RAKS AL-KHANJAR
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Attribute or Alignment restrictions.
Skill Cost: 6 Years (4 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style)
Raks Al-Khanjar is Arabic for "Dance of the Blade." This style comes from Yemen, one of the few places in the Middle East where men still wear their khanjar (traditional knives) openly in public. It is a method of blade fighting which has existed since ancient times.
Costume: Middle Eastern Middle Class Wear: Knee- or ankle- length trousers with shirts topped by a sleeveless robe or dolman and a waist sash, leather stockings and leather slippers or harder shoes or boots. A turban wrapped around a soft cap is worn on the head.
Stance: Feet shoulder-width apart, forward foot pointing slightly away from the body, rear foot pointing towards the rear. One arm tight against the waist, the other loosely extended, left hand clenched in fists, right hand gripping the knife.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to P.S.
Add +3 to P.P.
Add +2 to P.E.
Add +5 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 3
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact
Attack Moves: None
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Circular Parry, Combination Parry/Attack, Power Block/Parry.
Hand Attacks: Knife Hand, Palm Strike, Punch (Human Fist).
Basic Foot Attacks: Backward Sweep, Tripping/Leg Hook, Kick, Snap Kick
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Death Blow, Death Blow from Behind, Death Strike, Defensive Headbutt (NEW! Used to attack opponents grappling from behind, 1D4 damage.), Elbow, Knee, Headbutt, Pommel Strike (NEW!), Shoulder Ram.
Holds/Locks: None.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Knife
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: None.
Languages: Arabic
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Knife
Philosophical Training: Islam.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Arte della Daga (5 Years), Assassin (6 Years), Baratero (9 Years), Dolchfechten (10 Years), El Cuchillo (1 Year), Jailhouse Rock (7 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Strike, +2 to Parry/Dodge, Critical Strike from Behind
2nd: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage
3rd: +1 to Strike, Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20
4th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, Death Strike on a Natural 20
5th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage
6th: +2 to Strike, +2 to Parry/Dodge
7th: +4 to Damage
8th: Critical Strike on a Natural 18, 19, or 20
9th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Strike
10th: +1 to Damage, Death Blow (Can be used whenever desired (i.e. No Natural Number required), however, character must announce intentions to use the Attack per Melee, costs two melee attacks)
11th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Parry/Dodge
12th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage
13th: +1 to Strike, Critical Strike on a Natural 17, 18, 19, or 20
14th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Parry/Dodge
15th: +1 Attack per Melee, Death Blow from Behind
Why Study Raks Al-Khanjar?
Excellent combat bonuses are offset by a lack of attention to Chi and other esoteric studies. For those who seek the true experience of ancient weapon combat, and who understand that there is magic in the blade of a fine weapon, this is the ideal martial art style. When it comes to quick and deadly, this is possibly the best of the martial arts. Any opponent falling under an attack risks permanent maiming.