Weapons Skills and Sword Forms

Weapons scores have been divided into 5 tiers, with some crossing of lines allowed, definable by admin discretion. Promotions within tiers will also be handled by admin, with consideration of tenure, story* and RP contribution to be the criteria.

Range: 0 - 3

0 = By choice of character only, intended as a statement of either complete inadequacy (as a character trait) or complete indifference toward weapons of any kind (Aes Sedai could very easily fall into this category). As a definition, "No skills. Never touched a weapon".

1 = Baseline for new applicants falling into this category. As a definition, "Has handled a weapon, but has no knowledge of its use".

2 = Second level, to be defined as "Has handled a weapon. Knows how it is used in the most basic of ways". This level will be achieved by Admin consideration of quality RP, tenure within the community and/or above-average bio requiring elevated skills.

3 = Third level, defined as "Has handled a weapon, and can use it with some level of efficiency in self-defense". Achievement of this level will follow the above criteria, save one. No new applicant bio falling within this tier shall be granted this level.

4 = Baseline for new applicants falling into this category. As a definition, "Is familiar with his weapon more so than the average person. Can use it with lethal intent".

5 = Second level, to be defined as "Is going through or has gone through some codified training with his weapon of choice. Can handle him/herself in a fight". This level will be achieved by Admin consideration of quality RP, tenure within the community and/or above-average bio requiring elevated skills.

6 = Third level, to be defined as "Has achieved a level of comfort with his/her weapon beyond that of his peers. Dangerous in a fight". Achievement of this level will follow the above criteria, save one. No new applicant bio falling within this tier shall be granted this level.

7 = Baseline for new applicants within this category. Defined as "Combat experienced, but without advanced training in fighting style".

8 = Second level, to be defined as "Has received some training by a Master. Possesses some measure of skill in his/her fighting style". This level will be achieved by Admin consideration of quality RP, tenure within the community and/or above-average bio requiring elevated skills.

9 = Third level**, defined as "Has received rigorous and extensive training. Disciplined and mature in his/her fighting style". Achievement of this level will follow the above criteria, save one. No new applicant bio falling within this tier shall be granted this level.

10 = Warder aspirant. Hard-set baseline for new applicants within this category. Has equal knowledge and expertise with his/her weapon as third-level soldier. Any new applicant within this category must start as an aspirant. To be defined as "Has achieved a level of competency that grants a certain measure of fear and respect."

11 = New Warder. Has completed training by Tower Master at Arms. Defined as "Dangerous and extremely skilled with his/her preferred weapon". This level will be achieved by Admin consideration of quality RP and/or tenure within the community. Able to be bonded by Aes Sedai.

12 = Experienced Warder. Has been bonded by Aes Sedai and has seen extensive action/experience in her defense. Defined as "Expert with his/her preferred weapon. Skilled to handle him/herself in most situations." This level will again be achieved by Admin consideration of quality RP and/or tenure within the community.

13 = Elite Warder. Has achieved a level of competency with his/her weapon to inspire fear and respect in all but Blademasters. As above.

Range: 14 - 15

14 = Blademaster. Acknowledged Master of his/her weapon of choice as well as Adept at any/all other weapons. No new bios shall be considered for this level. Site shall be limited to five Blademasters at any one time. This level will be achieved by consideration and consultation of all site Admins with regards to quality RP and/or tenure within the community.

15 = Blademaster Elite. Acknowledged Master of Weapons. Site shall be limited to one Elite Blademaster at any one time (currently, Da'Nar Rybinsu). This level will be achieved by consideration and consultation of Consul/Pro-Consul with regards to quality RP and/or tenure within the community.

*Story development shall be taken into account during all weapon score decisions by Admins. Example: Level 1 Character is conscripted into the army and is trained in the use of a sword by his superiors.

**There will very naturally be some "blurring of the lines" between these two scores, as some experienced veteran soldiers will achieve skills commensurate with those of an Aspirant Warder.

Sword Forms

ARK OF THE MOON
A simple slash, meant to take off an opponent's head. Begins at midbody level and arcs to neck, then ends back at guard stance. From the ground, a low crouch or on one knee, The blade will move from the strong side in an upwards arching angle, to the week side of the opponent. The intention is to sever the opponents stomach or lower chest area. This is also effective against opponents that are on horseback.

THE BOAR RUSHES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
A verticle slash, but one that can quickly alter course in midswing. Starts high and ends low. Used with two hands on the hilt, and the blade is brought down with all the power of the back and arms. Good technique to combine with Tower of Morning.

BUNDLING STRAW
This is only performed when both opponents are in a basic stance. Several quick thrusts to chest level, followed by a forward snap of the wrist moving the blade towards the opponents head, followed by a guarded arching motion back into a guard stance. This is an excellent technique against a quarterstaff opponent.

