Name: Unarmed Combat: Imber
A martial art form that is centered around directing your opponent's energy against them through defensive maneuvers. This fighting style focuses on graceful, fluid motions rather than abrupt or quick ones. It is derived from the practices of Da' Riya and uses similar pushes and pulls to further direct the energy of combat. Energy of combat is really just a fancy phrase for momentum. Imber practitioners often focus on wearing down their opponents in physical combat by subtly forcing them to overexert themselves- wearing down their defenses so that a final blow can be struck. This technique has been found to be very effective in disarming individuals by utilizing small pushes and pulls to force opponents to overextend themselves in combat.
A mage initiated in Defiance may use this martial art form to enhance their relationship with the element of water because it focuses on the push and pull of combat much like the tides. A consistent aspect of Imber is that practitioners generally turn their defensive moves into offensive moves through the use of Defiance. Practitioners maintain their fluid movements from the form and dance the water into various attacks.
Novice: 0-25
At this level of skill, one has only really begun to explore the martial art form. Their form will be lacking against more trained opponents but it is merely a beginning. Practitioners will find the perfect flow of energy is too hard to decipher at this stage and as a result their movements will be too rigid. Their movements do not perfectly flow from one to the other and as a result their forms often fall apart a few moments in. Despite this, practitioners will find themselves able to predict the movement of their opponents with more accuracy than before. At this stage, Defiance mages are able to 'dance' through their movements with water to improve their bond to the element, but they have yet to find the means to weaponize it beyond simple whipping motions.
Competent: 26-75
Practitioners at this level of skill have achieved more fluidity in shifting from one movement to the next. They have truly begun to understand the flow of energy in combat and so their defensive forms are much more successful when attempted. At this stage they do not yet fully realize the ability to turn defense into offense ad as a result more of their movements fall apart when it comes to directing the opponent's own energy back at them, however they are more likely to succeed than a novice would be. At this stage, Defiance mages of appropriate skill have learned to bring water with them through the movements of the fighting style. This means they can use it both offensively and defensively.
Expert: 76-150
At this level of practice an individual sees the flow of energy in combat and understands it fully. Their movements flow from one to the next with ease and they have discovered the perfect balance to turn defense into offense and redirect their opponents energy. At this level a practitioner is most in their element against one or two opponents. More than that create too many energies within the combat for the practitioner to truly redirect them all. While a practitioner may see a strike coming, they may be too occupied to redirect it. At this level, Defiance mages (of adequate skill) learn to channel other elements through this martial art form. Those who bonded with air and water begin to practice a more grounded form of Imber that produces and weaponizes ice while those who bonded with earth and water practice a similarly grounded form of the fighting style that utilizes mud to trap opponents.
Master: 151-250
Masters of Imber do not simply see and understand the energy in combat, they have- as the title implies- mastered the energy flow in combat. These individual flow from one motion to the next with the ease of the water their style symbolizes. They have perfected their counterattacks and their defenses to the extent that they could battle against a small group of people and emerge victorious. Defiance mages who achieve this level of skill find it much easier to incorporate water into their motions.
Credit: Nine
A martial art form that is centered around directing your opponent's energy against them through defensive maneuvers. This fighting style focuses on graceful, fluid motions rather than abrupt or quick ones. It is derived from the practices of Da' Riya and uses similar pushes and pulls to further direct the energy of combat. Energy of combat is really just a fancy phrase for momentum. Imber practitioners often focus on wearing down their opponents in physical combat by subtly forcing them to overexert themselves- wearing down their defenses so that a final blow can be struck. This technique has been found to be very effective in disarming individuals by utilizing small pushes and pulls to force opponents to overextend themselves in combat.
A mage initiated in Defiance may use this martial art form to enhance their relationship with the element of water because it focuses on the push and pull of combat much like the tides. A consistent aspect of Imber is that practitioners generally turn their defensive moves into offensive moves through the use of Defiance. Practitioners maintain their fluid movements from the form and dance the water into various attacks.
Novice: 0-25
At this level of skill, one has only really begun to explore the martial art form. Their form will be lacking against more trained opponents but it is merely a beginning. Practitioners will find the perfect flow of energy is too hard to decipher at this stage and as a result their movements will be too rigid. Their movements do not perfectly flow from one to the other and as a result their forms often fall apart a few moments in. Despite this, practitioners will find themselves able to predict the movement of their opponents with more accuracy than before. At this stage, Defiance mages are able to 'dance' through their movements with water to improve their bond to the element, but they have yet to find the means to weaponize it beyond simple whipping motions.
Competent: 26-75
Practitioners at this level of skill have achieved more fluidity in shifting from one movement to the next. They have truly begun to understand the flow of energy in combat and so their defensive forms are much more successful when attempted. At this stage they do not yet fully realize the ability to turn defense into offense ad as a result more of their movements fall apart when it comes to directing the opponent's own energy back at them, however they are more likely to succeed than a novice would be. At this stage, Defiance mages of appropriate skill have learned to bring water with them through the movements of the fighting style. This means they can use it both offensively and defensively.
Expert: 76-150
At this level of practice an individual sees the flow of energy in combat and understands it fully. Their movements flow from one to the next with ease and they have discovered the perfect balance to turn defense into offense and redirect their opponents energy. At this level a practitioner is most in their element against one or two opponents. More than that create too many energies within the combat for the practitioner to truly redirect them all. While a practitioner may see a strike coming, they may be too occupied to redirect it. At this level, Defiance mages (of adequate skill) learn to channel other elements through this martial art form. Those who bonded with air and water begin to practice a more grounded form of Imber that produces and weaponizes ice while those who bonded with earth and water practice a similarly grounded form of the fighting style that utilizes mud to trap opponents.
Master: 151-250
Masters of Imber do not simply see and understand the energy in combat, they have- as the title implies- mastered the energy flow in combat. These individual flow from one motion to the next with the ease of the water their style symbolizes. They have perfected their counterattacks and their defenses to the extent that they could battle against a small group of people and emerge victorious. Defiance mages who achieve this level of skill find it much easier to incorporate water into their motions.
Credit: Nine