Knifeplay (skill)
| Skill | Rank | Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knifecrafting | Inept | 0 % | The art of the true Predators. |
| Stances | Inept | 0 % | Smoothly shift between the knifeplay stances. |
| Ambidexterity | Apprentice | 0 % | Focus on your offensive potential. |
| Series | Capable | 0 % | Swiftly combine your attacks. |
| Twin | Capable | 50 % | Combine two attacks at once. |
| Notching | Expert | 50 % | A crafting skill to notch your knife. |
| Pommelwhip | Expert | 75 % | They're easier to handle dazed. |
| Fleshbane | Virtuoso | 50 % | Cause a wound to become infected. |
| Triplet | Virtuoso | 75 % | Attack with three hits. |
| Spacing | Fabled | 20 % | Keep yourself beyond arm's length. |
| Teardown | Fabled | 40 % | Tear apart a helpless victim on the ground. |
| Trueparry | Mythical | 0 % | Your blade makes you impervious. |
| Bloodscourge | Mythical | 20 % | Your own essence is as good a poison as any. |
| Triad | Mythical | 60 % | Dispatch thrice as many. |
| Bladesurge | Transcendent | 0 % | The spirit of the fighter fully realised. |
Knife Combos
| Skill | Rank | Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lateral | Inept | 0 % | The basic slash. |
| Vertical | Novice | 0 % | A more powerful slash. |
| Swiftkick | Adept | 0 % | A swift and accurate kick. |
| Trip | Adept | 50 % | An effective method of bringing them down. |
| Jab | Skilled | 0 % | A piercing blow to the arms. |
| Feint | Skilled | 50 % | Fake out your opponent. |
| Pinprick | Gifted | 0 % | Effectively aim for their nervous system. |
| Raze | Gifted | 33 % | Attack the defences that would keep your sitara away. |
| Bleed | Gifted | 66 % | Drain the blood of your foe. |
| Flashkick | Expert | 0 % | A blow to leave them reeling. |
| Crescentcut | Expert | 25 % | An attack of brute force. |
| Lowhook | Virtuoso | 0 % | Spin low to render legs useless. |
| Veinrip | Virtuoso | 25 % | Tear into the arteries of a victim. |
| Gouge | Fabled | 0 % | A disfiguring slash. |
| Freefall | Fabled | 60 % | The blade from above strikes true. |
| Spinslash | Fabled | 80 % | A powerful double-cut. |
| Butterfly | Mythical | 40 % | A whipping acrobatic attack. |
| Tidalslash | Mythical | 80 % | Use your enemy's magic against them. |
| Knifecrafting | The art of the true Predators | |
| Syntax: | STRIP <corpse> CLEANUP <bone> CARVE SITARA FROM <bone> | |
| Details: | The sitara is the primary tool of the powerful Predators and the most iconic weapon of
their kit. Sitaras may be carved from the bones of almost any animal, although it is a long process that requires precision, time, and focus. You will also need a dagger on hand in order to do so. Once carved, the sitara is a unique weapon to keep in mind. Due to its smooth bone surface, only a single venom will adhere to it at any time and another one cannot be applied to it mid-attack. It is also rumoured that magnificent sitaras with unique properties of ice and fire have been carved in past times, and even more obscure rumours mention the existence of sitaras that cause damage against which there is no protection. Such rumours appear to hold no basis in reality, despite countless attempts to prove otherwise, and are often discredited as pure myth. | |
| Stances | Smoothly shift between the knifeplay stances | |
| Syntax: | CHANGESTANCE <stance> | |
| Details: | Your stance is an important aspect of Knifeplay, helping you strike and flow between each
blow without hesitation. These stances will also provide you with a substantial benefit to your attacks as per the list below. Stances: None - No benefit. Gyanis - A stance which improves the trauma dealt by Knifeplay. Vae-Sant - A nimble stance that speeds up all balance recovery. Rizet - A powerful stance designed to increase sitara damage. Ein-Fasit - A stance designed to bolster blunt and cutting resistance. Laesan - An agile stance enabling an extra strike when it is last. Upon completion of an attack, a sitara wielder will flow from one stance to the next, dependent on their previous stance and the attack used. Not all attacks will be as efficient when used from certain stances. | |
| Ambidexterity | Focus on your offensive potential | |
| Syntax: | ||
| Details: | This ability is passive.
