diff --git a/tutorials/dwarven-martial-arts.rst b/tutorials/dwarven-martial-arts.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e53bf2e --- /dev/null +++ b/tutorials/dwarven-martial-arts.rst @@ -0,0 +1,545 @@ +################################### +Kisat Dur: the Dwarven Martial Art +################################### + +This book is a translation of a manuscript believed to have been +written by Thiktog Idashtathur in Kogsakozon. For an authoritative +retranscription of the original runes, visit :forums:`our office in +Telingvath <148015>`. + +.. note:: + + While written in the somewhat eccentric style of an in-game + martial scholar, the combat advice in this tutorial really + does work and can make your adventurer unstoppable. + + +Become Strong by Fighting Alligators +==================================== +Before you become a master of dwarven combat techniques, you +must become a master of your body. + +This usually works. It probably works even if you're an elf. (I don't +know.) You should fight according to this technique: + +:Attack: Close Combat +:Charge-Defense: Stand Ground +:Dodge: Stand Ground + +If you are more interested in dodging than using shields, use this +technique instead. I don't care: + +:Attack: Close Combat +:Charge-Defense: Dodge Away or Move Around +:Dodge: Stand Ground + +Get a shield and a weapon, and a full suit of armor. Then find a river +and some alligators (this is easy) and slap them with your weapon. You +want to inflict as little damage as possible while still raising the +conflict level to Lethal. + +I know everything about alligators. For instance, I know you are now +surrounded by them. + +Enter a Creeping Swim. Lie down in the water (:kbd:`s`). Now move in circles +slowly around the alligators. They won't be able to kill you, because +they're really stupid. In about five minutes you will be really good at +dodging, observing, using shields, using armor and fighting. + +The next thing you should do: wrestle them until you're tired. (maybe +using the techniques described later in this manual) You will probably +be an expert wrestler at that point. + +After that, just punch them to death. + + +Getting Started +=============== + +Prepare mentally to start a fight. + +During your fight, just flip to the page that starts with whatever +situation you're in right then and see what the book says you should do. +If you follow all the steps you will probably win the fight. + +These techniques are not especially good for fighting more than three +people at once and that's a situation you should try to avoid. + +Initiation +========== + +Against One Enemy +----------------- + +Do anything you want if your enemy doesn't realize you're going to fight +them. + +If your enemy can close the distance between yourself and them, you +should probably skip to the next section. + +Nish Vafig +'''''''''' + +Before initiating, try offering your enemy something expensive in +exchange for their weapon. This only works if you have something +expensive. + +Against Two or Three Enemies +---------------------------- + +You should try to disable at least one of your enemies instantly, if you +can. The tricks to do this usually involve exploiting distance, which +means you won't be able to execute them more than once in the same fight +unless one of your enemies is very insistent about using ranged weapons +only. + +These techniques are still worth a shot if you don't have distance! But +I'm not going to guarantee they will work. As a general rule, remember +that your efforts to wrestle don't commit until you move, attack, jump, +or let time advance – this enables you to do a whole lot of things at +once that you might not have realized you could. + +Korumid Strike +'''''''''''''' + +The korumid strike will disarm, stagger, and often cripple one enemy +while leaving you with his weapons and prepared to face another. You'll +need to be about five steps away to employ it. + +Sprint as fast as you can towads the enemy you'd most like to disarm. +When in melee range, grab their weapon and shield with your weapon and +shield hands respectively. (you can grab their arms if they're missing +one of those – or grab only their weapon for more reliability and speed) +Then jump over them as best you can do, and body-slam them. This will +probably snap their arm or leg and leave them on the ground. + +If you're a novice this will be easier than disarming using wrestling +alone (see the Nabasuthar technique below) but you will probably have to +catch an incoming strike, which won't work for you. + +If you're a vampire you can drink people's blood while midair, which +will increase the power of your tackle and cause it to hit everybody in +the way instead of just one. Drinking blood will not affect the efficacy +of any other grabs you queue up while in the air. + +Momguzumid Strike +''''''''''''''''' + +Start a korumid strike with a longer-than-usual running start. You must +run at least three dwarfmiles per hour, and you've got to jump about +four steps. Instead of grabbing both weapon and shield, grab only one +thing belonging to a nearby enemy before jumping. Start the jump before +your first grab has actually