Country of Origin: Eisen
Salon: Zweitstadt, a port city on the northernmost point of Wische (Small)
Founded: 1639

Description: The Wichmann Swordsman School was created by Hans Wichmann, a promising young officer serving directly under General Helmut Stauss. Lieutenant Wichmann observed that many of his soldiers, while steadfast and greatly successful fighting the Objectiojnist forces in the South, were struggling mightily against Montaigne mercenaries. Trained in quick, energetic fighting styles like Valroux, Montaigne Swordsmen could maneuver circles around Eisen soldiers with their traditional (but cumbersome) heavy weapons. A cavalry soldier before his appointment to General Stauss’ staff, the clever lieutenant developed a School using a trusty sabre which could attack quickly and be brought to bear for a rudimentary defense in short order. Furthermore, observing the Montaigne sword-and-knife fighters showed him there was little value in having an empty hand when it could wield a second weapon (or in this case, a buckler).

The key to the Wichmann School is the combination attack: each strike leads to a follow up attack…or several follow up attacks. Defense receives only a cursory study, as Lieutenant Wichmann felt that between the sabre and the buckler, avenues for defense should be self-evident.

The School’s strength (combination attacks) also serves as its primary weakness. An experienced opponent may recognize the first (or certainly the second) step in a series and know what to defend against for the follow up strike. Then, with the opponent overextended and not well-practiced in defensive techniques, a well-timed counterattack can be devastating to the Wichmann Swordsman.

Basic Curriculum: Buckler, Fencing
Knacks: Bind (Fencing), Corps-á-Corps, Exploit Weakness (Wichmann), Lunge (Fencing), Pommel Strike (Buckler)

Apprentice: Students of Wichmann learn to use a sabre and buckler in tandem, and suffer no off-hand penalty when wielding both items simultaneously. In addition, they learn early on to use their bucklers offensively, and receive a free Raise on all rolls using Attack (Buckler).

Wichmann has not been (and probably never will be) submitted for sanction by the Swordsman’s Guild. Therefore, in lieu of Guild Membership, students of Wichmann receive a free Rank in one of their Swordsman Knacks or, if they prefer, in Attack (Buckler).

Journeyman: A Wichmann Journeyman embraces the lessons learned as an Apprentice, and looks for any opportunity to bring his buckler into play as a weapon. Immediately after the Journeyman catches his opponent’s weapon in a Bind, he may immediately make an attack using Attack (Buckler) without spending an Action. If this attack inflicts a Dramatic Wound, the Bind is immediately broken.

Master: Masters of Wichmann are capable of a rapid flurry of attacks using all the tools at their disposal. By spending up to four Action Dice, the Master may attempt an attack sequence consisting of a Bind (Fencing), followed by a Pommel Strike (Buckler), followed by a Corps-á-Corps attack (which breaks the Bind), and culminating with a Lunge (Fencing). To initiate this attack sequence, the Master must spend a Current or Held Action Die to attempt the Bind. He may then spend an additional Action Die (even if it is not currently legal) to attempt the Pommel Strike, then another Action Die (legal or otherwise) to attempt the Corps-á-Corps attack, and so on.

The sequence will end prematurely if any of the attack rolls fail to inflict damage for any reason, or if the Master chooses not to spend an Action Die to continue it. After each step in the sequence, the Master may choose whether or not to force a Wound Check, but such a check must be made after the final attack in the sequence (even if it is not the Lunge).