Name: Unarmed Combat: Solum
In development by Defiance mage and unarmed combat practitioner Balthazar Black, this martial art form focuses on finding a balance between offense and defense. This from of unarmed combat is greatly aided by the discipline skill because it's earliest lessons rely on learning when it is the proper time to strike and when it is time to wait for an opening. In combat, this form utilizes strong punches and Defiance aided stomps. A practitioner of Solum is likely to keep their feet on the ground where they can easily root themselves in the element they depend on.
This fighting form is oft mistaken for boxing among the uneducated because of how much it replies on punches but to those who can see the ebb and flow of combat this martial art stands apart. Solum practitioners practice an array of defensive maneuvers in order to buy themselves time in combat to find the right weaknesses to exploit. Most of these maneuvers rely on an instigating motion to prepare the earth, followed by an arm motion to direct it. For example one might stomp to soften the earth either defiance and then uppercut the air to coax the softened earth into a defensive wall in front of the defier. A more advanced practitioner would then utilize their defensive wall as a weapon in some way. That is the key in Solum, your defense becomes your offense.
For those initiated in Defiance, this martial art serves as a way to strengthen their bond with the element of earth. It's rigid motions lend best to the element. When facing armed opponents, a Solum practitioner generally encases their limbs in earth in order to make them more readily able to defend against weapon strikes. Some practitioners even encase their limbs against other unarmed opponents however it can be a dangerous gamble against another defier.
Novice: 0-25
At this level, practitioners generally find that their footing is never as solid as it needs to be to follow through with the movements. They often attack before a true opening has presented itself and consequently miss their attacks. They also have a little more difficulty in maintaining their footing against oncoming attacks. At this level, many are still learning the patience required to master this fighting form and that patience is marred by the success they have seen others have. However practitioners at this level also find their strikes hit a little bit harder than others when they finally do land and they are a little more firm footed than they had been before. Defiance mages at this level of skill can utilize their magic to help plant their feet in the earth and as a result find it easier to progress in the skill.
Competent: 26-75
At this level of skill an individual has begun to embrace the core tenant of the fighting style. They recognize the need for patience- the need to wait and find an opening- but they do not always succeed in identifying the right moment. Their strikes land harder and their feet are planted more firmly making them harder to knock down. At this level they have begun realizing that successful offense lies in moving the energy of your attack from your strong base to your fist. Individuals at this level will still occasionally break their defense too early to attack but their defense itself is much more effective. A Defiance mage at this level refines their ability to call upon the earth so that certain stances and forms in the fighting style actually summon and manipulate the earth with less strain on their ether.
Expert: 76-150
At this level, practitioners have really come into their own. They have developed strong defensive stances that lead into powerful offensive counters which they often execute with success. At this point their failure is not in the physical execution of their moves but in the timing of them. The true difference between and expert and a master of Solum is the ability to truly know when the right moment to counter-attack is. At this level, an individual will still have a somewhat inadequate sense of when their opponents are truly most vulnerable but they are often able to make up for it with sheer power. At this level, Defiance mages (of adequate skill) learn to channel other elements through this martial art form. It is surprisingly successful when adapted with refinement lava and ice. They also develop the ability to call on larger amounts of earth in their fighting forms.
Master: 151-250
This is when an individuals has perfected their defense and learned to wait until the opportune moment to counter-attack their opponent. The practitioner's form is perfect and their footing is unshakeable. A Defiance mage at this level learns to either summon larger quantities of earth or to easier utilize the refinement lava and ice. At this level some defiers begin utilizing ice rather than earth in their forms.
Credit: Nine
In development by Defiance mage and unarmed combat practitioner Balthazar Black, this martial art form focuses on finding a balance between offense and defense. This from of unarmed combat is greatly aided by the discipline skill because it's earliest lessons rely on learning when it is the proper time to strike and when it is time to wait for an opening. In combat, this form utilizes strong punches and Defiance aided stomps. A practitioner of Solum is likely to keep their feet on the ground where they can easily root themselves in the element they depend on.
This fighting form is oft mistaken for boxing among the uneducated because of how much it replies on punches but to those who can see the ebb and flow of combat this martial art stands apart. Solum practitioners practice an array of defensive maneuvers in order to buy themselves time in combat to find the right weaknesses to exploit. Most of these maneuvers rely on an instigating motion to prepare the earth, followed by an arm motion to direct it. For example one might stomp to soften the earth either defiance and then uppercut the air to coax the softened earth into a defensive wall in front of the defier. A more advanced practitioner would then utilize their defensive wall as a weapon in some way. That is the key in Solum, your defense becomes your offense.
For those initiated in Defiance, this martial art serves as a way to strengthen their bond with the element of earth. It's rigid motions lend best to the element. When facing armed opponents, a Solum practitioner generally encases their limbs in earth in order to make them more readily able to defend against weapon strikes. Some practitioners even encase their limbs against other unarmed opponents however it can be a dangerous gamble against another defier.
Novice: 0-25
At this level, practitioners generally find that their footing is never as solid as it needs to be to follow through with the movements. They often attack before a true opening has presented itself and consequently miss their attacks. They also have a little more difficulty in maintaining their footing against oncoming attacks. At this level, many are still learning the patience required to master this fighting form and that patience is marred by the success they have seen others have. However practitioners at this level also find their strikes hit a little bit harder than others when they finally do land and they are a little more firm footed than they had been before. Defiance mages at this level of skill can utilize their magic to help plant their feet in the earth and as a result find it easier to progress in the skill.
Competent: 26-75
At this level of skill an individual has begun to embrace the core tenant of the fighting style. They recognize the need for patience- the need to wait and find an opening- but they do not always succeed in identifying the right moment. Their strikes land harder and their feet are planted more firmly making them harder to knock down. At this level they have begun realizing that successful offense lies in moving the energy of your attack from your strong base to your fist. Individuals at this level will still occasionally break their defense too early to attack but their defense itself is much more effective. A Defiance mage at this level refines their ability to call upon the earth so that certain stances and forms in the fighting style actually summon and manipulate the earth with less strain on their ether.
Expert: 76-150
At this level, practitioners have really come into their own. They have developed strong defensive stances that lead into powerful offensive counters which they often execute with success. At this point their failure is not in the physical execution of their moves but in the timing of them. The true difference between and expert and a master of Solum is the ability to truly know when the right moment to counter-attack is. At this level, an individual will still have a somewhat inadequate sense of when their opponents are truly most vulnerable but they are often able to make up for it with sheer power. At this level, Defiance mages (of adequate skill) learn to channel other elements through this martial art form. It is surprisingly successful when adapted with refinement lava and ice. They also develop the ability to call on larger amounts of earth in their fighting forms.
Master: 151-250
This is when an individuals has perfected their defense and learned to wait until the opportune moment to counter-attack their opponent. The practitioner's form is perfect and their footing is unshakeable. A Defiance mage at this level learns to either summon larger quantities of earth or to easier utilize the refinement lava and ice. At this level some defiers begin utilizing ice rather than earth in their forms.
Credit: Nine