connected and then make a second grab while +in midair. It will be impossible for most enemies to evade your first +grab. (the second grab won't usually connect, but will prevent the enemy +from evading) + +Whatever you're grabbing doesn't necessarily have to belong to the enemy +you're jumping over, which makes this technique potentially useful +against groups as large as three. But fights like that are always +dangerous. + +Sometimes you can even use this to knock your enemies into your other +enemies, but I don't think this is very reliable. + +Against Four or More Enemies +---------------------------- + +I don't know. Throw rocks at them? That sounds like a good idea. + +You can also try standing somewhere important and waiting for someone to +try to crawl under you. Then you can stomp on their throat. That also +sounds like a good idea. + +If you're very fast, try charging into the center of groups, then +charging isolates at the edges. Attack ranged weapon users first and +exploit full-body strikes (like the previous two) as much as possible. +Obviously, melee weapon users can't attack you unless you enter melee +range. + +Against Enemies Who Don't Realize You're Trying To Fight Them +------------------------------------------------------------- + +There's a technique for fighting while maintaining the appearance of not +fighting: + +Ar Ëtul +''''''' + +Stand pretty close to them and jump on them a bunch of times until they +die. (or fall unconscious) This takes much less preparation than the +other whole-body techniques, and most enemies will assume you didn't +mean to lethally hurt them. (provided you don't take a significant +running start) + +You shouldn't rely on enemies asuming this isn't a combat action, +though. + +Standing Combat Against an Enemy +================================ + +Your goals are to get the enemy into any of these conditions: + +- off-balance (by using wrestling tricks to stop their strike) + +- unarmed (by taking their weapon) + +- incapacitated by pain/nerve damage (by attacking any of the four + preferred zones, tearing muscle tissue, or locking a joint if you're + strong) + +To do this you need either to strike opportunistically at one of the +four weak zones, or to defend by grappling until you can set them +off-balance and lock a joint. (or quickly strike a weak zone then) The +point is to inflict suffering, so they can't fight you toe-to-toe. + +Often your enemy is armed. Weapons are very dangerous to you but they +also open up some initial techniques to disable your enemy. It's almost +always better to use grappling if they have a weapon, because they will +use it very predictably. + +Determining What Your Enemy Wants To Do +--------------------------------------- + +This is the standard observational trick everyone uses: + +Rashgur Nitem Technique +''''''''''''''''''''''' + +If an enemy is apparently attacking you, figure out what the easiest +place to strike would be. If one of their limbs looks easier to hit, +that probably means that's the limb they're attacking with. + +Disarming +--------- + +You've got no good reason not to do this first. These are techniques +(predominantly grappling) that will remove your enemy's weapon. You may +also be able to take the enemy's armor, which will make them more +vulnerable to unarmed attacks. + +Nabasuthar Technique +'''''''''''''''''''' + +If an enemy is attacking with a weapon you can probably grab the weapon +and that will confuse them. This almost always works. You might even be +able to get their weapon. + +If they attack you with a shield (they usually do that next, if they +have one) you can use wrestling tricks (the sodel ar technique) to block +the attack. It's easier to employ wrestling tricks against someone's +shield than against their bare hands. + +Gakit Sodel +''''''''''' + +If you grab your enemy's shield, even when they're still holding onto +it, you might automatically be able to block your enemy's attacks. This +means you don't need to maintain possession of it to use it. + +This isn't that reliable. + +Gakit Kun +''''''''' + +Grab your enemy by the weapon as above, but instead of using wrestling +to disarm them, scratch their hand until you sever a nerve and then take +the weapon after they drop it. Even if you don't hit a nerve, you'll +probably loosen their grip. This works well on enemies that are stronger +than you. + +Tosidcabnul +''''''''''' + +If the enemy is wearing armor (particularly plate armor) you can grab +it, but dodge out of melee range before the grab connects. This will +protect you from an imminent melee attack, and remove the armor from the +enemy's body. (I don't know how, but it's true.) + +Other Grappling +--------------- + +Offensive wrestling works best on large enemies, but defensive wrestling +works even if your enemy is really big. (particularly if they're trying +to punch you instead of using weapons) Against a large enemy you should +use wrestling to set them off balance before taking an opportunistic +strike + +When fighting reactively, you should use wrestling tricks to interrupt +the enemy. + +Your most common trick will be to block an attack midswing with a +grapple: + +Sodel Ar Technique (Wrestling Tricks) +''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' + +If they attack you with their left hand, you can use your right hand to +catch it. If they use their right hand you can do the same with your +left. (Remember – the limb easiest-to-hit is probably the limb they're +attacking with!) This will probably leave them off-balance. + +As a novice you will not reliably be able to do this: dodge frequently +and use the Zimesh strike instead. + +There's also a defensive striking technique to accomplish this, but it +won't leave your enemy off-balance. (it may inflict pain, since it can +damage nerves and muscle tissue) Here it is: + +Rashgur Break +''''''''''''' + +If you scratch up the enemy's hand or do another really quick strike +while they're about to strike, they might get confused or miss. If you +get lucky it won't hurt very much. This works really well when they're +punching you. Since this won't affect enemy balance or put them in +preparation for a joint-lock, you will probably need to do this a lot of +times before you inflict enough pain to disable the enemy. + +Another disabling technique is to stand on top of them, but you need to +be strong enough to throw them to the ground first. This is a lot like +taking them off-balance by grappling but it lasts longer and will allow +you to make a lot of quick strikes before they can do anything about it: + +Nidostegul +'''''''''' + +Throw your enemy to the ground (preferably a weak throw, if possible) +and stand on top of them before they land. Don't let your enemy strike +you first or else they'll stand on top of you. (They might also knock +themselves down, mind.) + +Striking +-------- + +The four zones likely to disadvantage an enemy are: + +The Gut +''''''' + +If you hit your enemies here they will be sick. They might even vomit. + +The Lungs +''''''''' + +There are ribs in the way, but if you bruise your enemies in the lung +they will probably have trouble breathing. If you bruise both lungs they +will probably drop dead. + +The Neck (Throat and Spine) +''''''''''''''''''''''''''' + +If you break their spine it will paralyze your enemy. If you crush their +throat your enemy will probably suffocate. If you tear their throat your +enemy will probably bleed to death. If you strangle their throat for a +little while you can choke your enemy unconscious. (This is a good +idea!) + +The Joints +'''''''''' + +If you break joints your enemy will be in a lot of pain and probably +pass out. (This isn't very hard to do if you're strong.) + +Of these, the guts and throat are least likely to be protected by bone, +but they might be protected by armor. + +Remember these guidelines when about to deliver a strike: + +- When you decide to hit something, you should hit it a lot of times, + so long as you're at least bruising the muscle or the bone. It will + eventually break. (this principle is called zilirakith) + +- Punching is almost as good as kicking, and much faster. (this + principle is called nonub) Scratching is also fast, and scratching + muscles can inflict a lot of pain. + +- Most enemies can be incapacitated by pain and sickness. + +It isn't strictly necessary to grapple before striking. Your key +technique to get good blows against the enemy without having to wrestle +defensively or significantly disadvantage the enemy is the opportunistic +dodge-and-strike: + +Zimesh Strike +''''''''''''' + +If you dodge to your enemy's side (by moving diagonally), you can punch +or scratch your enemy a lot more easily. You should probably try to use +fast (not wild) attacks so that you hit them before they turn and so you +aren't left off guard. + +Using biting against the throat, hands, or feet is called idrazoluth and +requires too much committal to be safe against an enemy on equal +footing. But scratching those areas is generally safe and can inflict +pain against enemies not vulnerable to defensive wrestling. + +Standing Combat Against a Disadvantaged Enemy +============================================= + +If your enemy is off-balance or stunned, you should take advantage of +high-risk striking techniques that will more permanently disable them. + +If your enemy is unconscious from pain or extremely nauseated, instead +flip down to the next section. + +The combat advice from the previous section applies, but a few more +striking attacks are viable now that weren't before. Your goal is still +to permanently incapacitate the enemy, and many techniques from the +previous section can still accomplish that. A brief list of those you +should still consider: + +- gakit kun (tearing the muscles and motor nerves) + +- nidostegul (standing on the enemy) + +- zinesh strike (dodging diagonally and striking: doing so will still + reduce the enemy's ability to counter) + +Wrestling +--------- + +Asas Break (Rapid Break) +'''''''''''''''''''''''' + +If you grabbed the enemy's hand, lock the wrist. You can usually break +the joint if you're strong enough. Most of the time your enemy will +double over in pain. This is one of the most reliable techniques you can +employ, even against armored enemies. + +Enkos Nitem +''''''''''' + +This only works on enemies weaker