CAT CROSSING THE COURTYARD
More of a way to walk and move rather than an official Form. Extreme care in how to move and the placement of footing and body position.

THE CAT DANCES ON THE WALL
This is a intricate collection of twists and blade movements. You must have good wrist dexterity and quick feet for this one. Only one hand is on the sword as the free hand will be used to counter balance and to pull the opponent off balance if need be. Used for buying time it is a series of short thrusts, slashes and parry's. A feinting type move. Starting from a low guard stance, a pivot is executed to the weak side of your opponent while spinning the blade in an upwards arch to their exposed area, and then with a twisting of the wrist coming down on their strong side at an angle.

CAT ON HOT SAND
This is faster paced version of The Cat Dances On The Wall and is a better choice for multiple opponents. This is a great form to combine with Apple Blossoms in the wind. Using good positioning, the feet are shifted from left foot forward to right foot forward, then pivoting away while thrusting the blade down at the opponents strong side and then followed with a horizontal slash.

THE COURTIER TAPS HIS FAN
This is a good move to have in your bag of repetoire! Excecuting a very fast and powerfull over hand downward slash it is meant to split the head of an opponent. Is most commonly used with Bundling Straw.

THE CREEPER EMBRACES THE OAK
While moving in a slow circular motion to the opponents strong side, you probe with short thrusts. The blade goes from high to low to constantly offer threats to be forced to guard against. This works well with The Falling Leaf, and Lightning of the Three Prongs.

THE FALCON STOOPS
A very Quick overhand thrust, returning to the guard position just as quickly followed by a single hand diagonal strike from high to low to the opponents strong side, using a reverse grip.This is a shortened version of the Kingfisher Takes a Silverback.

THE FALLING LEAF
Starts in a high guard stance sweeping the blade back and forth slashing in diagonal motions from low to high and high to low. Is a great way to parry against multiple opponents, and even better against just one. Go immediately into The River undercuts the bank and you have a great combination that is extremely hard to defend against. A more exaggerated and slower version of The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain.

FOLDING THE FAN
The sword sheathing technique. The blade is smoothly swung around from guard stance and sheathed, all in one motion.

THE GRAPEVINE TWINES
A circular motion when blades are locked, used to disarm an opponent. This form is used to attack and defend.

THE HERON SPREADS ITS WINGS
A more functional version of Heron Wading in the Rushes. A tighter cut, concentrated in one sector of the arc of the sword. Moving from a high guard stance to the opponents weak side, lower the blade and step into an upward slash going from low to high.

HERON WADING IN THE RUSHES
From a Basic Guard stance, move up and down in order to feign the opponent. Once a sufficient movements have been made the attack will come from the low weak side, and jabbing across the body attempting to eviserate the opponent.

HUMMINGBIRD KISSES THE HONEYROSE
A quick thrust to the face of a charging opponent. Will usually kill a charging opponent outright! The Blade should start from shoulder height, though it may be performed from any level less quickly.

KINGFISHER TAKES A SILVERBACK
With the sword at shoulder height or higher, the blade performs a slash downwards aiming for the abdomen. Can also be started out lower to cripple a leg or the groin.

LEOPARD IN THE TREE
A powerful movement. Begin with boths hands on the hilt of the sword, leaning slightly forward, with your knees bent in the ready position. In one movement the blade is unsheathed by performing unfolding the fan and brought overhead and a strike with all your power is concentrated downward.

LEAF FLOATING ON THE BREEZE
Starting in a horizontal guard position. A form similar to The Falling Leaf. The blade will move up and down according to the threat, while moving horizontally to continuously offer new threats. A good basic form. Attacks from this position should include Lightning of Three Prongs and Lizard in the Thornbush.

LIGHTNING OF THREE PRONGS
Beginning from a basic stance. perform a thrust that can either continue as another thrust, or slash to either side. Can also be used to parry. Begins like Lion on the Hill

LION ON THE HILL
A basic guard stance, with the sword held at shoulder height ready to battle. Also a full charge into the weak side of an opponent. Normally used as a first Form, when facing an inexperienced opponent.

LIZARD IN THE THORNEBUSH
Great mid-level technique. Used solely against two opponents. Begin with a thrust to the chest, then pivoting and kneel with either a slash or a thrust, usually a thrust. Most Experienced Swordsman have mastered this form.

LOW WIND RISING
Can be performed from any stance including sitting. Most commonly starts from a low crouch. A diagonal slash, bringing the blade up using a reverse grip from low to high and rising cleanly. Most commonly used to return to a guard stance after a form such as The Grapevine Twines or Lightning of Three Prongs.

MOON RISES OVER THE WATER
A vertical arc after a horizontal, tentative slash. The blade should begin and end in the same position near the waist.

