FENCING (The Gentleman's Art)

[☆ F ☆]

Fencing, otherwise known as The Gentleman's Art, is the use of a rapier, foil, saber or epee in tactical combat. Imported into the shinobi lands by distant traveling merchants and adventurers willing to share their knowledge.

In some regions considered a game for nobles and royalty, it is very seldom found it's way to the lower societies from where it originated; abroad, however, is another story. Like any other potentially deadly art involving the sword, the shinobi have taken to the style quite well.

Consisting mostly of feints, counters, precision strikes and piercing maneuvers, it's not for those simply charging into battle, but more for those that consider themselves tactical fighters. While incredibly complicated, when utilized properly, The Gentleman's Art can have dramatic results.

Most potential users never pick it up sadly, as the patience and focus necessary tends to allude most. However, those who do take this path adopt the moniker known as Fencers.

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◀ FENCING TRAITS

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{└ EN GARDE!}EN GARDE!
Type: Minor
Ranks: 1
Requirements: Fencing practitioner, Ninja Grade D+

• When you execute your techniques with minimal effort from your body, you are are capable of performing incredible accurate lunges - as long as your achieve your Perfect Form. Stand en-garde!, your dominant foot forward and pointing at your opponent. Your feet are shoulder-width apart - in an "L" position - and your heels are centered for balance. Knees bent so they're over your toes, you lean lean slightly forward, sword arm raised and ready. As such. as long as you achieve that planted Perfect Form, your Fencing abilities receive a boost in speed and accuracy.
  

Note: Remember, nothing is guaranteed. When it comes to balance, this trait will be used on a case-by-case basis.

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{└ ALLEZ!}ALLEZ!
Type: Minor
Ranks: 1
Requirements: Fencing practitioner, Ninja Grade D+

• Spending so much time perfecting your sword style has provided you with incredible equilibrium and uncanny proprioception. Thus, you perform optimally in situations where balance is compromised, such as during are-of-effect attacks, or when trekking through rough terrain and slick surfaces. As such, your Fencing techniques that require proper grounding may now be performed while the user is moving and even while kneeling.
  

Note: Remember, nothing is guaranteed. When it comes to balance, this trait will be used on a case-by-case basis.

SPOILER: Click to show

{└ ZORNHAU}ZORNHAU
Type: Minor
Ranks: 1
Requirements: Fencing practitioner, Ninja Grade D+

• You have become to precise with your fencing skill that your strikes on exposed targets and flesh can cause the victim to induce a state of bleeding, creating damage and fatigued over time and increasing the chance of them passing out due to blood loss. unless treated.
  

Note: One must take this traits in order to specialize in Iaijutsu and learn its techniques.

[☆ F ☆]

◀ Fencing Ability Moveset

Advance
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Cost: Standard
Description: The front foot moves first, beginning by lifting the toes. The leg is straightened at the knee, pushing the heel out in front. Once you land on your heel, then bring the back foot up to your Fencing stance. Although it is incredibly linear, and not quick as fast as a Shunshin, it is still considered high-speed movement that can cover a short amount of ground quickly, and is essentially used in combination with other Fencing techniques to increase their lethality and accuracy, and perhaps even catch your target off guard. Just beware - one you start moving, you cannot alter the direction in which you are moving.



Esquive
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Cost: Standard
Description: A sudden evasive maneuver meant to dodge or sidestep an attacker, generally followed with an counterattack of one's own. If Advance was essential and basic foot technique to move forward and attack with thrust power, then Esquive serves as its defensive twin. Mostly used in a defensive manner, if timed right, you will succeed in evading an attacker, leaving you in a prime position to exploit their newfound weakness.



Extension
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Offensive
Cost: Multi
Description: The simplest action of attacking in Fencing occurs when you suddenly extend the weapon arm forward in a thrusting, striking manner, using the quickness your arms and the preciseness from your wrist to land blows with pinpoint. The fencing sword's point should move in the smoothest possible line towards the target, without wavering. Excess motion can ruin the control needed for precise, consistent hits. The purpose of a simple attack is either to make a hit on your target, or to provoke a defensive reaction. With enough stamina, this simple but quick strike can be repeated several times at once.



Disrobed
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary / Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: By utilizing their immense analytical ability, the Fencer is able to spot out a weak point in fabric made from their victim's clothing or equipment. With just a quick strike, they can "disrobe" an opponent, causing embarrassment by either removing their garments or their equipment. If successful, it can create an impediment in fighting ability as well as a general loss of gear.



Lunge
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: The most basic and common attacking movement in Fencing. From a ready position, push the front heel out by extending the front leg from the knee, as your front foot must move forward prior to the body weight shifting forward. As the front leg extends, push your body forward with the rear leg; your rear arm should extend during forward motion, acting as a counterbalance. Land on the front heel and glide down into final position, with front shin perpendicular to the ground, and both heels on the floor. During this action, the torso should remain relatively straight, and should not be thrown forward. To conclude, the back foot can be pulled along behind during an energetic lunge. It is an important and fundamental characteristic of the lunge - to fully extend the back leg - obtaining full power and incredible speed from this spring-like extension.



Disengage & Displace
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary / Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: A type of feint that is usually executed alongside an extension or attack, though technically, it can also create deception around the opponent’s blade. To use in conjunction with another attack, one would feint and then use another attack, attempting to either avoid the opponent's parry or press their blade by using as small a circular motion as possible. Then, you circle under the opponent's blade in order to attempt to disarm them.



Flèche
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m)
Type: Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: Flèche means 'arrow', and describes exactly how you should use this attack. The rear leg is brought in front of the front leg and the fencer streaks past the opponent in a straight, high speed line. While the user cannot change their direction, they move in such a way it is hard to detect. Although not at as fast as Shunshin, your speed and accuracy with your sword should assist in landing a surprise strike as you zoom past your victim.



Flick
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: A cut that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to strike at a concealed target. Flick attacks often start out without the point directly threatening the target area, and comes in with a circular action, to allow the blade to bend at the end of the attack, placing the point on target, possibly even by whipping past a parry.



Parry
Rank: B
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Defensive
Cost: Standard
Description: A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade. A parry is usually only wide enough to allow the attacker's blade to just miss; any additional motion is wasteful. A well-executed parry should take the foible of the attacker's blade with the forte and guard. This provides the greatest control over the opponent's blade. With a sabre, the guard should be turned appropriately using the fingers to protect the wrist. Parries generally cover one of the 'lines' of the body. The simplest parries move the blade in a straight line. Other parries move the blade in a circular, semicircular, or diagonal manner. The opponent's blade should not only be deflected away from the target, but away from off-target areas as well. An attack that is deflected off the valid target but onto invalid target still retains right-of-way. With a sabre, the opponent's blade need only be deflected away from valid target.



Riposte
Rank: A
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Cost: Standard
Description: An counterattack made immediately after you have executed a valid parry of the opponent's attack. A direct Riposte goes straight from the Parry position to the target in a very rapid fashion. A Riposte may attack in any line, and is almost hard to dodge after a successful Parry is performed.



Forward Recovery
Rank: A
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m)
Type: Offensive
Cost: Standard
Description: A recovery from a Lunge, performed by pulling the rear leg up into en garde, rather than pulling the front leg and body backwards. Can be used to gain ground on the opponent more secretly than a standard advance, and when used sparingly can surprise the opponent by changing the expected distance between fencers in a moment. With this, you will move in a straight line at the same speed of Shunshin, and while you cannot perform any action while moving, you can do so after.