Sword Cultivation

Table of Contents

This is the practice of cultivating a weapon spirit until the individual becomes one with their weapon in both body and soul.

Although this path is not limited to swords, the profound legend and mystique surrounding the sword arts make the cultivation of a sword spirit the most common and revered form, such that even the cultivation method itself is named after the sword. While cultivators who pursue other weapons can achieve comparable power, they are often looked down upon by those who follow the path of the sword.

Default Action

• Actions

  • Basic

    • Deflect Strike

      DefenseReaction

      Tempo: 2.
      Range: Adjacent.
      DT: Opponent’s Attack.

      You attempt to deflect an opponent’s strike. With a successful Check, you may add the Rank of this Action to your Evasion against a melee attack.

    • Nine Slashing Blades of Grass

      EnhancementQi Technique

      Tempo: 1.
      Qi Flow: -1.
      Range: Self.
      Duration: 1 hour/Rank.

      You wrap your aura around an item you hold, temporarily imbuing it with the traits of your bonded weapon. Whether you hold a common sword, piece of bamboo, or even a blade of grass, anything can become deadly in your hands.

      For the duration of this effect, the enchanted object is treated as if it were your bonded weapon for most purposes. It has the same Tempo, Damage, and other statistics as a basic weapon of the same type as your bonded weapon. You can use it with Qi Techniques and Actions that require a weapon, and it benefits from Augments as if it were your bonded weapon. You can even use Cloud Piercing Path to fly on the enchanted object.

      However, the enchanted object is not actually your bonded weapon. You cannot use the enchanted object for Sword Spirit Meditation, nor does it benefit from Actions or Augments that require merging your bonded weapon with your spirit, such as Sword Unity.

      When the duration of this effect ends, the enchanted object takes damage equal to twice your current Qi Flow. This damage utterly destroys most mundane items.

      No other individual benefits from this effect when trying to wield the enchanted object.

      You cannot apply this effect to your bonded weapon.

    • Qi Concept

      Qi TechniqueReaction

      Tempo: 0.
      Qi Flow: +1.
      Range: Self.

      When you perform an Action of significance that embraces the key concept of your cultivation, you can use this Reaction to increase your Qi Flow by 1. You can use this Action a number of times per day equal to its Rank.

      For example, Sword Cultivators can use this Reaction when defeating an enemy with their bonded weapon, cultivators who follow the Verdant Whispers Cultivation might use it when tending to or harvesting spiritual herbs.

      At Rank 3 and every three ranks thereafter, you may add one new qi concept to your cultivation, allowing you to learn and use new Qi Techniques that were previously beyond your ability. You can use this Reaction whenever you perform an Action of significance that embraces any of your concepts.

      If your new concept does not harmonize with your existing concepts, then you gain an instance of permanent Qi Deviation until you gain another concept that harmonizes them.

      For example, a Sword Cultivator could embrace new concepts such as Glory, Slaughter, Guardian, Silence, or other concepts related to their cultivation, but it would be very difficult if not impossible to embrace concepts such as Healing or Pacifism without suffering Qi Deviation.

      As another example, an individual who primarily cultivates a concept of Life would suffer Qi Deviation if they gained the concept of Death. However, they could solve this issue by later gaining a concept which bridges the gap between the two, harmonizing them. Such harmonizing concepts could be Rebirth, Transience, Harvest, or potentially even Undeath.

    • Sword Aura

      AttackFearQi Technique

      Tempo: [w].
      Qi Flow: -1.
      Range: Near.
      DT: Psyche.
      Duration: 5 per Fear.

      As you become one with your weapon, your aura takes on the traits of your weapon. By flexing your aura while wielding your bonded weapon, enemies within range feel as though your weapon is pressed against their throat, inflicting Fear equal to your Qi Flow on a successful Check. One instance of Fear caused by this Action is removed every 5 Count.

      In addition, your aura lashes out at any who overcome their fear to attack you. Any individual suffering from Fear due to this Action who attacks you immediately takes damage equal to your current Qi Flow. This damage is the same type as your bonded weapon.

