Poisoned Shadows - Swordsman Schools

Country of Origin: Vendel (the style may be learned for only 20 HP if the character already knows the Kjemper School)

Description: With the popularity and success of the Leegstra derivative School Snedig, it was only a matter of time before other traditional Vestenmannavnjar fighting styles received an overhaul to reflect modern Théan sensibilities. In particular, for reasons unknown (or at least, not yet revealed), Boli Kollsson commissioned the creation of this style, derived from Kjemper (and named via the traditional Vendel mechanism of jettisoning unwanted syllables).

Like its source style, Kemp relies on a weapon for offense and a shield for defense—in this case, a rapier and a buckler, respectively. The style’s most effective attacks target an opponent’s weapon, rather than the opponent himself. A Kemp Swordsman relies upon his buckler for defense against more aggressive fighters, but is not afraid to take the offense when confronted with an equally defensive style. In either case, the school’s technique is the same: remove an opponent’s capacity to do you harm (either by waiting for the opponent to exhaust himself trying to penetrate your defenses, or by actively depriving him of his weapon), then strike repeatedly and without mercy.

Unsurprisingly, the Kemp style shares the weakness of the style that spawned it. It is a largely defensive style, more concerned with removing threats to the duelist, rather than threatening an opponent directly. The defensive nature of the style has its merits, but it also makes the school more predictable and thus, easier to counter.

Basic Curriculum: Buckler, Fencing

Swordsman Knacks: Bind (Fencing), Disarm (Fencing), Exploit Weakness (Kemp), Wall of Steel (Buckler)

Apprentice: Kemp duelists learn to wield a rapier and buckler in tandem. An Apprentice suffers no off hand penalty for use of the buckler, and receives a Free Raise on Active Defense attempts made with it.

The Kemp fencing style will assuredly be approved by the Swordsman’s Guild in the near future. Until then, Apprentices gain a Free Rank in one of their Swordsman Knacks instead of Guild Membership.

Journeyman: At this level of experience, a Kemp duelist has learned the value of using his buckler as an offensive weapon, particularly when fighting in close. Any time the Journeyman has his opponent’s weapon in a Bind, he may spend an Action (even one which is not yet “legal”) to perform an Attack with his Buckler. This Attack is made with a Free Raise, but it immediately breaks the Bind. In addition, the Journeyman may now use his Exploit Weakness (Kemp) Knack as Exploit Weakness (Kjemper) when fighting against someone using that style.

Master: A Kemp Master has devoted years to attacking—and neutralizing—an opponent’s weapons. Needless to say, he has become quite good at it. The Master may keep an extra die (+0k1) on rolls using his Bind and Disarm Knacks. He also receives a free Rank in the Attack (Buckler) Knack. This may increase the Knack to 6; if it doesn’t, the Master may spend 25 XP at a later date to increase his Rank in Attack (Buckler) from 5 to 6.