FIGHTERS OF THE SEVEN SAINTS
I AM ARIMA. I WRITE IN THE FIRST SEASON OF MY SEVENTY-THIRD YEAR. THIS SHOULD BE HEEDED. IN MY DAY OF NOTORIETY I WAS KNOWN AS THE STOUT AND THE SHARP. I WRITE HERE A MANUAL OF KILLING AS TO EXPOSE THE WHOLE PETTY BUSINESS. A WATER-RICE FARMER IS A BETTER FIGHTER THAN A KNIGHT OR ARMS-WOMAN. THIS SHOULD BE KNOWN.
I BEGAN AS A PETTY DUELLIST IN THE PALACE OF THE CITY OF QUARTZ. AS THE CHILD OF BURGHERS I KNEW NOTHING OF TOOL USE AND THIS IS WHY I WAS EXCEPTIONALLY POOR AT MY ROLE. I WAS MAIMED AND EXILED FOR MY FAILURES.
I WALKED THE WORLD PSOUTH AND ON MY TRAVELS BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND MY SHORTCOMINGS. AS A PALACE-KILLER I WAS DRILLED IN ALL MANNER OF SITUATION, ALL MANNER OF ARM AND ARMOUR AND SO ON.
AS I WALKED OR BOATED OR RODE I MET MANY SORTS WHO WERE BLESSEDLY UNAWARE. AMONGST THE TRIBES OF UDORE I WAS CONFRONTED BY A HUNGRY BANDIT WHO WIELDED A KNIFE YET SEEMED UNAWARE OF THE FIGHTING-IMPLEMENT I CARRIED. AT ONCE I REALISED I STOOD NO CHANCE AGAINST THIS THIEF. I GAVE THEM MY FOOD AND LEFT.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE KILLING-TRADE IS THUS DEMONSTRATED BY THIS EPISODE. A WEAPON IS A TOOL FOR KILLING AS AN AXE IS A TOOL FOR FELLING TREES OR A BUCKET IS A TOOL FOR DRAWING WATER.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT EACH TOOL IS ALWAYS "IN-MULTITUDE". A SHOVEL AND A SPADE ARE VERY DIFFERENT BEASTS I HAVE BEEN ASSURED. THIS IS WHY A FIGHTER WHO CARRIES ONE WEAPON IS A POOR OPPONENT.
YET THIS PROPERTY OF "IN-MULTITUDE" IS ALSO RELEVANT IN REVERSE. THE LOGGER WHO PROPS HIS BEDROOM DOOR OPEN WITH HIS AXE SO HE WAKES WITH THE SUN SEEMS SENSIBLE. THE LOGGER WHO CUTS HIS BREAD WITH HIS AXE SEEMS A FOOL. YET THIS ONLY HOLDS UNTIL THE AXE OF THE FORMER IS STOLEN WHILE HE SLEEPS AND THE LOGGING-GANG OF THE LATTER FIND THEMSELVES FAR FROM A SAWING-KNIFE. THIS LESSON IS IMPORTANT.
I BEAR ONE MORE INSIGHT. THE BEST FIGHTER IS ONE UNBURDENED FROM THE VANITY OF PAST AND FUTURE. THE WORST CRAFTSMAN IN QONDIRAVE IS THE ONE TRYING TO SCULPT HIS MASTERPIECE.
A BRICK-LAYER DOES NOT CONCERN HERSELF WITH SUCCESS AS SHE SPREADS MORTAR AND LAYS BRICKS. SHE CERTAINLY DOES NOT FILL HERSELF WITH PRIDE OR WORRY AS TO THE PREVIOUS BRICKS IN THE COURSE. THE BRICK-LAYER SIMPLY DEPOSITS CUT-STONE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CONTOUR OF THE PREVIOUS STONE'S CUT.
HENCE ONE SHOULD PROCEED THROUGH LIFE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE PATH HAS WENDED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THE MATTER OF IMPORTANCE IS THAT THE RIGHT-SHAPED BRICK IS FOUND. OR IN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES ALREADY POSSESSED.
FROM THESE COMMENTARIES IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT THE METHODS OF KILLING ARE THEREFORE ELEMENTAL.
UNDERSTAND NOW THE SEVEN WAYS OF SEPARATING SOULS FROM FLESH. EACH SORT IS EXEMPLIFIED BY A SAINT I HAVE MET ON THE ROAD.
THE SEVEN SAINTS
Each fighter chooses a saint upon character creation. Only gain the bonus if you are outfitted as appropriate to your saint. Gain another saint's abilities by practicing the relevant profession until the role's Principles are appropriately imbibed.
THE WOOD-CUTTER
Of a Statue-Making-Village on the Psouth Coast (387-478).
Wears either moderate or heavy armour. Can use a shield.
Wields a hand-axe and club and crossbow.
If maximum damage is rolled on an attack, makes another free attack. This can repeat.
THE FARMHAND
Of the Village of Serina in the Western Shrublands (167-564).
Wears heavy armour or none at all. Can use a shield.
Wields a short-sword and spear and sling.
When a successful attack deals at least 3 damage, can reduce damage by that amount to make the target drop a hand-held item.
THE BODY-GUARD
In the employ of a minor clan in the City of Brass (28-307).
Wears either light or heavy armour. Uses a shield.
Wields an arm-sword or mace and staff.
Can make a free attack against any foe who hits an ally adjacent to you in your rank.
THE HUNGRY BANDIT
Encountered on the path in the Haunted Forest of Udore (302-555).
Wears either light or moderate armour.
Wields a dagger and two-hand-axe and short-bow.
Treats all targets as wearing light armour.
THE BRICKLAYER
Encountered on Perronet's Bridge over the Maurez in the Lichen Tundra (308-366).
Wears moderate armour or none at all.
Wields a war-hammer or great-sword and javelin.
Chooses a bonus each round of combat: -2 AC or -2 THAC0. The same option can't be picked more than twice in a row.
THE SCARE-CROW
Of Kopitomisi, the Salt-Lick Village of Dead Suleimoh (268-298).
Wears either no armour or light armour.
Wields a pole-arm and long-bow and short-sword.
Can re-roll a missed attack if you spent the prior round preparing your attack against the target.
THE SLAVE
Of the Gnull Men of the Fire Scorn Mountains (333-375).
Wears and wields whatever they wish as long as it was not bought.
If struck down makes a single retaliatory attack against the aggressor. If that attack kills, return to 1 hit point.
these are rules for the antarctic adventure jam, as aligned with B/X. inspired by the MANUAL OF UNMANNERLY FIGHTING and Idraluna's Chromatic Mages.