      You can affect a maximum number of targets equal to the Rank of this Action.

      You can expend additional energy to further empower your aura. For each additional decrease to your Qi Flow, the Fear inflicted by this Action increases by 1.

  • Advanced

    • Cloud Piercing Path

      MovementQi Technique

      Tempo: 1.
      Qi Flow: -1.
      Range: Self.
      Duration: 1 hour/Rank.

      The most renowned and envied technique in sword cultivation is the flying sword. With this Action, your weapon takes flight, allowing you to soar through the sky as naturally as a bird. You can fly at twice your normal Movement. Qi binds your feet to your bonded weapon, preventing you from falling off.

      You may land and take flight as often as you please while this Action remains in effect. If you are in flight when the effect ends, your weapon quickly descends to the ground, landing gently enough that you take no damage.

      While riding on your bonded weapon, you cannot use it to attack. Using your bonded weapon to attack immediately ends the effect of this Action. The qi circulation patterns necessary for flight conflict with those used for combat. However, you may freely attack with other weapons without penalty.

    • Four Winds, Five Strikes

      Qi TechniqueTempo

      Tempo: 0.
      Qi Flow: -1.
      Range: Self.

      When you activate this technique, your qi surges forth to hasten your strikes. Add your Qi Flow to your current Count. Using this Action does not disrupt your current Count.

      You must be wielding your bonded weapon to use this technique, and it can only be applied to Actions that use your bonded weapon, usually an Attack.

      You can use this Action a maximum number of times per day equal to its Rank.

• Augments

  • Basic

    • Dao Comprehension

      Persistent

      The heavens whisper in your ears, and you grasp a deeper understanding of reality. When using the Meditation Action of this Ability, your Qi Flow is increased by an additional 1 for every two Ranks in this Augment.

    • Harmonious Circulation

      By learning to harmonize the circulation of your qi with the dao and your particular cultivation method, you reduce the amount of time necessary to increase your Qi Flow. When using the Meditation Action of this Ability, subtract the Rank of this Augment from its Tempo.

    • Sword Intent

      EnhancementPersistentRegnant

      By focusing on your qi circulation within your weapon and forging a spiritual resonance with it, you are able to hone your weapon into a true work of art, a masterpiece on the field of combat. Swords cut deeper, maces hit harder, daggers strike more true.

      When making an attack with your bonded weapon, regardless of the Ability used, add the Rank of this Augment to the damage dealt by your bonded weapon. This Augment does not apply to any attacks which don’t use your bonded weapon to deal damage.

  • Advanced

    • Consolidate Cultivation

      Through dedicated focus on your cultivation, deciphering the profound whispers of the heavens, and understanding the secrets of the dao, you reinforce your foundation and breakthrough the bottlenecks in your cultivation. Whenever you successfully complete this Ability’s Meditation while already at maximum Qi Flow, you gain Experience Points equal to your current Qi Flow + 10 × the Rank of this Augment.

      Ability Points purchased with these Experience Points can only be spent on this Ability. You can combine this Experience with other sources of Experience to purchase AP, but they may only be spent on this Ability.

  • Mastery

    • Sword Unity

      Qi Technique

      You harmonize your spirit with the spirit within your weapon, allowing you to truly become one with your weapon. When you gain your first Rank in this Augment, your bonded weapon dissolves into motes of qi energy and permanently merges with you.

      You are considered to always be wielding your bonded weapon for the purpose of non-Attack Actions which require you to wield your bonded weapon, such as Sword Aura.

      You can summon or dismiss your bonded weapon as an Action with Tempo 0. When summoned, your bonded weapon temporarily becomes physical, appearing in your hand.

      Your bonded weapon cannot be damaged or destroyed. If you drop your bonded weapon or are disarmed, you can call it back to your hand as an Action or Reaction with Tempo 0.

      In addition, your bonded weapon’s Tempo is reduced by the Rank of this Augment to a minimum of 0, regardless of which Ability or Action is used, allowing you to attack more quickly.