Name: Ila'thyr (Unarmed Combat)
Developed primarily for the Warrior branch of the Thunder Priestesses, Ila'thyr is perfectly suited for a woman who is working in foreign territory and who has very few resources at her disposal. Utilizing pressure points, choke holds and grappling techniques this form of unarmed combat focuses on employing stealthy guerrilla warfare even when heavily outnumbered.
Standards and Cultural Differences Due to the fact that not every Thunder Priestess is of the Warrior branch, there are several variants of Ila'thyr that focus on slightly different aspects of the martial art. There is also a publicly taught standard that focuses more on self defense, rather that outright attacks.
Ila'thyr is not often seen in use outside the Thunder Priestess faction so the style has remained rather pure as the arcs have passed. Once must travel to Rharne if they wish to be taught in the ways of Ila'thyr. The only exception to this rule is the Rharne Self Defense Standard, as this will be taught from time to time by other Rharnians across Idalos.
Protective (Cleric/Healer) Standard: The standard taught to the Cleric and Healer branches of the Thunder Priestesses is a much gentler and sensible form for non-lethal confrontations. This standard focuses primarily on controlling the flow of combat by way of tripping up an opponent and then grappling with them. Basic striking techniques are taught in this form, but mainly the focus remains on protecting others and preventing attackers from hurting the practitioner and their allies.
Emissary Standard: Perhaps the most visibly beautiful style, the Emissary standard serves a dual purpose as both a form of self defense and potentially as a type of performance. Often performed at gatherings with dignitaries, the Emissary Standard is an elegant form of combat that focuses on wide sweeping strikes with the legs and full body grappling. Some have called this the “Dancing Standard” because it makes for such an exquisite performance, however this standard is more than capable of being used to defend the Emissary when needed.
Rharne Self Defense Standard: This no-nonsense Standard is commonly taught in schools throughout Rharne. The Self Defense Standard is focused on lighting quick attacks that disorient an opponent before moving in to grapple them to the ground. Kicks and punches are aimed at sensitive areas of the body to force the opponent into submission before chokeholds and grapples are employed. There is also a focus on breaking holds and escaping when possible as this Standard is primarily learned in order to help the practitioner escape dangerous situations.
Notable Techniques Leg Strikes: A great deal of focus is placed on striking with the legs in Ila'thyr. Knees are especially employed when fighting in tight confines which is often the case with the Warrior Standard. These moves are often used to pin an opponent against the wall before moving in to grapple them to the ground. Kicking and striking with the feet and heels is more often employed in the Emissary Standard, but it is still used with some frequency within the other Standards.
Palm Strikes: While traditional punching is taught within Ila'thyr there is an emphasis placed on striking the opponent with the heel of the practitioner's palm. Upward strikes that target the face and other sensitive areas are very common as these can cause disorientation in the opponent, allowing the practitioner to move in for the kill or for a grapple.
Grappling: This technique is the bread and butter of Ila'thyr. Most assaults either begin or end with a grapple. The entire body is used in grappling, in order to lock your opponents joints and force them into a prone position. Warriors are known to primarily grapple with the legs since they are the strongest muscles in their bodies; sometimes even executing acrobatic twisting flips to wrap their limbs around the necks and bodies of their opponents before bringing them down.
Chokeholds: This technique is notable to the Warrior Standard but not unheard of with the other forms of Ila'thyr. This is most commonly used as a silent means of execution or rendering an opponent unconscious. Hands, calves, or thighs are wrapped around the target’s head and the muscles are constricted around the windpipe. In moments of extreme duress or need, the windpipe may even be intentionally crushed to quickly subdue an enemy.
Joint Targeting: Similar to the practice of Ki’Enaq, practitioners of Ila'thyr will commonly focus on damaging joints when forced into an extended fight that lasts more than five or so trills. While their methods are less vicious than that of Ki’Enaq, the desired end result is the same. Kicks, punches and grapples are used to strike at and bend joints to the point that the opponent can no longer use them. Bones can be shattered and tendons can be sheared if this method is used to its fullest extent.
Neck Targeting:
Used almost exclusively in the Warrior Standard, this technique is almost always used in a stealth attack to snap the opponent’s neck. This technique is difficult to learn as it cannot be practiced until the moment comes for it to be used. Neck breaking takes a great deal of precision and strength so the first few attempts may indeed fail for the novice practitioner.
Environmental Weaponry:
Due to the tactical nature of Ila'thyr there is an emphasis placed on using the environment to your advantage. Quite often, practitioners of this martial art are taught skills associated with field craft and thrown weapons in concert with their unarmed training to better prepare them for the future when they may need these skills at their disposal. Guerrilla tactics are sometimes used, to prepare an area prior to any sort of combat to ensure that the practitioner will emerge victorious.
Pressure Points: A talented Ila’thyr practitioner is well versed in the use of pressure point manipulation. They are capable of pressing certain areas of the body to cause temporary numbness that can heavily impair their opponent. This is a master level technique and should never be attempted by a novice.
Novice: 0-25
Competent: 26-50
Expert: 51-75
Master: 76-100
Credit:Oracle
Origins and Description
This ancient form of combat was first devised by Ilaren and her very first Thunder Priestesses. Ila'thyr is a style that relies heavily on stealth attacks that end confrontations within only a handful of moves. There are a subset of techniques that have been developed for extended combat but the hallmark of Ila'thyr is its reliance on ambush style assaults. Developed primarily for the Warrior branch of the Thunder Priestesses, Ila'thyr is perfectly suited for a woman who is working in foreign territory and who has very few resources at her disposal. Utilizing pressure points, choke holds and grappling techniques this form of unarmed combat focuses on employing stealthy guerrilla warfare even when heavily outnumbered.
