Suri Luthola ("Heron's Beak", Spear)

Country of Origin: Probably from Drugaud originally, as practitioners are known to reside there despite the notorious isolationism of its inhabitants. Despite this, the Skarvali have somehow adopted this style and adapted it for their own use in driving off predators.

Description: Suri Luthola is intended as a spear style, though in theory its techniques could be adapted to any other long weapon able to thrust and slash. There are three primary guards in the style, with the spear held high and downward, held low and upward, and held straight from the chest toward the heart. Any one of these can be easily moved into from the others simply by lifting or lowering the weapon, fairly naturally. The stance used is generally low to the ground, taking advantage of the smaller target and increased potential force application of a bent knee.

The use of the spear in this style contains few particularly unusual or exciting moves. However, its distinctive characteristics are more in what is not done than what is: Suri Luthola, like the Heron that it takes its name from, relies heavily on the practitioner's cunning, patience, and speed. The ideal victory is one that the opponent never saw coming.

Notable moves:

Luthol Ulnar: This technique involves a feint with the spear to move a foe's weapon out of equilibrium in an attempt to guard, followed by a sudden flick of the shaft to the other side to force a wedge between a foe's arm and their weapon. While an agile or canny opponent might be able to disengage in time to pull back and recover their stance, a successful use typically results in a disarmed foe. This technique is very similar to Langen und Kurze's Langendrall, and it is probable that one took inspiration from the other.

Extra Information: While the technique is named similarly to Raaneka's "Heron Blade" style, they have little in common aside from perhaps their inspiration. They are likely unconnected.