Editing Golden Barque of the Heavens Style

<b>Golden Barque of the Heavens Style</b> is a [[Celestial]]-level [[Martial Arts|Martial Art]] for <i>[[Exalted]]</i>.

==Description==

<b>Golden Barque of the Heavens Style</b> is most often practiced by the [[Sidereal]] members of its eponymous division of the [[Bureau of Destiny]].  As befits the [[Division of Journeys]] patron [[Five Maidens|Maiden]], this style emphasizes motion, speed, and endurance.  Many of its motions and techniques have an appearance which suggests sloppy or incomplete training, but this is an emulation of the Wayfarer and is the result of training as rigorous as any other style.

In the manner of [[Violet Bier of Sorrows Style]] (and presumably the other Bureau of Destiny styles), the first four [[Charms]] pay respect to [[Five Maidens|Mercury's sisters]] with the remainder being dedicated to the [[Mercury|Maiden of Journeys]] herself.

===Weapons and Armor===

The [[Mercury (Exalted)|Maiden of Journeys]]' Chosen are travelers above all else.  Attacks
using staves, knives, walking sticks (use club stats), and [[fighting cloak]]s are all treated as unarmed for the purposes of this style.  [[Artifact]] versions of the same are likewise acceptable.  
These [[weapons]] represent not only the traditional wayfarer's trappings, but also the mast and sails of a voyaging ship.  All [[Charms]] in this cascade are incompatible with [[armor]].

==Charms==

<i><b>Highwayman Spotting Awareness</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 1 mote
 <b>Duration:</b> Instant
 <b>Type:</b> Reflexive
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 1
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 1
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> None

An experienced traveler is always on guard for bandits and theives.  A
character with this Charm has the advantage of [[Jupiter]]'s sight and may
reflexively add her [[Essence]] in successes to any [[Awareness]] rolls for
detecting ambushes or traps which endanger the character or her party.
The attackers need not be targeting the character's party
specifically; they may simply be waiting to attack any tempting
targets that happen by.  This Charm grants an [[Awareness]] roll even if
the character would usually be denied a roll due to her assailants
using Charms or other magic.

<b>Highwayman Spotting Awareness</b> is an asset to the [[character]] and the
[[Storyteller]] should not use it as an excuse to drain the Exalted of her
[[Essence]].

<i><b>Assault's Unreached Destination</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 5 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> One turn
 <b>Type:</b> Supplemental
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 3
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 2
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Highwayman Spotting Awareness

The [[Saturn|Maiden of Endings]], in her role deciding when things meet their
fate, can choose to finish something before it reaches its expected
conclusion.  Exalted using this Charm attempt to end an attacker's
blows before they strike home.  For the rest of the turn, the
character may add her Martial Arts rating to any [[Dodge]] or parry rolls
she makes.  If the character chooses to both parry and dodge a single
attack, this bonus may be applied to one defense or the other, but not
both.  Lethal attacks may be parried unarmed without the need for a
stunt.  This Charm does not create a [[dice pool]], it only supplements
dice pools from other sources.

<i><b>Unquenchable Wanderlust</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 3 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> Instant
 <b>Type:</b> Reflexive
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 2
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 2
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> None

To those who are passionate about their wandering, nothing snuffs joy
more than being pinned down and restrained.  A <b>Golden Barque of the
Heavens Stylist</b> can call upon the [[Venus|Maiden of Serenity]] to ensure his
freedom of movement and bring punishment to those cruel enough to hold
him in place.  By using this Charm, the character automatically
escapes from any clinch.  In addition to escaping, the character may
attempt to [[damage]] his attacker, doing [[Strength]] + [[Essence]] [[dice]] of
Piercing Bashing damage.  This Charm fails if it was the Chosen who
initiated the clinch.

This Charm may also be used to add the [[character]]'s [[Martial Arts]] score
to any rolls to escape bonds, manacles, or other restraints.

