Editing Xia: Guqin Cuts The Air

'''[[Xia: Main Page]] -> [[Xia: Wushu Secrets]] -> [[Xia: Guqin Cuts The Air]]'''

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=Overview=

This page is a '''Lore Sheet''' for '''Guqin Cuts The Air''', a set of '''Wushu Secrets''' relating to the use of the Guqin to make invisible musical assaults.

These techniques can only be used for '''physical conflict'''. 

The guqin is a seven-stringed musical instrument, similar to a zither, beloved of scholars and often referred to as "the father of musical instruments" and "the instrument of sages". This martial art (beloved of more fantastical wuxia movies) centres around the idea that with chi, it is possible to release notes that cut like blades through the air. The notes can be heard as normal, but send out invisible lines of force, whose progress can only be marked by the dissection of intervening matter, or by the cuts that appear on an enemy.

==Prerequisites==

First, it is not possible to practice this martial art without skill in music. To represent this, a Xia must first have taken the specialised skill '''Musicianship''' to be able to learn any of the techniques on this style sheet.

Secondly, it is not possible to practice this martial art without a '''Guqin'''. As everyday musical instruments are easily breakable, a wise player will probably want to invest in a '''Quality Item''' Guqin as soon as possible, though he is not required to do so.

Third, the key technique to this form is the '''Poise of the Guqin Sage Stance'''. This must ''always'' be the first kung fu secret that any character can learn from this sheet, and the other techniques cannot be used unless in this stance.

=Poise of the Guqin Sage Stance=

''The martial artist bends one knee, rests the other foot across it so that his leg forms a table, and lays his Guqin across it. From this stance position he is ready to activate his Guqin Cuts The Air wushu!''

'''Cost:''' 2 Yang Chi and 2 Yin Chi to adopt this stance.

'''Keywords:''' ''Stance; Physical;''

'''Effect:''' You may use ''Guqin Cuts The Air'' wushu in this stance. If you are not in this stance, you cannot use any wushu secrets from this lore sheet (except, of course, for adopting ''Poise of the Guqin Sage Stance''). Also, while in this stance you can make ranged physical attacks with your wushu, sending slicing notes at an enemy within your line of sight. You can attack and defend yourself as normal with ordinary kung fu and other styles, but the limited mobility of this stance means you are at -2 to Physical Evasion.

'''Maintain:''' The stance can only be maintained for as long as you hold the same position. Walking, running and even hopping about end the stance. However, you can use magical forms of transport that allow you to hold the same stance (e.g. riding a flying cloud, or teleporting).
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=San Yin=

''These "scattered sounds" are produced by plucking strings to sound an open note. Attacks from these sounds are straight lines, but a single note will produce much power.''

'''Cost:''' 2 Yang Chi.

'''Keywords:''' ''Attack; Action; Physical; Multiattack;''

'''Effect:''' Make a ranged physical attack, and add your Fire trigram to the power. After this attack, you may make an additional attack action, but that attack must use one of the following kung fu secrets: ''San Yin, Fan Yin or An Yin''. 
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=Fan Yin=

''These "floating sounds" are harmonics: the musician lightly touches the string with one or more fingers of the left hand, then plucks and lifts, creating a sound of great clarity anr harmony. Attacks from these sounds are like straight arrows, fast and penetrating.''

'''Cost:''' 2 Yang Chi.

'''Keywords:''' ''Attack; Action; Physical; Multiattack;''

'''Effect:''' Make a ranged physical attack, and add your Heaven trigram to the accuracy. After this attack, you may make an additional attack action, but that attack must use one of the following kung fu secrets: ''San Yin, Fan Yin or An Yin''. 
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=An Yin=

''These "stopped sounds" have the musician combine a plucked string with a sliding movement that modifies the pitch. Attacks from these sounds are curved, and sweep in an arc across the open air. As a result, they are hard to evade.''

'''Cost:''' 2 Yang Chi.

'''Keywords:''' ''Attack; Action; Physical; Multiattack;''

'''Effect:''' Make a ranged physical attack, and add your Wind trigram to your Motion. After this attack, you may make an additional attack action, but that attack must use one of the following kung fu secrets: ''San Yin, Fan Yin or An Yin''. 

'''Limitation:''' Each Guqin attack may only use one out of ''San Yin, Fan Yin or An Yin''.
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=Thousand Echoes Chi=

''The musician knows that he can summon as well as expend chi with his music. As the sound echoes around the chamber, if draws chi back to himself.''

'''Cost:''' 0 Chi.

'''Keywords:''' ''Attack; Action; Physical; Aftertouch;''

'''Effect:''' For each of the three techniques on the below list you have activated this turn, gain 1 Yang Chi and 1 Yin Chi. '''List:''' ''San Yin, Fan Yin'' and ''An Yin''. 

Note that this counts the number of ''different techniques'' activated, not just the total number of ''activations''. So, for example, if you activated ''San Yin'' three times an ''An Yin'' once, you would only gain 2 Yang Chi and 2 Yin Chi

'''Special Limitation:''' You can only use Thousand Echoes Chi once per turn.
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=Powerful Fingers=

''This is not an attack technique in itself, but a demonstration of the warrior's mastery of his internal chi, and his ability to project this through greatly amplified notes.''

'''Cost:''' 1 Yang Chi.

'''Keywords:''' ''Attack; Action; Physical; Aftertouch;''

'''Effect:''' Use this only after dealing at least one point of damage with a ''San Yin, Fan Yin'' or ''An Yin'' attack. The target is knocked back a number of yards equal to your ''Physical'' trait. Also, until the end of his next turn he loses the benefits of any ''stance'' he is in, though the stance itself is not ended and will resume afterwards.
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=Credits=
<br>'''This page created by ''Asklepios''. '''
[[Category:Xia|Guqin Cuts The Air]]