Twin Weapon Master

"Let’s see, ten of them, two of us. Well, I have two weapons to each of their one, so it’s more like five of them. I’ll take the three on the left, you take the two on the right... why are you looking at me like that?"
——Raphael, a Twin Weapon Master

The Twin Weapon Master represents a change in the dynamic of survival. As a society advances and changes, so to, do the dangers. Whereas on the open battlefield, a heavy weapon and thick armor might reign supreme, life in the city can be a bit more cramped and stifling, requiring more finesse and skill than brute force. This kind of warrior wields two weapons at the same time with deft maneuverability, exceptional speed and terrifying precision. Just as deadly if not more so than an ogre with a club, the Twin Weapon Master strikes with finely honed grace seeming almost supernatural at times, able to expose weaknesses and exploit opportunities that their opponents didn’t even know they had presented. Then just as soon as it began, the struggle ends.

Twin Weapon Master is a three stage talent.

Twin Weapon Master I

Mastering the basics of two weapon fighting, the Twin Weapon Master learns to strike faster with both weapons, and this ability extends to double weapons. This honed speed frees up the hands to better defend, learning how to parry attacks with extraordinary coordination and punish attempts to grab the weapon master that would halt the flow of rapid strikes.

Prerequisites

  • Martial Rank 5
  • Cost: 3 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Quick Strikes
Reduce the Recovery Time of any Martial Technique that utilizes both a main-hand and off-hand attack by 1.
♦ Double Weapon Proficiency
Gain proficiency in all Double Weapons.
♦ Twin Parry
You gain the Twin Parry technique.
Twin Parry
Twin Weapon Master Class Feature
Prerequisites: Twin Weapon Master I
Interruptive Action
Cost: 4 Resolve
Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons, one in each hand, or a Double Weapon.
Trigger: You are hit with a Melee Attack.
Effect: You attempt to parry the attack with both your weapons. Make an opposed Attack Roll, rolling once for each of your weapons, and using the better result to attempt to Deflect the triggering attack (your opponent makes a single roll with the triggering weapon).
♦ Grappled Strike
You gain the Grappled Strike technique.
Grappled Strike
Twin Weapon Master Class Feature [Grapple]
Prerequisites: Twin Weapon Master I
Standard Action [REC Weapon Speed]
Requirement: You must be wielding a weapon in your Off-Hand or a Double Weapon.
Effect: You may a quick strike at the creature grabbing you, cutting under his defenses. Make an attack with your Off-Hand Weapon:
Range: Melee
Target: One creature
Melee Attack: Weapon vs. AC
Hit: Weapon[2 WD] damage. If you are Grabbed by the target, you may make an Opposed Grapple Check to escape the Grab at a +4 bonus.
Augment, Greater Grappled Strike
[Martial Rank 8]
Stacking [8, 11, 14, etc.]: This augment may be applied multiple times and is limited by your Martial Rank.
Effect: Increase the damage by 1 WD.

Twin Weapon Master II

With trained agility, the off hand attack can now strike multiple times, opening up an opponent’s defenses long enough to reposition quickly after a full attack routine. If the opponent tries to escape, the Twin Weapon Master can now strike at them in the instant between lowering their guard and making the movement. Should they try to stay in close and prevent the assault with more grabbing attempts, the weapon master can strike at their attack from almost impossible angles.

Prerequisites

  • Twin Weapon Master I
  • Martial Rank 6
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Double Off-Hand Strike
You may use the Off-Hand Strike technique twice before making another Main-Hand attack (instead of just once).
♦ Shifting Strikes
Whenever you use a Martial Technique that utilizes both a main-hand and off-hand attack, you may Shift 5ft once between the attacks as a Free Action.
♦ Twin Defense
When a target attempts to grapple you, you may take an opportunity attack with both weapons (instead of just one). If either attack hits, the Grapple fails. If the target has Improved Grapple (or some other ability to prevent an opportunity from initiating a grapple), you still gain an Opportunity attack with your Off-Hand Weapon. If this attack hits, the Grapple automatically fails.
♦ Parting Strike
You gain the Parting Strike ability.
Parting Strike
Twin Weapon Master Class Feature
Prerequisites: Twin Weapon Master II
Interruptive Action
Cost: 2 Stamina
Requirement: You must be wielding a weapon in your Off-Hand or a Double Weapon.
Trigger: A creature adjacent to you moves 5ft or more (even if that move is a Shift).
Effect: There is no escaping you. Make an attack with your Off-Hand Weapon:
Range: Melee
Target: One creature
Melee Attack: Weapon vs. AC
Hit: Weapon[2 WD] damage.
Augment, Greater Parting Strike
[Martial Rank 8]
Stacking [8, 11, 14, etc.]: This augment may be applied multiple times and is limited by your Martial Rank.
Effect: Increase the damage by 1 WD.

Twin Weapon Master III

The Twin Weapon Master can now perform seamless attack combinations, the off-hand weapon becoming just as adept and deadly as the main. An off-hand attack can now be paired with any main hand strike simultaneously. At the end of an attack routine, this warrior can perform an insidious finishing maneuver, leaving their secondary weapon embedded in one of the many open wounds caused by previous attacks, bleeding the enemy to death should they be unable to recover.

Prerequisites

  • Twin Weapon Master II
  • Martial Rank 7
  • Cost: 2 Destiny Points

Features

♦ Improved Off-Hand Strike
Increase the damage of Off-Hand Strike by 1 WD.
♦ Off-Hand Superiority
When you use a Martial Technique that makes a Main-Hand attack, but does not include an Off-Hand attack, you may immediately use the Off-Hand Strike ability. When you do, increase the Recovery Time of the Main-Hand attack by 2.
♦ Skewer
You gain the Skewer ability.
Skewer
Twin Weapon Master Class Feature
Prerequisites: Twin Weapon Master III
Free Action
Cost: 3 Stamina and 2 Stamina Burn
Requirement: You must be wielding an Off-Hand Weapon or a Double Weapon and the weapon must deal Piercing, Slashing or Chopping damage.
Trigger: You hit with an Off-Hand Attack.
Effect: You drive your weapon deep, leaving it embedded in your opponent. In addition to the normal effect of your attack, the target suffers ongoing 35 Bleed damage and Pain (3) [SE 6d10 vs STR, automatically fail the initial saving throw]. You are Disarmed of your Off-Hand Weapon, which remains in the target. If the target saves, your weapon falls to the ground in your target's space.
Augment, Magical Skewer
Requirement: You must be wielding a Magic Weapon
Effect: Increase the difficulty of the Saving Throw by two dice [STP 2d10].
Augment, Greater Skewer
[Martial Rank 8]
Stacking [Rank 8, 9, 10, etc.]: This augment may be applied multiple times and is limited by your Martial Rank.
Effect: Increase the ongoing Bleed damage by 5.