Sword-Singer
The character is a Sword-Singer: they have devoted themselves to Shehai Shen She Ru - the Way of the Spirit Sword, practiced by the ancient Redguard warrior-poets of Yokuda.
Cost: 1,000 XP (if Redguard or being trained by a Sword-Singer); 1,500 XP otherwise.
Grants: The ability to train the Shehai Shen She Ru skill, learn and use Techniques of Aberrant Swordsmanship, and learn Shehai Talents.
Shehai Shen She Ru
The Shehai Shen She Ru, or “Way of the Spirit Sword,” is the culmination of the art of sword-singing, practiced by ancient Redguards in Yokuda known as Sword-Singers. The greatest of the Sword-Singers were known as Ansei, or “Saints of the Sword.”
Skill: Shehai Shen She Ru (Str, Ag, Wp)
Characters can utilize Shehai Shen She Ru (with either Strength or Agility) as if it were the Combat Style [Field] skill whenever wielding any type of sword (daggers and greatswords also count).
The Three Dimensions of the Way
- Devotion to swordsmanship - mastery of the blade through the Shehai Shen She Ru skill.
- Aberrant Swordsmanship - special magical techniques of the blade that go beyond normal capability.
- The Shehai - the Spirit Sword itself, a literal part of the soul made manifest. A Sword-Singer who manifests the Shehai is an Ansei.
Aberrant Swordsmanship
Techniques count as magic (not spells) and are placed in the magic section of the character sheet. They require a sword (physical or Shehai) and, for active techniques, a Shehai Shen She Ru skill test.
Using an Active Technique:
- Choose a technique you have learned and meet the requirements for.
- Make a Shehai Shen She Ru (WP) test at the technique’s listed difficulty.
- On success, apply the technique’s effects. On failure, lose X Stamina Points where X = the 10s digit of the difficulty penalty (minimum 1).
Techniques
| Technique | Type | Requires | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Seven Hundred and Fifty Offensive Positions | Passive | Novice | 100 XP | - |
| The Eighteen Hundred Defensive Positions | Passive | Novice | 100 XP | - |
| Thirty-Eight Grips | Passive (Free Action) | Apprentice | 200 XP | - |
| The Nearly Nine Thousand Moves | Passive | Apprentice | 200 XP | - |
| The Ephemeral Feint | Active (Free Action) | Apprentice | 200 XP | +0 (-10 per use/LR) |
| Sword Tremor Sense | Passive | Journeyman | 300 XP | -20 |
| The Havoc Canal | Active (Free Action) | Journeyman | 300 XP | -20 |
| The Tempest Attrition | Passive (Free Action) | Journeyman | 300 XP | - |
| The Gaze of Confusion | Passive (Free Action) | Journeyman | 300 XP | - |
| The Vectoring Cygnet | Active (Free Action) | Journeyman | 300 XP | Variable |
| The Bone Shaver | Active (Primary) | Adept | 400 XP | -10 per X |
| The Zero-Sum Interrupt | Active (Primary) | Adept | 400 XP | -20 |
| The Threat of Mirrors | Passive (Free Action) | Adept | 400 XP | - |
| The Fingers-Knife | Active (Primary) | Expert | 500 XP | -20 |
| Walled Consequence Stance | Active (Reaction) | Expert | 200 XP | -20 |
| The Sword Tremor | Active (Primary) | Master | 800 XP | -50 |
| The Pankratosword | Special | Master | - | None |
The Pankratosword: No test required. The character dies; the chosen target - which may be anything, including a concept or place - is destroyed. Reserved for mythic, GM-controlled circumstances.
Shehai Talents
Require the Sword-Singer elite advance to purchase or use.
| Talent | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aberrant Adept | Expert (Wp) | Only ever lose 1 SP from failed Technique tests. |
| Ansei of the First Level | Adept (Wp) | Manifest a first-level Shehai of a chosen sword type. |
| Ansei of the Second Level | Expert (Wp) | Requires Ansei I. Manifest a second-level Shehai; up to 2 Shehai (Effect) talents. |
| Ansei of the Third Level | Master (Wp) | Requires Ansei II. Manifest a third-level Shehai; up to 3 Shehai (Effect) talents. |
| Shehai (Effect) | Journeyman (Wp) | Choose one effect: Aberrant, Radiant, Burning, Concussive, Electrifying, Freezing, Phasing, Tested, Quicksilver, Reach, Soul Rending, Tearing, Thirsting, or Venomous. May be purchased multiple times with different effects. |
The Shehai
Manifested as a Cast Magic Secondary Action + Shehai Shen She Ru (WP) test. A Shehai persists until dismissed or for WB minus level hours.
| Level | Test Difficulty | Failure Cost | Damage | Qualities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | -10 | 1 SP | Base + ½ WB (round up) | Magic, Primitive |
| Second | -30 | 2 SP | Base + WB | Magic |
| Third | -60 | 3 SP | Base + 2× WB | Magic |
WB = unmodified Willpower bonus (no spells, enchantments, or alchemy).
The Shehai cannot be taken from the character and cannot be thrown without dissipating. It is transparent but fully interacts with physical objects.