PEUL
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: Restricted to Honorable Alignments. No Attribute restrictions.
Skill Cost: 10 Years (8 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style)
Peul is the martial art style of the African tribes of Guinea. These people are known by many names: Foulah, Fula, Fulani, FulBe, Fulbe, Fulfulde, Peul, and Peulh. They are
nomadic herders with a distinct code of honor.
Raised from a young age for the rigors or herding cattle and sheep, the Peul learn agility, bravery, direct aggression, endurance, great discipline, independence, obedience,
respect for authority, responsibility, self-control, self-reliance, and strength, as well as to endure fatigue, hunger, and thirst. Also learned are acrobatic dance forms involving
cartwheels, flips, handstands, and spins. Since the Peul are expected to defend their honor against insults or cattle raids by other tribes or predators, weapons are also taught in
this style, including bow with poisoned arrows, herder's stick, and knife.
As a final test of their manhood, Peul undergo a ritual known as Soro. In the Soro the applicants are to stand motionless inside a circle formed by the clan where they wait either
with their hands on their head or holding a mirror. The tester, armed with a club of the tamarind plant then circles around the candidate, feinting blows at them until they suddenly
strike the applicant. The candidate must take the blows without so much as the flicker of an eyelid (hence the use of mirrors, so the applicant can check their face to ensure no
sign of emotion shows) to prove their courage. Since the tester applies many blows, many great weals or open wounds occur on the candidate, and accidental disembowelment
has been known to occur.
Costume: The traditional dress of the Peul in most places is a long colorful flowing kilt, modestly embroidered or otherwise decorated.
Stance: None.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +2 to M.E.
Add +2 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.P.
Add +2 to P.E.
Add +2D4 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 3
Escape Moves: Back Flip, Handstand, Maintain Balance, Turn with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: Back Flip, Forward Spin, Handstand.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Backward Turn, Dodge, Parry
Advanced Defense Moves: Circular Parry, Spinning Evasion
Hand Attacks: Backhand, Punch (Human Fist)
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Snap Kick
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Death Strike (NEW!), Elbow, Forearm.
Holds/Locks: None.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Bow & Poisoned Arrows, W.P. Herder's Stick (Staff), W.P. Knife
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) Martial Art Powers from among Body Hardening Exercises (including Demon Hunter). Automatically receives Soro Body
Hardening Exercise.
Soro: Ritual beating with a club where no emotion can be shown. Bonuses: +1 to P.E., +4 to save vs pain, +20 to S.D.C.
Languages: Pulaar, Noddal Ba'i (cattle calls)
Cultural: Cattle Herding, Rope Use, Sheepherding
Survival: Wilderness Survival
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Bow & Poisoned Arrows, W.P. Herder's Stick (Staff), W.P. Knife
Philosophical Training: Pulaaku: A reflexive honor code which demands that a man whose honor has been impugned must expunge the insult by attacking the insulter.
Offensive against honor include insults against the genitals of the parents, stealing cattle, disobedience from a younger family member, insults towards a younger family
member, among others.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time:Massai (6 Years), Zulu Stick Fighting (8 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Damage, +1 to Spin, +1 to Back Flip/Handstand, +2 to Maintain Balance
2nd: +1 to Strike, +1 to Parry/Dodge
3rd: +1 to Damage, +1 to Spin, +1 to Back Flip/Handstand
4th: +1 Attack per Melee
5th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Parry/Dodge
6th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Spin, +1 to Back Flip/Handstand
7th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Parry/Dodge
8th: +1 Attack per Melee
9th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises (including Demon Hunter).
10th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Spin, +1 to Back Flip/Handstand
11th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Parry/Dodge
12th: +1 Attack per Melee
13th: Death Strike on a Natural 20
14th: Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20
15th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Spin, +1 to Back Flip/Handstand
Why Study Peul?
It's very impressive, it's highly effective and it also has a strong moral background. Like most weapon styles, this style can be used without weapons but it loses a great deal of
its effectiveness. Plus, any characters who really want to "bulk up" will be pleased with a solid diet of Body Hardening Techniques. It's more effective than most against
non-martial artists but lacks the defenses of most other arts.