Dragon Dancers

by Marshall S. Bush

Gather 'round, my brethren and hear a tale... for all T'skrang are troubadours at heart, and may wish to pass this story to your young.
Once, before kaers or Horrors, there were five brothers, all born of one egg. "A great thing" some said. Others said "An ill omen." All said they would not live till dawn. But they did.
They grew, as name-givers are wont. They became strong and wise, and all followed the ways of the Adepts. One became a thief, another a wizard. One became a troubadour, another a Swordmaster. The last became a warrior, and thus they were and thus they traveled. No challenge escaped them. They were heroes.
There came a day when they came home, to find that their kin were threatened. "A Dragon!" they cried. "A Dragon in the mountains."
The troubadour, D'rrsk spoke. "We have walked many leagues and many days. Never has there been a challenge that has overcome us. We will protect you." And so they went into the mountains.
The Dragon laughed at the brothers. "Know this hatchlings," he condescended, " I am Wrym of power and knowledge, destined to live more than your five lifetimes end to end. How do you propose to defeat me?"
The troubadour, D'rrsk, said, "I will call upon the spirits of the Lark, for she does sing sweetly, and singing in her kind, I will defeat you." And so he called, but he did not defeat the Dragon.
The wizard spoke next. "I, Zick'a, will call on the spirit of the owl, who is wise, and with wisdom, I will defeat you." And so he called, but he did not defeat the Dragon.
The thief called, "I will call on the spirit of the fox, who is crafty, and being crafty, I will defeat you." And so Sizisi called, but he did not defeat the Dragon.
The Swordmaster attended and spoke. "I will call on the spirit of the jaguar, whose claws are sharp and quick, and by edge and speed, I will defeat you." And so K'ky called, but he did not defeat the Dragon.
Now the Dragon, wishing to gloat, did not kill the four brothers, but kept them that he may gloat as each found defeat. He roared in laughter as last the warrior, Ronikoko, stepped forward. "And so", the Dragon sneered, "what spirit will you call on to defeat me?"
He thought for a long moment, for time passed slower then, and a smile came to him. Ronikoko cleared his throat, and stepped forward with only his empty hands. "I will call on the spirit of the Dragon, who is more eloquent than the lark, more wise than the owl, more crafty than the fox, sharper and quicker than the jaguar, and by being all those things I will defeat you."
The Dragon was astonished, for he had been challenged and complimented all in the same sentence. He did not know what to do with this young T'skrang. Ronikoko, however, knew this would be, and with only his hand, for a dragon requires no weapon, did battle with the Wyrm. For five days and nights they fought. The four defeated brothers cheered on their sibling, and the troubadour began to play as the wizard studied them, the thief pointed out the Dragon's weak spots and the Swordmaster shouted taunts that would make the Passions turn in despair. For five days and nights Ronikoko and the Dragon danced, but neither could defeat the other.
At the end of the fifth night the Dragon stopped and cried and laughed and bowed and raised up a proud head.
"Amongst the name givers," said the Dragon, "have I never before found such as you, who would both battle and honor me. You have thus honored your kind seven fold, once for each of your brothers, once for yourself, once for your exaltations, and once for your battle courage. I will leave you in peace, you and your kin in the village below, but know this. You have called on the spirit of the Dragon, and it has answered, so you must never forget this dance, the pattern, now interwoven with your own."
And so the Dragon left, to worry and teach other Name-Givers.
The brothers however, returned to their village, wiser and stronger. Each has served as a thread in a pattern which had saved their kin and home, and each was now a defender of our kind. And so, when they returned, they sang of what had come to pass, each singing a verse, nothing left out. And as they sang, they danced, and their dance formed the pattern of the Dragon, and the Dragon Dance. And each of the brothers took five others into the dance, and each taught the five this new pattern. And so a new thing came to be.

There it ends... for such is the truth of the thing."
-- Theptathock, T'skrang Troubadour

Dragon Dancers are warriors and poets, leaders and defenders. But most of all they are living examples of what it is to be T'skrang. Though some are Dragon Dancers alone or at least foremost, most often this is often a second discipline for a T'skrang and only a few seek to follow it.

