Kasumor
Toukai Arashi (Destruction Storm, Sabrehandle Greatsword)
Origin: Developed to trick opponents who assume that heavy weapons cannot be fast, Toukai Arashi was first practised by a group of mercenaries in the south of Kasumor. Perfected over the timespan of multiple generations of mercenaries, these warriors, also known as the Eternal Storm, were enlisted into the army permanently because of their prowess and were gradually absorbed into it.
Principles: One of the two heavy styles of weaponmastery in Kasumor, Toukai Arashi focuses on gaining and keeping momentum with your blade, parrying your foe's attacks and delivering dreadfull blows in the same motion. The basic position is with your greatsword in two hands aside your body and letting the blade spin around. The basket on the hilt prevents your hands falling victim to piercing attacks, which would cripple an adept of this style even more than conventional greatsword fighters. However, adept of this style also use shoulder bashes and pommel hits to augment their repertoire to be more unpredictable.
Discipline: Adepts who practice Toukai Arashi are very proficient in whirling their blades with precisely the speed that the blade is where it needs to be. Masters can adjust the speed of the rotation so precisely that they can knock arrows out of the air, let an ally fire an arrow through the whirling of the blade and even disarm an opponent with a sudden burst of speed.
Notable Moves:
Eternal Nightmare
The ultimate move of the Toukai Arashi style, you start swirling your blade around like normal, then moving in perfect tandem with your blade, making use of every movement of your body to give your sword more momentum. After the adept gained enough momentum, he leaps in the air, giving his blade one final surge of speed, then launches a underhanded slash that is so fast and powerful, that with true masters, a pressure wave can be felt by bystanders. This move typically rips through all kinds of armor and most weapon can't withstand the impact well enough to block the blow. However, while executing this move, the adept has no time to defend, so this is mostly used as a finishing blow or in a moment of desperation. This move was used by Marius Earthguard during the duel at the Grand Ball, but was not launched at full force.
Sudden Gale:
One of the more utility based strikes in this style, the adept uses his strenght, together with the downward motion of sudden crouch to give the blade a sudden surge of speed during a parry, launching the blade upwards, hopefully surprising his opponent enough with the increased force of the impact to drop his weapon. This strike is usually followed by the Upcoming Storm strike.
Upcoming Gust
A followup strike, this is a strike which is used after an adept's weapon has recieved a burst in momentum, either by preparing it by swirling it in place or by using another Toukai Arashi technique. This technique is a quick horizontal slash at chest hight aimed to take the opponent offguard, striking and drawing blood before he can react. Most of the time, this is best used after a strike that is aimed at distracting or disadvantaging the opponent.
Sudden Hail
A dash with the hilt of the weapon, preferably against the head of the opponent, to daze him. This move is used when the adept loses momentum and needs time to start up again. However, this move combined with momentum makes for an impact rivaling that of a maul.
Notable Users:
Shïnguard Marius Earthguard: Currently Shïnguard of Kasumor in the year 346, Lord Earthguard is a master at Toukai Arashi. After learning it from his father, he aparently disappeared for 3 years at the age of 16, before returning as a great warrior whose prowess with the basket greatsword couldn't be matched.
Extra:
Notable Weapons:
Kuroyume, the blade of the black dream.
A basket greatsword with a blade made of pitch black shintouite and a basket made of ornate steel, this weapon has been in the Earthguard royal family for over 250 years. Its maker is unknown. Current wielder of the blade: Marius Earthguard (340).
Ketatamashii Yuugiri (Piercing Mist, Epée)
Assai Hoshi (Crushing Stars, Two Handed Axe)
Origin: Originally develloped to cut through hard rock and wood, this style is one of the oldest styles known in Kasumor. Coming from Verandil Forest and the Shintouite mountain range, the militairy was impressed by the sheer destructive power this style puts forth. It has since been refined and made usable for combat. Although a very destructive style, this style is not seem alot due to its tendency to also cause lots of collateral damage.
Principles: The main principle is using the momentum gained from high swings together with the weapon's natural weight to deliver crushing blows. Together with the ability to judge the correct angle of the axe's cutting edge and focusing all its energy upon a weak point, there is not alot that can withstand a direct blow from an Assai Hoshi master. However, due to its requirement to lift the axe up high and the sheer weight of the weapon, this style requires a sturdy and powerful physique.
Discipline: Combining high blows with quick jabs with the end of the staff, this style is all about catching your opponent offguard for a moment, allowing you to lift the axe and rain destruction over your opponent. Once you hit somebody, even against his defences, it is most likely over. If the blow is blocked, it will still break and pulverise bones, as well as giving the Assai Hoshi master a second chance to deliver the deathblow.
