Poisoned Shadows - Swordsman Schools

Description: The Vicanti school is known by only a handful of people across the face of Théah. It was designed in secret under the watchful eye of Alcide Mondavi, and is used primarily by his agents to carry out assassinations (including the attacks on the other Princes that led to the death of Alberto Lucani).

Vicanti duelists wield a rapier in their primary hand, and place their off-hand at the small of their back, where they have a hidden sheath (traditionally holding three thin throwing knives, similar to those used in the Cappuntina style). Vicanti is focused on the element of surprise. Many fighters challenge their opponents with their swords, waiting for the opportunity to render an arm useless with a carefully placed knife and move in for the kill, while other, more practical fighters simply throw a poisoned knife at the earliest opportunity. Practitioners of Vicanti often study the art of concealment and the science of toxicology, but not as part of their basic training.

The main flaw of the Vicanti style is that it is a “one trick horse.” Once an opponent knows about the throwing knives, the element of surprise is removed and the school is less effective. However, less experienced opponents generally don’t last long enough to prepare for the knives; a single, well-timed throw has removed many players from the Great Game.

Basic Curriculum: Fencing, Spy

Swordsman Knacks: Exploit Weakness (Vicanti), Feint (Fencing), Pin (Knife), Throw (Knife)

New Swordsman Knack: Pin (Knife). You may use a missile weapon to pin an opponent’s hand to a nearby surface, such as a tree. To do this, you must throw a single missile weapon using this Knack instead of your normal Attack Knack, and add 10 to your TN to hit. If you succeed, your opponent’s arm is pinned, and he drops whatever he was holding in his hand. In addition, he must spend 1 Action to free himself. This Knack can only be used on targets wearing cloth or other soft clothing. Pinning a suit of dracheneisen armor to a tree just isn’t feasible.

Throw (Knife). When you throw a knife as an attack, you must use this Knack instead of your Attack Knack. This Knack is the same as the Throw (Knife) Knack found in the Knife Skill in the Player’s Guide, but it is considered a Basic Knack for students of the Vicanti style.

Apprentice: Vicanti Apprentices are highly trained in the off-hand use of a knife. They suffer no off-hand penalty when throwing a knife, and may draw and throw a knife from their “back sheath” as a single action.

Since Vicanti is not recognized by the Swordsman’s Guild, students do not gain membership in the Guild for free. Instead, they may take an extra Rank in one of their Swordsman Knacks at no cost.

Journeyman: Vicanti Journeymen are taught to use their fencing blades to open wide holes in an opponent’s defenses, creating attractive targets for their thrown knives. A Journeyman may choose to perform a Feint using the normal rules, but without inflicting damage. If they do, the TN to hit the target of the Feint drops to 5 for the Journeyman’s next attack with a thrown knife. This bonus is lost if not used before the target’s next attack, or if the Vicanti fighter uses his next action to perform any action other than throwing a knife at the target.

Master: Vicanti Masters learn to throw their knives in the blink of an eye. The Vicanti Master may use Interrupt Actions to attack with thrown knives, as well as for Active Defenses. The Master may use this ability in conjunction with the Lightning Reflexes Advantage, if he has it.