As Warriors:

The way of the Dragon Dancer is primarily a martial discipline. The T'skrang who takes it up learns to use his or her natural advantages before ever taking up a blade. "What do you need a sword for?" One Dancer asked a Swordmaster, "You have a 6 foot spear built in to yer backside!" They do not disdain the use of weapons, just the reliance on them. They have a unique combat style, both flashy and practical, with no move or flourish wasted.

As Poets:

While they do prepare every day to fight, they also live every day they have fought in song. They inspire and teach, enliven and sway all those who will listen to them. Their words are most often tales of bravery, and most often of T'skrang. Among the few Dancers that lived in kaers during the Scourge, they were as active as the troubadours in keeping the Name-givers in good spirits and full of hope.

As Leaders:

The Dancers attempt to provide an example of what can be. True strength, they say, comes not from a sword or armor, but from what one is. They, like Swordmasters, are ever ready to be the first in the vanguard, calling taunts and challenges to the opposition's champions. To be a Dragon Dancer is to laugh in the face of Danger and look at the roaring damnation ready to pour down on you and say "You wuss..."

As Defenders:

The purpose behind all of what Dragon Dancers do to defend not only the T'skrang, but all name givers. They are the first in battle in the hopes that no one else will have to fight. And if they fall, they must do so bravely, that their example may be armor to those they left. They do not attempt to stand in the way of others as capable, such as other Adepts, but if there is someone to be championed, they are called to do it. On Dragons:

In general, Dragons, Common, Cathay and Great seem to ignore the Dancers. They have no particular love or hate. The stories of Dragon Dancers and their origins flatter Dragon kind as much as sing of their defeat. Few have ever been known to take offense.

On Their Fighting Style:

The Dancer tries to rely on as few tools as possible. They wear light armors, rarely anything heavier than leather. Even blood pebble is rare. Weapons do not come until later, and when the do, the weapons of choice are spears and staves, things which enhance reach. While the Dancers disdain heavy armor, all wear some kind of metal arm guards. The most common form is a 3/4 sleeve, going around the tops and sides of the arm, from wrist to elbow. The rims of the vambraces are flared, so that there is a lip of metal at each end, slightly angled. These are worn as both badges of station and honor as well as for protection. Very often, a T'skrang will use his arms only to defend and attack using his tail, dodging and taunting until his blows will be the most effective.*

There are a few other devices that the Dancers use to increase the effectiveness of their natural weapons, but some dancers find them redundant. As such, fights tend to be long and drawn out, calling as much on stamina as they do on strength, the Dancer relying on not getting hit as much as armor.

On Other Disciplines:

While Dragon Dancers are usually of another discipline first, though there are a few that don't mesh well. Swordmasters and Thieves, surprisingly enough, do not find themselves easily made Dancers, despite the tales of the Dancer's creation. It conflicts very often with the Swordmasters need to use a blade in combat, and with the thief's need for silence, as Dancers do tend to stand out. In addition, Dancers tend to stay light and mobile, with few possessions. As such, they make poor Weaponsmiths.

Troubadours and Warriors take to this discipline well. Rarely will one find an Archer in mated to this discipline, even more seldom a Cavalryman. Spellcasters may or may not find the Dancer's way inviting.

In Closing:

The Dragon Dancer is first a defender of endangered, as well as a guide and bringer of hope. They live free and light, traveling hither and yon, inspiring those in need, battling those who oppress and destroy and are always proving how hearty and brave a T'skrang can be.

*The vambraces have the same statistics a buckler. In addition, if the T'skrang uses only his tail to strike in a particular round, the Dancer may benefit from both, for a total +2 armor. This tactic is usually used to make up for the fact that Dancer's wear -very- light armor, by and large.

The Dragon Dancer

Important Attributes: Dexterity and Charisma

Racial Restrictions: T'skrang only

Karma Ritual: The Dragon Dancer goes through the Dragon Dance, which is a storytelling device, a re-enactment of the legendary battle of Ronikoko, a dance, and a series of unarmed practice moves. The Dance in full takes a half and hour, and ends when the Dragon laughs and the Dance ends.