<i><b>Fleet Cavalry Maneuver</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> Instant
 <b>Type:</b> Simple
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 3
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 2
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Unquenchable Wanderlust

Mercury's Chosen use horses to make their pilgimages across Creation,
but [[Mars]] prefers to use the powerful beasts for mighty hit-and-run
strikes on the fields of war.  Emulating this practice, the character
dashes past his enemy, moving twice his normal movement and making a
single unarmed strike before retreating to a safe distance.  The
target may defend herself normally, but will be unable to attack in
return unless she has held actions, ranged attacks, Charms which grant
an attack out of [[initiative]] order, or some method of matching the
character's speed and gives pursuit.  Though the character does not
leave the ground, treat this as a fly-by attack as described on page
201 of the <i>[[Exalted Players Guide]]</i>.  The Exalted adds his Essence
score to the attack's [[damage]], reflecting the force behind the charge.

<i><b>Golden Barque of the Heavens Form</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 5 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> One scene
 <b>Type:</b> Simple
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 4
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 2
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Assault's Unreached Destination, Fleet Cavalry Maneuver

Adopting the wary yet aloof stance of one who has been everywhere and
seen everything, Exalted using this Form gain the ability to defend
themselves using a cascading parry and may block lethal damage without
the need for a stunt while unarmed.  A character who either declares
(as a full dice action) or aborts to a cascading parry may defend
himself against all attacks in a turn with her full [[Dexterity]] +
[[Martial Arts]] pool and ignore considerations of weapon rate.
Reflecting Mercury's willingness to be in motion, the character adds
his Martial Arts score to his base initiative.  As long as he is
wielding <b>Golden Barque of the Heavens Style</b>'s [[signature weapons]], the
character does not suffer off-hand weapon or dual wielding penalties.
Exalted using this form may reflexively spend a mote of Essence to
turn any of his Dodge attempts into a hopping defense, leaping his
[[Martial Arts]] + [[Essence]] yards away from his assailant after the attack
is resolved.  Finally, the Maiden of Journeys' connection to objects
in motion allows her Chosen to keep firm footing and balance on such
things without the need for an [[Athletics]] roll.  For example, the
Martial Artist could effortlessly fight in the rigging of a
storm-tossed ship, in a wagon racing down a treacherous road, or even
on the backs of stampeding cattle. Characters cannot normally use more
than one Martial Arts Form-type Charm at a time.

<i><b>Wayfaring Target Principle</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> One scene
 <b>Type:</b> Reflexive
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 3
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Golden Barque of the Heavens Form

It is well known that a moving target is harder to hit than one that is
standing still and a person on the move can elude hunters more easily
then one who has settled down.  Taking this principle to heart, the
[[Chosen of Journeys]] simply never stop moving.  A character using this
Charm adds her Martial Arts to any [[Dodge]] rolls she makes.  If the
Exalted does not have a dodge action allocated for an incoming attack,
she may reflexively dodge using her Martial Arts score.

<i><b>Vagabond Pilgrim's Endurance</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes, 1 willpower
 <b>Duration:</b> One scene
 <b>Type:</b> Simple
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 3
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Wayfaring Target Principle

A pilgrim will often suffer much while seeking his sacred destination;
Fate's strange slings and arrows can be quite cruel.  Still, the
faithful endure.  Exalted with this Charm have learned to apply that
endurance to their Martial Arts.  Add the character's [[Endurance]] +
[[Conviction]] to his bashing and lethal [[soak]].

<i><b>Saffron Meteor Strike</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes + 1 mote/die
 <b>Duration:</b> Instant
 <b>Type:</b> Supplemental
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 3
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Golden Barque of the Heavens Form

Like a falling star streaking across the heavens, the Chosen using
this Charm delivers a devastating flying kick.  Leaving a shining
aurulent streak in her wake, the character jumps up to her sprinting
distance plus her Essence yards before delivering the attack as
[[Mercury]] bears her to the target.  The character makes an unarmed
attack against her foe and may buy up to her Essence extra dice for it
at the rate of one mote per die.  The [[damage]] from this attack is
lethal.  Finally, the target suffers [[knockback]] equal to the
character's Martial Arts x 10 yards.  The knockback distance can be
reduced by five yards per [[success]] on a reflexive [[Strength]] + [[Athletics]]
roll.  This knockback does no additional damage unless the target
lands on particularly hazardous terrain and occurs even if the attack
does no damage.