Standards and Cultural Differences Due to the fact that not every Thunder Priestess is of the Warrior branch, there are several variants of Ila'thyr that focus on slightly different aspects of the martial art. There is also a publicly taught standard that focuses more on self defense, rather that outright attacks.
Ila'thyr is not often seen in use outside the Thunder Priestess faction so the style has remained rather pure as the arcs have passed. Once must travel to Rharne if they wish to be taught in the ways of Ila'thyr. The only exception to this rule is the Rharne Self Defense Standard, as this will be taught from time to time by other Rharnians across Idalos.
The Standards listed below are only the most well known styles. Other, more hybridized and unique styles do indeed exist in Idalos.
Warrior Standard: The Warrior Standard of Ila'thyr is perhaps the purest and most deadly form. Warriors using this standard are not concerned with engaging in non-lethal attacks and are instead focused on removing opponents from their path as quickly and as silently as possible. This style focuses on stealth more than any of the other standards. If there is a suitable amount of time, then most assaults are planned in advance, allowing the priestess to easily control and manipulate the situation as needed. Although some techniques are rather brutal, the Warrior Standard is known to use techniques such as neck snapping and suffocation holds. Practitioners of this standard seek to utterly control the confrontation, grappling with limbs and choking out opponents before they have a chance to cry out.Protective (Cleric/Healer) Standard: The standard taught to the Cleric and Healer branches of the Thunder Priestesses is a much gentler and sensible form for non-lethal confrontations. This standard focuses primarily on controlling the flow of combat by way of tripping up an opponent and then grappling with them. Basic striking techniques are taught in this form, but mainly the focus remains on protecting others and preventing attackers from hurting the practitioner and their allies.
Emissary Standard: Perhaps the most visibly beautiful style, the Emissary standard serves a dual purpose as both a form of self defense and potentially as a type of performance. Often performed at gatherings with dignitaries, the Emissary Standard is an elegant form of combat that focuses on wide sweeping strikes with the legs and full body grappling. Some have called this the “Dancing Standard” because it makes for such an exquisite performance, however this standard is more than capable of being used to defend the Emissary when needed.
Rharne Self Defense Standard: This no-nonsense Standard is commonly taught in schools throughout Rharne. The Self Defense Standard is focused on lighting quick attacks that disorient an opponent before moving in to grapple them to the ground. Kicks and punches are aimed at sensitive areas of the body to force the opponent into submission before chokeholds and grapples are employed. There is also a focus on breaking holds and escaping when possible as this Standard is primarily learned in order to help the practitioner escape dangerous situations.
Notable Techniques Leg Strikes: A great deal of focus is placed on striking with the legs in Ila'thyr. Knees are especially employed when fighting in tight confines which is often the case with the Warrior Standard. These moves are often used to pin an opponent against the wall before moving in to grapple them to the ground. Kicking and striking with the feet and heels is more often employed in the Emissary Standard, but it is still used with some frequency within the other Standards.
Palm Strikes: While traditional punching is taught within Ila'thyr there is an emphasis placed on striking the opponent with the heel of the practitioner's palm. Upward strikes that target the face and other sensitive areas are very common as these can cause disorientation in the opponent, allowing the practitioner to move in for the kill or for a grapple.
Grappling: This technique is the bread and butter of Ila'thyr. Most assaults either begin or end with a grapple. The entire body is used in grappling, in order to lock your opponents joints and force them into a prone position. Warriors are known to primarily grapple with the legs since they are the strongest muscles in their bodies; sometimes even executing acrobatic twisting flips to wrap their limbs around the necks and bodies of their opponents before bringing them down.
Chokeholds: This technique is notable to the Warrior Standard but not unheard of with the other forms of Ila'thyr. This is most commonly used as a silent means of execution or rendering an opponent unconscious. Hands, calves, or thighs are wrapped around the target’s head and the muscles are constricted around the windpipe. In moments of extreme duress or need, the windpipe may even be intentionally crushed to quickly subdue an enemy.
Joint Targeting: Similar to the practice of Ki’Enaq, practitioners of Ila'thyr will commonly focus on damaging joints when forced into an extended fight that lasts more than five or so trills. While their methods are less vicious than that of Ki’Enaq, the desired end result is the same. Kicks, punches and grapples are used to strike at and bend joints to the point that the opponent can no longer use them. Bones can be shattered and tendons can be sheared if this method is used to its fullest extent.
Neck Targeting:
Used almost exclusively in the Warrior Standard, this technique is almost always used in a stealth attack to snap the opponent’s neck. This technique is difficult to learn as it cannot be practiced until the moment comes for it to be used. Neck breaking takes a great deal of precision and strength so the first few attempts may indeed fail for the novice practitioner.
Environmental Weaponry:
Due to the tactical nature of Ila'thyr there is an emphasis placed on using the environment to your advantage. Quite often, practitioners of this martial art are taught skills associated with field craft and thrown weapons in concert with their unarmed training to better prepare them for the future when they may need these skills at their disposal. Guerrilla tactics are sometimes used, to prepare an area prior to any sort of combat to ensure that the practitioner will emerge victorious.
Pressure Points: A talented Ila’thyr practitioner is well versed in the use of pressure point manipulation. They are capable of pressing certain areas of the body to cause temporary numbness that can heavily impair their opponent. This is a master level technique and should never be attempted by a novice.
Novice: 0-25
Competent: 26-50
Expert: 51-75
Master: 76-100
Credit:Oracle