Artisan Skill: Dancing (If taken as a second Discipline, the adept must either have or learn Dancing before he or she may take up Dragon Dancer.)

FIRST CIRCLE
Talents

Acrobatic Strike
Emotion Song (D)
Karma Ritual
Maneuver (D)
Taunt
Unarmed Combat (D)

SECOND CIRCLE
Talents

Anticipate Blow (D)
Durability (7/6)
Riposte (Requires a melee weapon or vambraces)

THIRD CIRCLE
Talents

Melee Weapons
Scales of the Dragon* (D)

FOURTH CIRCLE
Karma: The Dragon Dancer may spend a point of karma on any roll requiring Dexterity only
Talents

Fireblood
Thread Weaving (Dance Weaving)(D)

FIFTH CIRCLE
Physical Defense:+1 to the Dragon Dancer's Physical Defense
Talents

Swift Kick (D)
Heartening Laugh

SIXTH CIRCLE
Karma: The Dragon Dancer may spend a point of Karma on any Unarmed Damage Roll
Talents

Speak Language
Lizard Leap

SEVENTH CIRCLE
Initiative:+1 to the Dragon Dancer's Initiative Step
Talents

Second Attack (D)
Steely Stare

EIGHTH CIRCLE
Spell Defense:+1 to the Dragon Dancer's Spell Defense
Talents

Throwing Weapons
Steel Thought

NINTH CIRCLE
Social Defense:+1 to the Dragon Dancer's Social Defense
Talents

Resist Taunt (D)
Sprint
Hypnotize

TENTH CIRCLE
Initiative:+1 to the Dragon Dancer's Initiative Step

Disarm (D)
Lasting Impression

*Indicates a new talent, described below.

New or Modified Talents:


Scales of the Dragon
Step Number: Rank + Willpower Step
Action: YesSkill Use: No
Karma: NoStrain: None
Discipline Talent: Dragon Dancer

This talent is only available to T'skrang. It turns a T'skrang's smooth skin into a scaly hide that provides natural armor. The Dancer must use a recovery test and then roll against his own Spell Defense. If successful, the Dancer may add his rank to his armor rating. Also, the Dancer adds 1/3 of his or her rank, rounded down, to the step for unarmed damage, provided nothing else covers the hands or tail. (1-2, +0, 3-5 +1, etc) The effect lasts for 24 hours or until the Dancer wills it to stop. The extra armor does not incur any initiative penalty.

Other Dancer Weapons and Toys:

Cestus

These are armored sleeves that end in rounded gauntlets. While one cannot effectively hold anything in the hand while wearing one (-3 Dex steps to actions with that hand that require fine manipulation or using tools) they do add to unarmed damage and also count as vambraces.

Cestus: 25 silver/Dmg Step: 3/MinStrength: 7/weight 3/armor rating: +1/ size 2
Note: One can gain the Damage Step or the Armor bonus in a single turn from one cestus.

Sap gloves

These are stiff leather gloves, with studs along the knuckles. The backs of the hands are weighted with small metal bars, making the hand heavier in unarmed combat. The gloves are somewhat awkward to manipulate things with, so a -1 step penalty applies to anything involving tools or fine manipulation.

Sap gloves: 10 silver a pair/Dmg Step: 2/Min strength 5/ weight 2 (per pair)/ size 1
Available in windling sizes, but weight 1, dmg step 1 Sap gloves and Cestus may not be worn at the same time

Tail Spur

Considered dishonorable by some, the tail spur resembles a dagger blade or spear head, or sometimes a cleaver/hook design. The device is used to increase the damage of tail attacks. It is awkward to use, (-2 steps to attack test) and Dancers disdain them, save for situations where one does not wish to physically touch one's opponent.

Tail Spur: 12 silver/Dmg step: +1 (For a total of Str +4 on tail attacks)/min strength 5/ weight 1/ size 1




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