By spending a point of [[Willpower]], the Chosen calls upon the meteor's
associations with the authority of [[Yu-Shan|Heaven]], allowing her to strike
dematerialized spirits with this attack.

<i><b>Three Sheets to an Ill Wind</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes
 <b>Duration:</b> Instant
 <b>Type:</b> Supplemental
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 3
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Golden Barque of the Heavens Form

Just as a skilled sailor can capture the force of a dangerous gale and
turn it to his advantage, so can Mercury's Chosen harness the winds of
misfortune and turn them against her enemies.  The Exalted using this
charm gets three automatic [[success]]es on an attempt to disarm a foe.
If she is wielding a [[fighting cloak]], she may use the cloak's defensive
value in lieu of its accuracy value for this attempt.

<i><b>True Course Meditation</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 4 motes, 1 Willpower 
 <b>Duration:</b> Scene
 <b>Type:</b> Simple
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 3
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Three Sheets to an Ill Wind

The navigator knows how to plot a course through obstacles that bar his ship from his destination. The Chosen of Mercury have learned much from the navigator and may invoke this Charm to ensure that a strike's course is true. Increase the [[difficulty]] of defending against the character's unarmed attacks by the character's Essence score. 

<i><b>Earth and Sky Traversing Celerity</b></i>
 <b>Cost:</b> 12 motes, 1 willpower, 1 health level
 <b>Duration:</b> Martial Arts turns
 <b>Type:</b> Simple
 <b>Minimum Martial Arts:</b> 5
 <b>Minimum Essence:</b> 4
 <b>Prerequisite Charms:</b> Vagabond Pilgrim's Endurance, Saffron Meteor Strike, True Course Meditation

Exalted who have mastered <b>Golden Barque of the Heavens Style</b> can
invoke the blinding speed of Mercury, flashing all over the
battlefield, striking foe after foe faster than the eye can follow.
First, add the Chosen's Martial Arts to her base [[initiative]].  This
bonus is cumulative with the bonus from <b>Golden Barque of the Heavens
Form</b>.  Second, double all the character's movement rates and jumping
distances (including jumps arising from other Charms).  If the
character is under the influence of the [[Lesser Sign of Mercury]], the
total movement is quadrupled, not sextupled.  Next, while this Charm
is in effect, double the character's Martial Arts score and increase
the [[difficulty]] of defending against her strikes by one due to their
unnatural speed.  Lastly, each turn, the Chosen of Journeys may dash
from enemy to enemy making an unarmed attack against each until there
are no more valid targets or one of the attacks misses.  The character
may choose the order in which the attacks are made, but each
successive target must be within her enhanced sprinting distance and
no target may be visited more than once on the same turn.  An attack
which hits but causes no [[damage]] is considered [[success]]ful for the
purpose of sustaining the Charm's magic.  The character retains her
normal [[dice]] action and may split it as usual for defense or for
additional attacks against her enemies as she visits them in turn.  As
these are considered fly-by attacks, the Exalted's enemies may defend
themselves normally, but will have a hard time retaliating against the
Chosen while she traces new constellations on the battlefield as if
her foes were stars in the night sky.

[[Sidereal Exalted]] may enhance this Charm with a [[prayer strip]].  When cast into the air above the fray, the prayer strip sheds a rich yellow light which reveals the threads of Fate which bind together combatants in a melee.  It is along these lines, unbent and true, that the Exalted races, creating for herself an auspicious constellation during the hostilities.  Use of a prayer strip doubles the
valid distance between targets and applies [[knockback]] as described under
<b>Saffron Meteor Strike</b> to each attack made while <b>Earth and Sky
Traversing Celerity</b> is active.

[[Category:Exalted]]
[[Category:Martial Arts]]