Country of Origin: Cathay
Dojo: Sukhbataar (Medium)
Founded: 1601 AV

Description: Weiwu De has its origins in a time when extravagant gifts from one ruler to another (except the Tuanku of Tiakhar, of course) were commonplace. In this case, the Raj of Tashil presented a gift of 240 trained warriors to the Khan of Xian Bei. The Khan, already having enough infantry and with a surplus of fine horses, ordered these men and women to begin training as a cavalry unit. Highly disciplined and quite skilled, their training methods eventually coalesced into this fighting style.

Weiwu De teaches the use of the tulwar, the national sword of Tashil. The tulwar is a curved cavalry combat weapon suited for cutting and slashing. Students of this fighting style attack with great ferocity, cutting down any who try to stop them.

The disadvantage of this school is that its techniques are based on fighting in melee from horseback, so moves that are not usually used against a mounted combatant may take one of these fighters by surprise.

Basic Curriculum: Fencing, Rider
Knacks: Cavalry Attack (Fencing), Charge, Exploit Weakness (Weiwu De), Trick Riding, Whirl (Fencing)

New Swordsman Knack: Cavalry Attack. This Knack replaces Attack (Fencing) when you are attacking from horseback. This is the same as the Cavalry Attack Knack found in the Fencing Skill, but it is considered a Basic Knack for students of Weiwu De.

New Swordsman Knack: Trick Riding. Trick Riding lets you stand while riding (TN 20), do handstands on horseback (TN 25), hang off one side of the horse for cover (TN 25), and other flashy tricks. It also allows you to mount your horse both while running (TN 20) and while leaping off a one-story building (TN 25). A well-trained mount may reduce all Target Numbers by 5. This is the same as the Trick Riding Knack found in the Rider Skill, but it is considered a Basic Knack for students of Weiwu De.

Apprentice: An Apprentice of Weiwu De uses the same attacking motions when on foot as he does on his horse. He may use his Cavalry Attack Knack even when on foot, instead of his Attack (Fencing) Knack.

Students of this fighting style do not get free Membership in the Swordsman’s Guild. Instead, they get a free Rank in the Swordsman Knack of their choice.

Journeyman: The Weiwu De Journeyman can show why his style is credited with producing the finest cavalry swordsmen in the world. He gets a free Rank of the Cavalry Attack Knack. This may increase his Rank in the Knack to a six. If it does not, he may increase it from a five to a six later by spending 25 XP.

Master: A Weiwu De Master demonstrates why the style’s name means “Mighty.” When attacking from atop his mount (using Cavalry Attack), he may add his horse’s Brawn to his own when determining the number of dice he rolls for Damage.