Fist (sage study)

The Fist is a sage study in the field of the Way of the Stick, using the closed hand in acts of strength, physical damage and the use of force, seeking to break and destroy an enemy. The fist represents the unity of mind and body, reflecting the Daoist and Confucian ideas of harmonizing the self and achieving balance.

A well-executed fist technique is economical, efficient, and minimizes unnecessary movements. This efficiency aligns with ideals of frugality and economy in one's actions. This stresses the concept of "softness overcoming hardness." The soft hand, through internaql focus, can achieve the ability to break or penetrate harder materials by harnessing the body's internal energy, "Qi," to generate force. The process combines relaxation and tension, yielding and striking, which is then reflected in the character's own nature.

Sage Abilities

The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.

Amateur Status

• Correct Form: enables the character to master the body's position when attacking with open hand, increasing the number of attacks per round that the character would normally be able to perform by one level.

• Hammer Strike: costing 3 action points, the character strikes an opponent with both hands held together, forcing the defender back one combat hex, so that the character can move forward into the empty hex. The hammer strike causes +1 damage and has a 50% chance of stunning for two rounds instead of one, if sufficient damage is done.

• Target Strike: Using the open palm as a blade, striking an acupressure point, if the character exceeds the number needed to hit the enemy's armour class by 5 points with his or her attack die, the enemy is stunned regardless of the damage done. The enemy cannot be larger than twice the attacking character's weight.

Authority Status

• Seize Weapon: a skill requiring precise timing and control. As the enemy's weapon arcs towards its target, the character sidesteps and closes the distance. With an iron grip, the character guides the weapon from the adversary's grip, seizes the weapon and steps back, all as one fluid motion. Requires roll with -3 to hit modifier, causes no damage.

• Throw: Using leverage and precise technique, gaining a position on the enemy that allowes gaining a grip on the enemy's arm, just above the elbow. Catching the enemy off balance, the character guides the other's momentum in a desired direction, sending him or her sprawling to the ground. Requires roll to hit; causes half normal open hand damage; stun locks the opponent as he or she returns to a fighting position. Cannot throw opponents into friendly hexes.

Sage Status

See Monk Sage Abilities