Thugee (Exclusive)
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Attribute restrictions. Limited to characters of Aberrant (evil) alignment with Discipline of Honor.
Skill Cost: 10 Years.
The martial art style Thuggee is a variant of Kalari Payit in which knowledge of Marma-adi (vital points) is used to inflict damage rather than heal. It is practiced by the adherents of a secret cult of Kali, known as Thugs (deceivers/to conceal), Thugees, Phansigars (Hindustani for noose-users), Ari Tulucar (Tamuli), and Tanti Kalleru (Kanarese). The Thugs were organized gangs of robber-assassins who killed travelers with ritual strangulation and sacrificial rites.
Starting at as young an age as ten, recruits of the style engage in scouting instead of murder for the first two expeditions, learning only that Thugs engage in robbery. Upon the third expedition, the apprentice begins to learn the proper care of the sacred pickaxe, believed to be a tooth of Kali. Next, the recruit is taught the proper digging of graves and preparation of bodies, being rewarded with a share of the loot. Eventually they are taught how to hold the feet of victims. When they learn the technique of distracting victims and holding their hands, they are given the rank of Shumseea. Recruits wishing to become a Bhurtote (strangler), they must seek out a guru (teacher) to apprentice themselves to. If they are accepted they are taught the proper way to fold and knot the yellow or white silk strangling scarf with a silver rupee on one end known as a Rumal or Ruhmal. When they learn the techniques of the Rumal, an elderly victim is selected, awaken from sleep, and strangled. The final part of training is the ritual preparation of Goor, a raw sugar treat representing the flesh of the tiger, eaten by Thugs who actual perform the strangulation in a ritual called Tuponee.
Victims are commonly strangled from the rear, with their hands and feet held by two other thugs. A dagger thrust into each eye and the slashing of the abdomen by the ceremonial pickaxe are used as part of the burial (and to ensure death). There are a variety of strangulation techniques, involving quick looping of the neck and a twisting motion to ensure that the choke is successful. There are also other variations, sometimes using a simple garotte, or using two or more stranglers to choke the victim. The Thugs also used their own signs of recognition and trail marking to denote targets and locations. Thugs typically attack when there are three or more thugs per victim.
Costume: None. Thugs dress in clothing appropriate to their region.
Stance: None.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to M.E.
Add +2 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.E.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Maintain Balance, Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Entangle, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Disarm
Hand Attacks: Fingertip Attack, Marman Strike (fore-knuckle strike), Punch.
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Tripping/Leg Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Body Flip/Throw, Choke, Death Blow, Death Strike, Death Touch, Paralysis Attack, Strangulation.
Holds/Locks: Arm Hold, Leg Hold, Body Hold, Neck Hold/Choke, Torso Hold.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Rumal (Demon Snare), W.P. Dagger (Knife), W.P. Ceremonial Pickaxe (Axe).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Select Three (3) Martial Art Powers from among Atemi, including Advanced Atemi. *Dim Mak available at level 4.
Languages: Hindi, Sign Language (Thug code)
Cultural: Cooking, Rope Use
Physical: Prowl.
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Rumal (Demon Snare), W.P. Dagger (Knife), W.P. Ceremonial Pickaxe (Axe).
Philosophical Training: Hinduism: Death aspect of Kali
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Assassin (6 Years), Bandesh (2 Years), Gatka (9 Years), Kalari Payit (7 Years), Muki (12 Years), Silambam (5 Years), Thang-Ta (2 Years), Thoda (1 Year), Vajra-Musti (8 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1^st: +1 Parry/Dodge, +1 Strike, +1 Hold.
2^nd: Critical Strike from Behind.
3^rd: +1 Hold, Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20.
4^th: Select one (1) additional Martial Art Power from among Atemi including Advanced Atemi.
5^th: Add +1 Attack per Melee. +1 Strike.
6^th: +1 Hold, Death Strike on a Natural 20.
7^th: +2 Parry/Dodge, +1 Strike.
8^th: +1 Hold, Critical Strike on a Natural 18, 19, or 20.
9^th: Select one (1) additional Martial Art Power from among Atemi including Advanced Atemi.
10^th: Add +1 Attack per Melee.
11^th: +1 Strike, Death Strike on a Natural 19 or 20.
12^th: Select one (1) additional Martial Art Power from among Atemi including Advanced Atemi.
13^th: +1 Hold, 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).
14^th: Add +1 Attack per Melee.
15^th: +1 Hold, Death Touch on a Natural 20.
Why Study Thugee?
By itself it offers a perfect espionage ability. Attacks should be unexpected, should first make the opponent helpless, and then finish him off. Flexibility, surprising attacks and deadly moves are all this style's trademarks. The only weakness comes from the lack of training in the "internal" arts.