Editing User:Dakkareth/Custom Charms (section)

==Crimson Dance of Shadows Style==
This little known sister style to the Ebon Shadow Style takes a similar approach in its emphasis on stealth and misdirection and indeed shares many techniques with it. It is not known, whether this style is the result of a different Exalt's deal with Five Days Darkness, an attempted improvement, plagiarism or perhaps a precursor to the much better known Ebon Shadow Style. Below will be noted only those techniques that are markedly different from their equivalents.<br>
Form Weapons for the Crimson Dance of Shadows Style are the lowly knife as well as fighting chains including bladed ropes, a weapon which few outside the practitioners of this style employ.

'''Shadow Dancing Concentration'''<br>
'''Cost:''' 2m ; '''Mins:''' Martial Arts 2, Performance 2, Ess 2; '''Type:''' Reflexive <br>
'''Keywords:''' Combo-OK, Obvious<br>
'''Duration:''' One Scene<br>
'''Prerequisites:''' None<br>
Initiates of the Crimson Dance of Shadows Style begin by learning a special form of dance, one that is performed not by them but by the shadows they cast against a wall. The extreme flexibility and body control this requires make the art of the Shadow Dance a valued instrument in the training of assassins even in this day when few remember the greater arts that it is a part of. A true initiate has learned to contort and control his limbs to a degree that is nearly superhuman, but more impressive still is his ability to guide and shape his shadow even in ways that seem contrary to nature, making them the true masters of this dance.
An initate invoking the Shadow Dancing Concentration gains 2 additional dice to actions that require bodily flexibility (like slipping out of handcuffs or through a tight space) and 4 additional dice to Performance (Shadow Dance).

'''Flowing Darkness Counterpoint'''<br>
'''Cost:''' 3m ; '''Mins:''' Martial Arts 3, Performance 3, Ess 2; '''Type:''' Reflexive <br>
'''Keywords:''' Combo-OK<br>
'''Duration:''' Instant<br>
'''Prerequisites:''' Shadow Dancing Concentration<br>
Nothing is faster than the darkness when it flees from the light, its eternal enemy. A Shadow Dancer can learn to be just like that which he emulates, evading the sight of others in the blink of an eye. This Charm allows the Exalt to Reestablish Surprise as a Reflexive action instead of a Miscellaneous action. It cannot be activated during attack resolution in response to an attack, nor can it be used more than (Ess) times per action.

'''Hypnotic Shadow Seal''' (modeled after Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack, Scroll of the Monk p92)<br>
'''Cost:''' 2m ; '''Mins:''' Martial Arts 3, Performance 3, Ess 2; '''Type:''' Reflexive <br>
'''Keywords:''' Combo-OK, Illusion<br>
'''Duration:''' Instant<br>
'''Prerequisites:''' Flowing Darkness Counterpoint<br>
The Shadow Dancer makes a complex, Essence-charged sign with her fingers, and the twisting lines of shadowy Essence distract and slow one selected opponent. The target character's next action is delayed for a number of ticks equal to the martial artist's Martial Arts score, incidentally preventing his DV from refreshing until then. When the target's next action comes, he cannot perform a flurry but may still use Combos and reflexive and extra action Charms normally. By spending one point of Willpower the target can mitigate the effects - his next action is only delayed for (MA/2) ticks and he can flurry normally. After having spent the Shadow Dancer's (Essence) in Willpower an opponent becomes immune to this technique for the rest of the Scene.

'''Crimson Dance of Shadows Form''' (copied from Ebon Shadow Form, Scroll of the Monk p92)<br>
'''Cost:''' 5m ; '''Mins:''' Martial Arts 4, Performance 4, Ess 2; '''Type:''' Simple (Speed 5) <br>
'''Keywords:''' Form-type, Obvious<br>
'''Duration:''' One Scene<br>
'''Prerequisites:''' Hypnotic Shadow Seal<br>
Although the Exalt's body does not become indistinct or drink in light like a true shadow, he still moves with the eerie speed and grace of a candle-wavering silhouette. While using this Charm, the character adds his Martial Arts score to his Join Battle dice pool. He also adds a value equal to his Essence to his Stealth score and his Dodge DV. When the character makes a Martial Arts attack (with hands, feet, knifes or fighting chains), he can inflict either bashing or lethal damage at will. Finally he automatically gains the benefit of the Shadow Dancing Concentration while the Form Charm is active. If a character using this Charm is killed before the duration expires, his body dissipates into thick black smoke. He leaves no ghost, and his physical remains provide no evidence of his identity (though his gear might).

'''Vanishing Shade Sidestep'''<br>
'''Cost:''' --; '''Mins:''' Martial Arts 4, Performance 4, Ess 3; '''Type:''' Permanent <br>
'''Keywords:''' None<br>
'''Duration:''' Permanent<br>
'''Prerequisites:''' Crimson Dance of Shadows Form
This Charm permanently upgrades Flowing Darkness Counterpoint in the following way: It can also be activated in response to a successfully dodged attack (reflexively, Step 9), rendering the Shadow Dancer an invalid target for all further attacks in a flurry if the Reestablish Surprise roll succeeds. The Charm can now be used (Martial Arts rating) times per action.