The Path of the Iron Shirt

Inspired by Louis Cha’s The Deer & the Cauldron

Some masters of chi learn to strengthen themselves against blows. Legend has it that the inventors of the Path of the Storm Turtle and the Path of the Iron Shirt were trained by the same master.

Brass Man Stance

Chi Cost: 3

Shot Cost: 1

As a defensive action, drop your defensive AV by 2 and increase Armor against this one attack by 6 points.

Prerequisite: none

Path: Iron Grip

Iron Grip

Chi Cost: 3

Shot Cost: 1

As a defensive action, roll Martial Arts against the AR of a person attacking you. If you succeed, you wrest their weapon away from them without taking any damage— the process can involve such dangerous actions as catching the sharpened edge of a sword on the palm of your hand. If you fail your roll, you take damage even if the AR wasn’t enough to hit you in the first place.

Prerequisite: Brass Man Stance

Path: Gate Guardian Stance

Gate Guardian Stance

Chi Cost: 2

Shot Cost: 0

If someone strikes you with a bare limb and you take no damage from the blow, you can spend 2 chi, and they must take damage equal to their Strength stat plus your Fu stat, resisted by their Toughness plus their Fu stat. (Unnamed characters who would take at least 1 point of damage from this bounce off and are bowled for 3 shots; if they take at least 5 points of damage, they’re incapacitated from the pain of a broken hand.)

Prerequisite: Iron Grip

Path: Temple Bell Protection

Temple Bell Protection

Chi Cost: 2

Shot Cost: 1

Your Armor value increases by 4 for the duration of the shot in which you spend the chi.

Prerequisite: Gate Guardian Stance

Path: none