Poisoned Shadows - Swordsman Schools

Founded two generations ago by a Vodacce fencing master (and currently run by the founder’s grandson), Tricomi is more grounded in classical technique than any other Guild-sanctioned school. Fencing purists favor Tricomi for its conservative defense, precise attacks, and exclusive use of the rapier, and feel that it would have spread across Théah by now if it were not for the extreme popularity of Ambrogia and the general Vodacce preference for more aggressive (and dirty) fighting schools. In reality, it is the extreme arrogance of Tricomi’s masters that serves as the primary obstacle. One does not simply show up at a Tricomi academy with a pocket full of senators and request training; one must be invited, and one must pay heavily for the honor of learning the “finest true fencing style in Théah.”

Students of Tricomi study mathematics, physics, and anatomy alongside swordplay, dueling law, and philosophy, and integrate these scholarly pursuits into their fighting style. In combat, every movement is fluid and precise: attacks are made along the optimal geometric plane, targeting whatever part of the opponent’s defense seems the most vulnerable. Likewise, a Tricomi Swordsman’s defensive stance is variable, shifting readily to block an attack from whatever angle will most effectively set up the Swordsman’s next action.

One might expect that a school grounded in the rich tradition and history of fencing, and sanctioned by the Swordsman’s Guild for nearly twenty years, would produce the most gentlemanly Swordsmen in the Guild. And one would probably be correct…if that school had not been developed in Vodacce. Instead, Tricomi Swordsmen are probably the most arrogant men and women on the face of Théah, convinced that their school is the only “true” style of fencing. They sneer derisively at Ambrogia and Valroux, considering the reliance upon a second weapon undignified and cowardly. Any school that relies on a non-traditional weapon (e.g., the cloaks of Torres fighters, or any Heavy or Improvised Weapon) is branded crude and outdated, while schools like Aldana and Bernoulli are denounced as ostentatious and vulgar. Masters offer grudging respect to Gallegos, but still insist that they are superior. Still, Gallegos is the only school known to have been grandmastered with Tricomi, and the Swordsmen who have done so are among the best in the Guild.

While Tricomi Swordsmen ridicule virtually every other style, and tend to pick fights with any non-Tricomi Swordsman they meet, they reserve their greatest disdain for Villanova and its practitioners. They claim the school is sloppy and inefficient, and describe its founding family as overrated hacks. This sentiment has endeared the school to Alcide Mondavi, who has provided funding for a handful of new schools within his lands and—according to rumor—is considering “adopting” the school on behalf of his family. (For what it’s worth, Giovanni Villanova returns their sentiments and would like nothing more than to see every Tricomi Swordsman gutted and their schools burned to the ground. However, he fears such an action would be construed as a direct attack on Mondavi, something he is not prepared to do…at the moment. Meanwhile, conflicts ranging from unsanctioned duels to all-out tavern brawls continue to erupt between students of the rival schools.)

Unfortunately, a methodical and conservative school like Tricomi is not fully equipped to deal with the many quick, creative, and outrageous maneuvers employed by most of Théah’s premiere Swordsmen. An attack from an unusual angle or unexpected source, or a maneuver utilizing an unfamiliar technique, can provide an opponent with some measure of success early in a duel. Once an overconfident Tricomi Swordsman has been caught off-guard by a supposedly inferior opponent, he tends to come unraveled, taking unnecessary risks and making uncharacteristic mistakes in a desperate attempt to reassert his dominance.

Basic Curriculum: Fencing, Scholar

Swordsman Knacks: Cavatione (Fencing), Disarm (Fencing), Exploit Weakness (Tricomi), Riposte (Fencing)

New Swordsman Knack: Cavatione. A cavatione (sometimes translated as Envelop) is a circular attack, designed to defeat an opponent’s parries and aggressively disengage from a Bind. When attacking an enemy, you may declare a Cavatione, using this Knack instead of your Attack Knack. You must take one Raise, but if successful, the opponent may not attempt an Active Defense using any single-weapon Parry Knack (though he may still Parry with a shield or buckler, or attempt a Double-Parry). Furthermore, you may use Cavatione instead of Parry when attempting to break a Bind. If you take one Raise on the attempt and succeed, in addition to freeing your weapon you score a hit on the opponent, inflicting Flesh Wounds equal to your weapon’s Damage Rating (this Damage roll is not modified by your Brawn, but may be increased by Raises taken on the attempt, as usual).

Apprentice: The advanced studies of a Tricomi Apprentice make it very hard to catch him off-guard with traditional fencing maneuvers; an opponent must take one extra Raise when attempting a Beat, Feint, or Flourish against him. Furthermore, a Tricomi Swordsman’s rigorous training leaves an opponent fewer ingrained openings than most schools for attack or defense. An opponent’s Rank in Exploit Weakness (Tricomi) only adds to his attack and Active Defense rolls if it equals or exceeds the Tricomi Swordsman’s own.

Journeyman: A Tricomi Journeyman knows that precision is more important than speed. At the beginning of every Round, he may set aside any number of Action Dice after they are rolled, reducing his number of Actions and his Initiative total for the Round. Any Action Dice set aside become Drama Dice, which must be used in that Round or they will be lost. These Drama Dice never convert to experience points under any circumstances.

Master: A Tricomi Master has honed his defensive skills so thoroughly, he is never caught flat-footed. At any time (whether he has current Action Dice or not), a Master may attempt a maneuver known as a Reaction Parry—a quick sweep with his blade, designed to knock an opponent’s attack aside. This is a standard Active Defense using Parry (Fencing), even if that was not the Knack used for Passive Defense. It costs no Action Dice to perform the maneuver, but the Swordsman’s Rank in Parry* is considered half its actual value (rounded down). Should the Reaction Parry fail, the Swordsman cannot attempt another Active Defense, as he is no longer properly balanced and his weapon is out of line. A Reaction Parry may not be attempted if the Master would ordinarily be denied an Active Defense (e.g., after an opponent has successfully used Feint or Beat), and it can never be used as part of a Riposte.

* This assumes that the Swordsman rolls Knack + Trait and keeps Knack. If the original rules (roll Trait + Knack, keep Trait) are being used, halve the Swordsman’s Wits for this roll, instead.