The Joy and Sorrow Technique ( Exclusive )
By danzig138

( Counts as three *3* forms )

NOTE: The Joy and Sorrow technique is effectively two martial art forms. Until the character reaches 15th level in the Joy and Sorrow technique, he must use the standard rules for knowing and using multiple martial art forms. This is a powerful martial art, and may not be appropriate for all campaigns.

Centuries ago, in China, two mighty men encountered each other on a battlefield. These men were martial artists seeking to improve their skills and test their newest martial art forms.

One of the men, Tsou Nan, was developing a new style, the 10,000 Laughing Men, or Wan Feng ( 10,000 Lunatics ). The other man, Yan Qui Tian, was testing his newly created style, Yan Nan ( Smoke Man ).

Wan Feng was a very aggressive, hard art, and Yan Nan was pure defense. Tsou Nan and Yan Qui Tian battled for hours. Tsou Nan was unable to land a blow through the defenses of Yan Qui Tian, but Yan Qui Tian was so pressed to defend himself that he never gained the opportunity to launch his own attacks. Eventually, both men succumbed to exhaustion. Both acknowledged that the other's style was most impressive. This was the beginning of a very long friendship.

Tsou Nan and Yan Qui Tian became inseparable allies. They taught each other their styles, and began to refine them. Eventually, this combined style became known as the Joy and Sorrow technique.

Tsou Nan and Yan Qui Tian began to teach this unique martial art to those who met their rigorous physical and mental standards. So this art survived, and was passed down through the generations.

Today, the Joy and Sorrow Technique is known only to a handful of individuals who will each pick only one person, at most, to pass the techniques to.

The master of the Joy and Sorrow Technique will approach combat differently, depending on the starting technique. If the master is the defender, he will spend most of the combat avoiding blows, while softly weeping. If the opponent does not break off combat, the master will then begin to cry loudly, while using Automatic Body Flips and Joint Locks. If the opponent continues with his aggression, the master will begin to use disabling Atemi abilities.

If the master is the aggressor, he will approach combat steadily, while attempting to land as many devastating blows as possible, laughing maniacally the entire time.

Entrance Requirements: I.Q. 15, M.E. 15, M.A. 14, P.S. 14, P.P. 15, P.E. 15
Skill Cost: 25 years
Costume: Silk kung fu outfit that is black and white. One side is black and the other side is white.
Stance ( Joy ): Feet shoulder's width apart, knees slightly bent. The body is turned so as to present a more narrow target. The front hand is held out at just below shoulder level, and the back hand is held in close at waist level.
Stance ( Sorrow ): Similar to the Joy stance, but the front hand is held out at waist level and kept loose, and the back hand is held pointing down and loose close to the body.

CHARACTER BONUSES

Add 1 to P.S.

Add 1 to P.P.

Add 5 to S.D.C.

Add 5 to Chi

COMBAT SKILLS ( Joy Technique )
Attacks per Melee: 4
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Maintain Balance
Basic Defensive Moves: Dodge, Parry, Automatic Parry
Advanced Defenses: Power Block/Parry
Hand Attacks: Strike ( Punch ), Double-Fist Punch, Knife Hand, Palm Strike, Power Punch
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Snap Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Axe Kick
Jumping Foot Attacks: Jump Kick, Flying Jump Kick
Special Attacks: Death Blow, Leap Attack, Knee, Elbow, Neck Breaker ( SPECIAL! The character jumps up, locks his legs around the target's neck, and spins in an attempt to break the victim's neck, while flipping the victim. This uses six ( 6 ) of the character's attacks, and requires a natural strike roll of 18 or better. If successful, the victim suffers 4D6 damage, and loses initiative and one action. There is a ( damage x2% - victim's P.S. ) x1% chance that the victim's neck will be broken. If this attack fails, the character loses initiative and any remaining attacks for the melee round )
Weapon Katas: None
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull Punch, Knock-Out/Stun, Critical Strike, Critical Strike from rear