Should the hand holding your sitara become crippled, you will be able to switch it to a free hand in order to continue attacking providing you wield nothing else. Additionally if you are not wielding a shield, your sitara attacks (except Crescentcut) will do additional damage. | |
| Series | Swiftly combine your attacks | |
| Syntax: | ||
| Details: | Syntax: SERIES <[ab] [param]> <...> <[ab] [param]> <target> [venom]
This ability allows you execute multiple Knifeplay attacks at once, within the same command. The attacks will be executed in the specified order against the chosen target, who can be a player or a denizen. If the attack can be targetted against a particular limb, it needs to be specified immediately after the attack name. The Pheromones skill is used in a series with the word 'pheromones' instead of its actual syntax. Optionally, the command can include a venom at the very end, which will be used for the first action within the combo that can deliver a venom. If no action can deliver a venom, then the venom will be ignored. Examples: SERIES LATERAL VERTICAL LATERAL target SERIES BLEED VERTICAL PHEROMONES target
SERIES LATERAL VERTICAL LATERAL target ACONITE
SERIES FEINT LEFT LEG CRESCENTCUT LOWHOOK RIGHT BLEED target
SERIES FLASHKICK FLASHKICK FLASHKICK target
| |
| Twin | Combine two attacks at once | |
| Syntax: | ||
| Details: | This ability is passive.
Through careful training, you now have gained the ability to brace yourself and deliver two Knifeplay attacks in a single balance. When combining attacks, the balance recovery will be equal to the slowest attack that is used after modifiers, by adding them up and applying them after each move. You can also make use of the following attacks from Predation: Pheromones, Mindnumb, and Pindown. | |
| Notching | A crafting skill to notch your knife | |
| Syntax: | NOTCH SITARA | |
| Details: | Carve a notch into the blade of your sitara to acknowledge your skill with the knife. The
first notch on your knife can always be carved. Once carved, you can SHOWOFF the knife to others and they will be able to see it. Apex bonus: You can continue to carve notches up to your current apex streak, allowing you to keep a permanent reminder of your skill and intimidate others. | |
| Pommelwhip | They're easier to handle dazed | |
| Syntax: | SITARA POMMELWHIP <target> | |
| Details: | While hiding in the shadows, you can leap out and strike with the pommel of your sitara
at your target, causing a moderate blackout. This will then remove you from hiding. This weapon attack will bypass the aura of rebounding. | |
| Fleshbane | Cause a wound to become infected | |
| Syntax: | FLESHBANE <target> [venom] | |
| Details: | This ability will use your spit to infect the target's flesh, causing wounds from your
sitara to heal poorly. As such, each time you deal an instance of cutting damage to your opponent with your sitara and rip open their skin, the wounds will periodically fester and reduce the potency of a restoration poultice applied to a limb. Additionally, any health gain or recovery by non-natural means will be reduced for the duration of this effect. You may use this ability while off equilibrium and can also deliver a venom with it. This weapon attack will bypass the aura of rebounding. | |
| Triplet | Attack with three hits | |
| Syntax: | ||
| Details: | This ability is passive.
Your abilities with the sitara have increased such that you are now able to perform three Knifeplay attacks in a single balance. Please see AB KNIFEPLAY TWIN for more detailed information. | |
| Spacing | Keep yourself beyond arm's length | |
| Syntax: | SPACING [OFF] | |
| Details: | This ability will cause you to constantly attempt to keep your distance from a foe,
allowing you be more resistant to blunt and cutting damage, and granting a small bonus to your chance to dodge. | |
| Teardown | Tear apart a helpless victim on the ground | |
| Syntax: | ||
| Details: | This ability is passive.
