Kotin's Notes

The Library

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As you enter the library, you can't help but notice the immense volume of books, scrolls, and scraps of ... material.  You get a sense that a great store of knowledge is now within your grasp.  You also see a calendar.  ​

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The walls are made of bookshelves.  Tiny beams of light illuminate various places within this vast, seemingly endless room.  As you step in, a beam of light hovers over you.  Within this light you gain a sense of warmth and and are invigorated to study.  This little beam grants you complete and comfortable illumination as it follows you around the room.  

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Nooks are made into every where you could imagine studying.  In what appears to be the center of the room, rest two large falcate-shaped tables arranged with a space between the two on either side.  Scraps, manuscripts and books are organized along both the inner and outer curves of each table.    Some of which include: Guides for the Novice, Herb Compendium, Player Shops and How to Win an Auction.  The most used text appears to be Enemies Far and Near.

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A common thread among all the material directs you to a singular work in progress.  The text is opened.  You pick it up and look at the cover.  The title reads:  Defying the Gods: One Battle at a Time.  

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As you open the book, you begin to read.  You gain the impression that a lot of work and research has gone into the text.  It begins, "Common combat knowledge is outdated, obsolete.  What people believe to be true is not and what they believe to be folly should be mastered ..."  

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As you read through the text you sense that the writer has spent countless hours, both on and off the field, pouring over writings and reflecting on personal combat experience.  

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The writer indicates that he initially used the commonly accepted combat methods, only to find himself reliant on powerful magics that must be sought out prior to every battle.  However, when the magics wavered in any way during combat, death would soon follow.  Visiting Lady Lorminstra is not the most pleasant of experiences.  

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Reading on, you discover how his methods began to change:  "I fought silverback orcs today.  A nasty beast.  During battle, I relied heavily on my Surge of Strength to ensure victory.  However, the battles dragged on and on and I found myself too tired to swing anymore.  I have tried multiple skills I learned in town such as bearhug, tackle and quickstrike.  All left me thoroughly drained.  These maneuvers just aren't efficient enough to use in actual combat.

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"Upon returning to Town Center," it continues, "I observed someone who was knocked down struggle to get up.  She thrashed about wildly while onlookers laughed and jeered.  Then, her eyes changed.  They became more focused, more intent.  With a single-minded determination, she leaped to her feet in a single, well-practiced motion.  The onlookers stopped there jeering as a hush washed over the crowd.  

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"I immediately took in the significance of this maneuver.  Could this focused rage be used in battle to break stuns and from me from times of momentary fear?  Could this rage be used to fight?  More importantly, could this rage be controlled?"

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You read on to learn how the writer developed ways to control his rage in battle.  One successful strategy was to gather all the enemies into one location, then let lose a fierce battle cry and race into a bloody melee with his claidhmore in hand.  In this way, you learn, all the enemies were killed in one spot.  The writer also discusses the use of bottle necks.  He describes how he would cause the enemy to believe he was cornered.  Then spring forth with a vicious repertoire of swings, kicks and feints to destroy the enemy while staying relatively near his beginning point.  

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Further on, you learn something else.  This appears to be the most contradicting idea to, what he calls, Common Combat Knowledge.  He discovered the use of plate armor in conjunction with a focused rage.  He conitnues, "Common Combat Knowledge dictates the use of the highest armor in which one is properly trained.  This notion has some superficial merit.  Being untrained for armor does lead to multiple hindrances, including lower superficial defense.  Wearing heavier armor, in which one is not trained, will greatly increase the chances of being hit.  However, the heavier armor reduces the amount of damage taken and the severity of the wounds received.  

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"After numerous trials by fire, I have decided to return the rolaren brigandine to the kind soul that lent it to me in favor of my squid plate.  This is a steel metal breastplate I found on a massive granhk down in the Cellar.  I have been hunting there since I reached my 17th training.  I was warned by many veterans to never go down into the Cellar on accounts of the grave dangers.  Initially, I agreed with this advice as my first foray resulted in a quick death.  However, I was in brigandine at the time.  The granhks are hardy, or was it the plate they were wearing that made then so fearsome?

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"The combination of rage, plate and a claidhmore led to the development of raids into the Cellar and made Cellar hunting routine.  I was able to do things other much more trained and knowledgeable fighters could not do.  However, it was their obsolete knowledge that held them back, not the enemy."

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You read on to learn about research into flaring armors.

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"Today I was tasked to dispatch a population of zombies.  The bless on my weapon ran dry.  I could not locate a cleric to grant another blessing.  I did, however, notice that the zombies were literally killing themselves on my armor."

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Reading on, you discover many research projects stemming from this experience.  You find references to a Journal and you remind yourself to look for it later.  

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It appears that the text is still unfinished, a work in progress.  However, you gather an understanding that the results of the present research end with the conclusion that the most efficient way for a warrior to hunt is to use the combined power of full plate with flares; a heavy weapon, particularly a claidhmore; and ample amounts of focused rage with sufficient stamina to maintain the fight for as long as is needed.  

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It appears that this newly developed martial art has been named, "Rage Plate Do."  

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