PARTING THE SILK
A very controlled backhanded horizontal slash, used as a well timed block or strike. Directed at the abdomen this is a good move to inflict nonlethal damage to an opponent. Like a spinning backkick but with the blade.

RIBBON IN THE AIR
A forward front kick followed with either a horizontal or vertical slash that may change direction up or down. Both feet should be used in this form, unlike Heron forms.

THE RIVER UNDERCUTS THE BANK
Can be done from a kneeling or standing position. A horizontal slash with a reverse grip, used to disembowel or behead an opponent.

SEAMSTRESS SKILLS
A series of fast and well-controlled thrusts directed towards the head and stomach of the opponents. Intended to drive the enemy backwards to gain breathing and thinking space. Care to be taken not to overextend the thrusts(resembles needle stitching action).

SHEATHING THE SWORD
More of a concept than a sword form, this is used when what you can gain is greater than or equal to what you may lose in the process of gaining it. This might be using Heron Wading in the Rushes like Rand Al'Thor, or it might be using Lizard in the Thornbush to take down two major opponents when you know a third, less important one is coming up behind you.

STONES FALLING FROM THE CLIFF
The medium difficulty version of Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. A good mainstay of a battle, this form is useful for both parrying and attacking. The sword should begin at least at shoulder height and come down.

STRIKING THE SPARK
A series of powerful overhand blows in rapid succession, best begun on the return swing of a slash like Low Wind Rising or The Heron Spreads Its Wings. If you've got stamina this can win a battle for you.

THE SWALLOW TAKES FLIGHT
Basically, Low Wind Rising followed by a short thrust. The form is angled more toward the opponent, though, so that the opening slash is more a guard for the thrust.

THE SWALLOW RIDES THE AIR
Usually the followup move to The Swallow Takes Flight, an advanced combination of movements Starting with a front vertical slash, moving forward to a spinning back swing, to a side kick, to a forward thrust. The whole time moving forward and swinging very strongly, with A fast, short swiping motion that won't behead someone but might slit their throat.

THISTLEDOWN FLOATS ON THE WHIRLWIND
A short-range jumping spin-swipe, used for beheading. Best if done by surprise. An opening move in most cases. The sword should not move more than a foot or so; the main force is provided by the spin of the body. The blade should be close to the body, approximately chest high.

TOWER OF MORNING
A Powerful series of vertical slashes, starting at waste high on your strong side. Bring the blade up with the edge facing up, at a little over head level of the opponent, a tight turn of the blade and a vertical slash down to where the hilt is at your waist, and the blade is parallel with the hilt. Twist the body to the weak side and bring the blade up over the head for one last vertical diagonal slash from high to low Good to pair with Boar rushes down the mountain or The Courtier taps his fan.

TWISTING THE WIND
For use in a tight situation, when one is outnumbered. This form generates a lot of power. A quick, continual rotation of the body, using slashes and short thrusts to counter or attack as the situation dictates. Starts out the same as Parting Silk, but at mid spin the blade comes up over the head and with the momentum of the spin, a vertical slash from over the head to bottom of the feet is executed.

UNFOLDING THE FAN
The exact opposite of Folding the Fan. Can be used as an opener, since this form can unsheathe the sword and stroke at the same time. Can also be used if caught off guard or in an awkward position.

WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL
A more complicated form of The Boar Rushes Down the Moutain. This form can and will change direction in midstroke. Only the more advanced swordsmen use this form. A zigzag vertical slash. There is no set direction the form must be initiated from, (Strong Side or Weak Side). The Blade must start from high to low, in either regular or reverse grip.

WHIRLWIND ON THE MOUNTAIN
A form of Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, and the same concept as Twisting the Wind, except done while remaining on the ground. Can be modified for use for striking uphill or downhill simply by changing the angle of the spin. The vertical slash starts from the low strong side to High weak side. Normally this move can be followed by a round house kick.

WIND AND RAIN
Another complicated form. Most commonly Begun with either Low Wind Rising or Parting the Silk, this form follows throught with multiple short thrusts or quick overhead blows.

THE WOODGROUSE DANCES
Used to feel out an opponent. Similar to The Cat dances on the Wall but from a stationary point. Looks like a charge, but is designed to stop and pivot to the opposite side in an instant. Start by stepping into the opponent and thrusting forward. Do this while angled at the side of the opponent. When they pivot to engage straight on, you pivot oppositely to their blind side and strike with a horizontal slash. You have to have a lot of experiance and great timing to perform this succesfully.

THE WIND BLOWS OVER THE WALL
Works very effectivly In conjunction with Low Wind Rising. Once the blade comes up to the peak of the arch. Reverse grip and strike over the horizontal block of the defending opponent. Step to the left to avoid any slash that might come.