Little chance does a fallen opponent have against deflecting a small, nimble weapon like your sitara. While they remain on the ground with a broken leg, you will be able to bypass any attempt at parrying your knife. | |
| Trueparry | Your blade makes you impervious | |
| Syntax: | TRUEPARRY [OFF] | |
| Details: | With a careful eye and a wary pose, this ability will allow you to parry all of your
limbs at once. Be warned however, that this defensive stance requires your full concentration. Should you act or become unconscious, you will cease to parry all your limbs. This powerful defensive stance comes with a hefty drain to your endurance, and will be difficult to maintain for long stretches of time. Apex bonus: For each kill you have achieved, it will reduce the endurance upkeep cost of the skill by 5. | |
| Bloodscourge | Your own essence is as good a poison as any | |
| Syntax: | BLOODSCOURGE <target> [venom] | |
| Details: | Years of constant exposure to deadly venoms have tainted your blood to the point that it
is toxic to other people. With this ability, you will coat your sitara with your own blood before plunging it into your target. Your target will then suffer from the recurring effects of your toxic blood, afflicting them periodically with random venoms, before the natural antidotes in their own bloodstream are enough to purge their body. Having a high skillrank in Antidotes will grant a higher chance of finally purifying the blood of this effect. You may use this ability while off equilibrium and can also deliver a venom with it. This weapon attack will bypass the aura of rebounding. | |
| Triad | Dispatch thrice as many | |
| Syntax: | PERFORM TRIAD | |
| Details: | This ability will allow you to perform two random sitara attacks upon three random
enemies within your location. If any of them are protected by the aura of rebounding or a magical shield, then you will attempt to destroy those defences first. Triad can select from the following Knifeplay attacks: Lateral, Vertical, Jab, Lowhook, Crescentcut, Spinslash, Gouge, Flashkick, and Trip. | |
| Bladesurge | The spirit of the fighter fully realised | |
| Syntax: | BLADESURGE | |
| Details: | If you receive a substantial amount of damage while this ability is active, an extra
boost of adrenaline will heal you for a large amount of health and will grant you the benefits of all Knifeplay stances for a short period. Cooldown (when triggered): 195 seconds | |
| Lateral | The basic slash | |
| Syntax: | SITARA LATERAL <target> | |
| Works against: | Both players and NPCs | |
| Details: | A basic sitara slash, attacking the opponent and causing trauma to the target's torso. | |
| Vertical | A more powerful slash | |
| Syntax: | SITARA VERTICAL <target> [venom] | |
| Works against: | Both players and NPCs | |
| Details: | A slower, more damaging attack than the lateral. It does not target a body part, but it
can deliver a venom. | |
| Swiftkick | A swift and accurate kick | |
| Syntax: | SWIFTKICK <target> | |
| Works against: | Both players and NPCs | |
| Details: | This swift kick will do a small amount of blunt damage to your target and can strike
through magical shields. | |
| Trip | An effective method of bringing them down | |
| Syntax: | TRIP <target> | |
| Details: | With a hook of the leg and a quick elbow, this ability will allow you to throw an
opponent to the ground. If their head is broken, then the jarring impact of hitting the ground will deal blunt damage and leave them dazed. | |
| Jab | A piercing blow to the arms | |
| Syntax: | SITARA JAB <target> [LEFT/RIGHT] | |
| Details: | This hooking attack will deal high trauma to the target's arm. If no side is selected,
then one will be chosen at random. | |
| Feint | Fake out your opponent | |
| Syntax: | SITARA FEINT <target> <limb> | |
| Details: | This attack will cause your target to shift their parry to the targeted limb and will
briefly upset their balance. Cooldown: 10 seconds | |
| Pinprick | Effectively aim for their nervous system | |
| Syntax: | SITARA PINPRICK <target> | |
| Details: | This attack, aimed at a target's nerves, will cut them with your sitara and cause them to
become epileptic. | |
| Raze | Attack the defences that would keep your sitara away | |
| Syntax: | SITARA RAZE <target> | |
| Works against: | Both players and NPCs | |
| Details: | This ability will use your sitara to tear down defensive auras and abilities that protect
your target. It will raze the following in order: Reflections Magical shields Rebounding aura Speed defence | |
