Squirrel Form Karate
By The Ineffible GM
Entrance Requirements: Spd. & P.P. of 8
Skill Cost: 9 (Primary), 6 (Secondary)
The style originates in legend, and is not a common teaching, even in Japan, the land of it's origin. The myths speak of a wandering monk who had wandered hungry for days throughout the mountains. Finally, he stumbled upon a squirrel. Seeking the squirrel for food he chased the small beast, cornering it several times, only to have it strike and escape through his clumsy hands. He followed that squirrel until dark and after, until finally he came along the squirrel at the side of a river. The squirrel was amid fighting a fox, and through a series of lighting attacks and speedy retreats, the squirrel brought down the fox. The monk fed upon the fox that night, and traveled with the squirrel after that. He developed the art in memory and honor of his animal friend, and used it to fight for the honor he had learned as a monk. It is based off of the squirrel's movements, and the philosophy of survival. It involves lightning fast attacks, and amazing dodges. The student is taught to avoid confrontation when possible, and to escape any fight where victory is not necessary.
The art has been handed down for many years, though a sensei rarely takes more than one student at a time, resulting in a small following. The art still persists in modern day, with a slowly growing number of students every year.
Entrance Requirements: Spd. & P.P. of 8
Costume: standard karate gi
Stance: one foot back, both feet at opposite forty five degree angles in a slight crouch, hands raised before the face held flat, one hand held a foot farther than the other.
Character Bonuses
Add + 8 to Spd.
Add + 3 to P.P.
Add + 5 to Chi
Combat Skills
Attacks per Melee: 3
Escape Moves: roll with punch/impact/fall, maintain balance, leap,
Attack Moves: ?
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge
Advanced Defense Moves: Automatic Dodge, Multiple Dodge, (All bonuses to normal dodge can be used for automatic and multiple dodge)
Hand Attacks: Human Fist, Knife hand, Claw hand,
Foot Attacks: kick attack, snap kick, tripping/leg hook,
Jumping Foot Attacks: leap kick, flying leap kick,
Special Attacks: None
Holds/Locks: None
Weapon Kata: none
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull Punch, Critical Strike,
Special Kata:
Flight of Lightning Kata: This is very similar to the Sun Sih K'an Chien Chih Art of Invisibility, however instead of trying to disappear, the character will break into a dead run to escape. Takes one melee action, and has a 85 +1% per level percent chance of vanishing, and is able to run the full distance normally achieved in an action of pure running. Any who are fooled by the vanishing act will not notice the escape of the character for one melee action after the kata is used.
Skills Included in Training
Martial Art Powers: May select one power from arts of invisibility, and one power from martial arts techniques or special katas(not including Weapon Katas) *. The character begins with Karumi Jutsu.
Languages: Japanese
Cultural: One of choice
Physical: Acrobatics (+10%), Climbing (+25%), Prowl, Running,
Survival: Fasting
Philosophical Training: Zen
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time:
Level Advancement Bonuses
1st: +2 to dodge, +3 to roll with punch/fall/impact, +2 to maintain balance
2nd: +2 to roll with punch/fall/impact and maintain balance
3rd: One additional attack per melee
4th: +1 to strike, +1 on initiative
5th: select one power from the Arts of Invisibility, Martial Arts Techniques, or Special Katas*
6th: gains an automatic multiple dodge(all dodge bonuses are used, but halved)
7th: One additional attack per melee
8th: +2 to dodge
9th: +3 to roll with punch/fall/impact and maintain balance, +1 on initiative
10th: One additional attack per melee
11th: select one power from the Arts of Invisibility, Martial Arts Techniques, or Special Katas*
12th: +1 to strike, +1 on initiative
13th: critical strike on 18-20, +2 to dodge
14th: One additional attack per melee, +1 on initiative
15th: +2 on initiative, select one power from the Arts of Invisibility, Martial Arts Techniques, or Special Katas*
Why Study Squirrel Karate?
It's all about speed. Power is irrelevant if you are the only one doing the hitting. And the ability to escape any battle that you're not ready for. It's all about not getting hit.
* Certain abilities are not taught by this school, and so a student of Squirrel karate may not select Hensho Jutsu, Inton Jutsu, Chi zoshiki, Tamashiwara, "Fortress Penetration" kata, or "Windmill" Kata,