COMBAT SKILLS ( Sorrow Technique )
Attacks per Melee: 1
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Maintain Balance
Basic Defensive Moves: Dodge, Parry, Automatic Parry
Advanced Defenses: Automatic Dodge, Automatic Roll, Circular Parry, Disarm
Hand Attacks: None
Basic Foot Attacks: None
Jumping Foot Attacks: None
Special Attacks: Automatic Body Flip/Throw, Paralysis Attack
Holds/Locks: Finger Lock, Wrist Lock , Elbow Lock, Automatic Wrist Lock, Automatic Ankle Lock ( Treat as a Wrist Lock for escape purposes )
Weapon Katas: None
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull Punch, Knock-Out/Stun

SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING ( Both Techniques )
Martial Art Powers: Select one power from Body Hardening Exercises ( including Demon Hunter Exercises ) or Martial Art Techniques, and select one power from Atemi Abilities ( ex. Dim Mak ) or Chi Mastery.
Martial Art Powers ( Joy ): The Laughing Man Kata ( see below )
Martial Art Powers ( Sorrow ): Grasping Hand Atemi Ability, Weeping Willow Kata ( see below )
Languages: Chinese
Philosophical Training: Taoism

The Laughing Man Kata: This is a variation on the Bassai ( Fortress Penetration ) kata. The master laughs continuously, all while attacking a single opponent. His laughter steadily increases in volume as he strikes. The opponent must roll a saving throw of 14 or better ( modified by M.E. ) or lose initiative and one action/attack. The master gains a +4 bonus to strike, and inflicts an additional +4 damage, but he suffers a -5 penalty to all defensive rolls for the melee round.

Weeping Willow Kata: This is a defensive kata in which, the master cries out his anguish, while avoiding and deflecting all incoming attacks. This provides him with a +3 bonus to automatic parry and automatic dodge, and it acts as a Windmill Kata ( Ninjas and Superspies, page 88 ).

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES ( Joy Technique )
Level 1: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +2 to Strike, +1 to Damage
Level 2: +1 Attack per Melee,
Level 3: Critical Strike on a Natural 19-20,
Level 4: +1 to Strike, Select one additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises or Martial Art Techniques
Level 5: +2 to Parry/Dodge, Knock-Out/Stun on a Natural 18-20,
Level 6: +1 Attack per Melee, Receive Tamashiwara Martial Art Technique
Level 7: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Maintain Balance
Level 8: Critical Strike on a Natural 18-20
Level 9: +2 to Strike, Knock-Out/Stun on a Natural 17-20
Level 10: +1 Attack per Melee, +2 to Damage
Level 11: +1 to Parry, Select one additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises or Martial Art Techniques
Level 12: Death Blow on a Natural 20
Level 13: +2 to Strike, +1 to Parry/Dodge
Level 14: +1 Attack per Melee, +3 to Damage
Level 15: Death Blow on a Natural 18-20

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES ( Sorrow Technique )
Level 1: +3 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +2 to Maintain Balance
Level 2: +2 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Disarm
Level 3: Select one additional Martial Art Power from Atemi Abilities or Chi Mastery
Level 4: +2 to all Automatic Moves*
Level 5: Automatic Body Flip/Throw inflicts 2D6 damage
Level 6: +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Maintain Balance
Level 7: +2 to all Automatic Moves*
Level 8: Select one additional Martial Art Power from Atemi Abilities or Chi Mastery
Level 9: +2 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Disarm
Level 10: Automatic Body Flip/Throw inflicts 3D6 damage
Level 11: +1 Attack per Melee
Level 12: +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Maintain Balance
Level 13: +2 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Disarm
Level 14: +2 to all Automatic Moves*
Level 15: Select one additional Martial Art Power from Atemi Abilities or Chi Mastery

* Does NOT include Automatic Parry!

NOTE: Should the Joy and Sorrow practitioner reach 15th level of skill in his martial art, then the Joy and Sorrow techniques effectively become one technique. From this point on, it is treated as one style. The character receives the Attacks per Melee of the Joy Technique, all manuevers from both techniques, and the best bonuses from both techniques.

Why study the JOY AND SORROW TECHNIQUE?

The Joy and Sorrow technique takes a very long time to master, but in that time the practitioner will gain physical and mental conditioning, spiritual training, and a fairly large array of offensive and defensive techniques.

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