| Bleed | Drain the blood of your foe | |
| Syntax: | SITARA BLEED <target> | |
| Details: | This quick, multiple lashing attack with your sitara will cause your target to begin to
bleed for a light amount. This will cause two instances of damage and bleeding. | |
| Flashkick | A blow to leave them reeling | |
| Syntax: | FLASHKICK <target> | |
| Details: | This quick kick to the face of your target will cause a random hidden affliction to the
opponent, as well as dealing trauma to their head. If they are affected by all afflictions it can give, then it will cause a blackout of the senses. This attack can give the following afflictions: Confusion, dementia, weariness, stupidity, or dizziness. | |
| Crescentcut | An attack of brute force | |
| Syntax: | SITARA CRESCENTCUT <target> [venom] | |
| Works against: | Both players and NPCs | |
| Details: | A slow, looping attack, this sitara attack is well known for its deadly potency and heavy
damage when the opponent is hindered upon the floor. It can also deliver a venom if you so choose. The following afflictions will boost its damage: * (+10%) Each crippled leg * (+15%) A writhe-based affliction * (+15%) Paresis / paralysis * (+25%) Fallen * (+30%) Each broken torso/head * (+35%) Each broken arm/leg * (+40%) Shock * (+50%) Each mangled torso/head The afflictions are listed in order of what causes the least damage boost to the greatest, with each one stacking. Limb-based afflictions will stack for each individual one the target has. This attack cannot be dodged or diverted through Avoidance. | |
| Lowhook | Spin low to render legs useless | |
| Syntax: | SITARA LOWHOOK <target> [LEFT/RIGHT] | |
| Details: | This low, swooping attack will cause trauma to a target's legs with your sitara. If no
side is selected, then one will be chosen at random. | |
| Veinrip | Tear into the arteries of a victim | |
| Syntax: | SITARA VEINRIP <target> | |
| Details: | This vicious attack will aim at your opponent's throat, using the tip of the knife to rip
apart an artery within. They will begin to bleed periodically, and once it finally stops flowing with blood it will leave them both weary and dizzy. | |
| Gouge | A disfiguring slash | |
| Syntax: | SITARA GOUGE <target> | |
| Details: | The wound caused by this swift cut across the face will disfigure them, turning any loyal
minions against them. It will cause two instances of damage and trauma for one attack. | |
| Freefall | The blade from above strikes true | |
| Syntax: | FREEFALL <target> [venom] | |
| Details: | If your target is either in the skies or trees, and you are above them or next to them,
you can dive upon them with your sitara, dragging them down to the ground. Once upon the ground, they will be thrown to the floor and stunned while you stab them multiple times. This will cause three instances of damage, the first of such delivering a venom. While this ability can be combined with Knifeplay attacks, it can only be done at the beginning of a combo. This weapon attack will bypass the aura of rebounding. | |
| Spinslash | A powerful double-cut | |
| Syntax: | SITARA SPINSLASH <target> | |
| Details: | This confusing strike will randomly attack one of the arms or legs that your target is
not parrying with your sitara, dealing trauma to that limb. It will cause two instances of damage and trauma for one attack. | |
| Butterfly | A whipping acrobatic attack | |
| Syntax: | SITARA BUTTERFLY <target> [venom] | |
| Details: | This acrobatic and graceful attack will dismount you and let you move from an adjacent
location to attack your target with your sitara, delivering a venom upon its blade. This weapon attack will bypass the aura of rebounding. | |
| Tidalslash | Use your enemy's magic against them | |
| Syntax: | ABSORPTION [OFF] TIDALSLASH <target> | |
| Details: | This ability will allow you to absorb the harmful energies of magic-typed or arcane-
sourced damage directed at you and store them in your sitara. Once your sitara has absorbed enough energy and begins to glow, you may attack your enemy with the deadly tidalslash, dealing a large amount of cutting damage and a small amount of unblockable damage. Death by this ability will not leave a corpse behind. You may check to see how much magical energy your sitara has absorbed by checking it with WEAPONPROBE. Please see AB WEAPONRY WEAPONPROBE for more information on this skill. Apex bonus: For each kill you have racked up, the damage will be split more in favour of unblockable damage over cutting damage. It cannot be divided any further than 90% unblockable, 10% cutting. | |