than you. Grab your enemy by the head +and gouge out their eyes. It's often easier to grab their neck but pinch +their throat. (Grabbing their throat itself is more difficult) + +Striking +-------- + +Stod-Suton Strike +''''''''''''''''' + +If you can use wrestling tricks (the sodel ar technique) to interrupt +your enemy, you will probably leave them off-balance. While they're +off-balance you can easily quick-attack the guts or the throat. Being +very fast usually works since there aren't any bones protecting those +places. + +Mezakod Break +''''''''''''' + +If you've already incapacitated your enemy by stabbing the guts, (the +stod-suton strike) you will probably be able to attack the lungs. Your +goal is to bruise at least one of them. Breaking the ribs helps but +isn't necessary: throwing a wild punch will probably work because your +enemy won't be able to counterattack. + +You can also punch the head, which might kill them. You probably +shouldn't rely on being able to do that, because you have to get lucky. + +Using the zinesh strike against the spine has a special name. While the +initial dodge is a mildly defensive move, you've got to have an opening +to punch again and again, because single spine strikes aren't very +reliable. + +Ostlurit Strike +''''''''''''''' + +You have to be really strong to do this, but if you punch your enemy +in the back of the neck they'll probably break their spine and die. You +might need to catch them offguard but if you're actually doing this you +probably don't care, because you're very strong. + +This last technique involves a wrestling technique but unlike most +wrestling techniques, it doesn't work as a defensive option and it +requires too much committal to be safe against an enemy on equal +footing. Unlike most wrestling techniques, this will work offensively on +larger enemies too: + +Idrazoluth (“Dog Combat”: Tearing Technique) +'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' + +If you bite people you will be able to tear them up (skin and muscle) +and cause blood loss without using a weapon. + +The other way to do this is scratching, but biting lets you hold on +afterwards. You can shake the body part to injure it more and you can +often completely sever the body part if it's small, like an ear or a +finger. This leads to even more blood loss and pain. + +Good places to do a lot of damage with this technique are the throat, +hands, and feet, because disabling the throat will kill your enemy and +disabling the hands and feet will keep them from using a weapon or +walking respectively. (provided you disable *both* feet) + +This is effective against animals because animals are typically +susceptible to muscle pain, but latching onto an animal might hurt your +mobility. If that worries you, use scratching instead. + +When You Have Permanently Incapacitated Your Enemy +================================================== + +If You Only Have One Enemy +-------------------------- + +If You Have a Weapon +'''''''''''''''''''' + +Follow the advice under Striking and use wild strikes to the four +preferred zones to defeat your enemy. + +If Not +'''''' + +Stomp on their neck (to suffocate them) or on their throat. (to bleed +them to death) Punching or wildly kicking the head several times will +often kill them more quickly but is less reliable. (this is often the +most effective way to finish off very large enemies) + +If they're wearing lots of armor, choke them instead, or take the armor +off first. But armor doesn't usually protect the neck very well, so try +stomping on that first. + +If You Have More +---------------- + +Ignore the one you just knocked down and subdue the others. + +If Your Enemy Can't Walk (or Doesn't Want To) +============================================= + +Many of the techniques described in 'Initiation' will now be possible +again, because you can get back the distance you had at the beginning of +the fight. Don't give too much time to ranged enemies, but if they're +already at a distance you may be able to exploit that distance. (e.g. by +disarming them via the korumid strike) + +There's at least one technique where you'll have to have disabled the +enemy to succeed. + +Aknunakith Strike +----------------- + +Walk a little ways away from your enemy (who is lying on the ground) and +then sprint as fast as you can in their direction. Then, when you're in +melee range, attempt to jump over your enemy. You'll fail but you'll +clobber them with both feet and generally you'll disembowel them too. (I +don't understand how it works, but it does.) Unfortunately this +technique isn't very practical. + +When You Are On The Ground +========================== + +If the enemy isn't standing over you, you should stand up. If the enemy +is standing over you, you have probably lost the fight and will die. But +you still have one chance to dramatically turn the fight around. + +Egnul Spurn +----------- + +Interrupt your enemy's attack with a body part other than your hand. +Then use a throw to put them on the ground and stand on top of them. +This works well when you're already on the ground. You can usually use +your hold to break their joint after you're done. +