Notable Moves:
Shooting Stars
By barraging the opponent with a flurry of quick jabs at his vitals, the enemy is rendered breathless or recovering for a short time, allowing the Assai Hoshi adept to launch a more devastating blow.
Half-Moon
A defensive strike, the adept grips the axe very close to the blade, enabling him to swing the blade around more easily, abeit with the sacrifice of valuable reach. The retaliatory blow is most often aimed at the head, aimed at causing a concussion to land a more powerful blow afterwards.
Meteor Strike
A slow strike, this strike is only advised to use against opponents who are recovering or against enemies with towershields, who cannot retaliate as fast. The Assai Hoshi adept lift his weapon high above his head and brings it down upon his foe, delivering a devasating blow that more often then not kills a foe outside when a direct hit occurs.
Passing Comet
The pinnacle of the Assai Hoshi style, the Assai Hoshi adept starts with his weapon high, then spinning around, changing his downwards blow in a sideways one. Due to the amount of momentum in this blow, it is even more deadly then the Meteor Strike. However, this attack puts an enormous strain on the adept body, so this attack is to be used with care. Also, due to the wide circular motion of this attack in combination with the inability to fully control this attack , it is unwise to use in combat with lots of allies nearby.
Notable Users:
Prince Wayve Earthguard: The son of Nyllana Earthguard, Wayve is a master of the Assai Hoshi style, even at a young age. Having a very sturdy physique, he is capable of effectively using the style in a variëty of situations, even when surrounded by allies. It is said that his strikes could even split 300 year old Shintouite.
Extra:
Notable Weapons:
Akaitaiyo, Battleaxe of the Red Sun.
A heavy weapon, it consists of a heavy Shinouite blade, together with a block of pure Shintouite behind it, giving it a deadly momentum when swung correctly. Its has a ornate staff section which is around 1.50 meters long. This weapon has been in the Kasumori royal family for at 250 years. Its maker is unknown. Current wielder of the blade: Wayve Earthguard (380).
Uzushio (Whirling Tides, Halberd)
Origin: Developed to accomodate the Cloudiz race for underwater and aerial combat, either mounted or unmounted. Being one of the more all round disciplines, it was created by Kasumori cooperating with the Cloudiz, eventually making its way into the armies of Kasumor. Because of its Cloudiz origins, many halberts are still adorned with carvings of Cloudiz.
Principles: A very broad and all-round discipline, it focuses on using the two different ends of the weapon to make the attacks unpredictable and being able to take on a large variety of foes without having too much of a handicap. Also, as with alot of the Kasumori disciplines, there is alot of swirling involved to make efficient use of both ends.
Discipline: The discipline itself focuses on using the two ends of the weapon in tandem with eachother. The axe-spike end is mostly used for mounted charges and crushing sweepes, while the other end is mostly used for aerial dives. These attacks are often combined, chaining a charge or dive with a sweep while the opponent is recovering.
Notable Moves:
Seagull's Dive/Seagull's Retort
An aerial maneuver, the adept flies high up into the sky, letting herself fall with the anterior tip of the weapon downwards, plunging the tip into the opponent, causing gruesome damage. This is followed by pulling the tip out, swirling the weapon overhead, using the axe to deliver the killing blow.
Piercing Waves/Bludgeoning Tsunami
A charging maneuver, usable either mounted or in flight, this attack requires alot of horizontal momentum. The attack consists of a normal charge with the axe-spike end, followed by a sweep of the posterior spike, which is meant to daze the opponent. The adept then used the momentum gained to use the axe part of the weapon to inflict major damage.
Whirlpool of Steel/Crashing Wave
One of the most difficult moves in the style to pull off completely, the adept sweeps her halbart in a circular motion, pushing back any opponents. She then uses the momentum plus her own strenght to use the entirety of her weapon as a jumping pole, holding on to her weapon upside down. She then makes a backflip, causing the axe to do a full rotation with the most momentum possible provided by her own weight and the length of the weapon, crushing any opponent unlucky enough to get hit.
Notable Users:
Princess Nyllana Earthguard: Current heir to Kasumor in the year 346, she is a master of the halbert, using it in tandem with her ability to fly to harry and outmanouver opponents. Word has it that she even defeated her father, Marius Earthguard once, which is a remarkable feat.
Extra:
Notable Weapons:
Aonami, the halberd of the blue wave.
A halberd with a slender, but sharp blade made of dark blue tinted shintouite and fitted with a sharp shintouite tip at the other end of the weapon, this 1,7 meter long weapon has been in the Earthguard royal family for over 250 years. Its maker is unknown. Current wielder of the blade: Nyllana Earthguard (360).
Tsuin Heikou (Twin Balance, Kusarigama plus Towershield)