bladed • Ruyi Scepter: A scepter of political office, often with weapons commonly used in pairs. They normally an official seal at one end, a Ruyi scepter is less than rely on attacks from oblique directions, enabled by two feet long, with a crook at one end, and a knob or the weapon’s unusual design, and flowing, circular Seal at its tip. They are often made of wood, bone, styles of Fu. jade, or other materials that are not normally combat • Wolf-tooth Club: A massive polearm that, rather worthy. than relying on a blade to inflict damage, ends with • Sabre or Da-Dao: A single-edged, sometimes slightly a large club striking head, covered with metal needle- curved, long-bladed sword, normally equipped with sharp spikes normally 3-6 inches long. This un-subtle a heavier blade, and used with chopping slashes weapon combines crushing weight with deadly more than stabbing thrusts. Occasionally equipped penetration. with pommel sashes (for distraction) or in pairs which sit inside the same scabbard. There are many slight variants of this weapon, but while they may vary in appearance, in use they are almost identical. OPTIONAL EDGE One notable exception is the variant found in use If the weapons detailed here are to be used in a game among the Northern people which has an even that uses the rules for Mystic Wuxia, the Exotic Weapon heavier, shorter blade and longer grip, often with a Training edge should be included as well (reprinted here large ring at the pommel. Known as “da-dao” or “big with permission from Zadmar). broadsword,” such weapons have the “Bastard” and “Unwieldy” traits. • Sleeve Arrow: A spring-loaded tube that silently EXOTIC WEAPON TRAINING Requirements: Seasoned, Fighting d8 (or Shooting d8 launches a thin needle at a target. Commonly used for missile weapons) to deliver toxins, they rely on surprise and stealth to Weapons with the Exotic ability are particularly difficult be effective. to use without special training. This Edge represents • Snake Lance: This polearm has a long, wavy blade such training, negating the -1 penalty to attack and Parry that often has a forked tip. In use, it is not very different when wielding one specific type of Exotic weapon. You than a normal spear, but that it is not designed to be may take this Edge multiple times, applying it to a thrown, and its long, wavy blade can make slashing different type of weapon each time. You must take Exotic and stabbing use of the tip. Weapon Training twice for the same weapon if you wish • Spear: The Spear has seen thousands of years of to negate the penalty for both hands while dual wielding. development in method. Spears rely on their metal tip for penetration on thrusting attacks, but also on a flexible shaft that is used to make whipping attacks side to side. This flexibility leads to the Spear’s primary weakness - it is easily broken. This weapon is listed here because the style and use of the weapon is remarkably different than in “Western” settings. • Staff: A simple, often unadorned length of wood, normally about the same height as its user, the staff is arguablySample older than the spear, and in some regards, its file use is the same, amplifying the welder's strength by way of angular momentum. A skilled staff-fighter can keep many opponents at bay, blocking and counter- striking with fluid grace. This weapon is listed here 19