du Paix School

Paul du Paix is known to be one of the fiercest pirates on the seas, and his two fisted pistol style of combat has inspired many of his shipmates to follow in his footsteps. Being tought only in the heat of battle and through drunken bragging in bars, this style is surprisingly efficient for an informal school.

The du Paix style is more of a style of havoc than a style of combat. Pistols are drawn and fired at all vulnerable targets, and used as bludgeoning weapons up close and from afar after being discharged. Practitioners of du Paix always carry large gun belts filled with as many pistols as they can afford. You can never be too careful.

While the principal tenet of du Paix is that the only defense is sufficient offense, occasionally they do run out of pistols. Since they are trained to never reload in combat, a du Paix gunman who's shot his last pistol is no longer the roaring pirate of death he once was.

Country of Origin: Pirate (any nationality may purchase this school for 25 HP)

Guild Sanctioned: No. Instead, students gain a free rank in any one of their Swordsman Knacks.

Basic Curriculum: Firearms, Dirty Fighting

Swordsman Knacks: Pommel Strike (Pistol), Stop-Thrust (Pistol) [See below], Throw (Improvised Weapon), Exploit Weakness (du Paix) (Note: Throw (Improvised Weapon) may be purchased as a basic knack.)

Apprentice: To the du Paix gunman, the pistol is a melee weapon. Gain a free raise to all Attack (Firearm) rolls with a pistol when the target is within melee range (i.e. able to hit you with a sword). Also, you may draw and fire a pistol with one Action.

Journeyman: Mastering the two-fisted pistol shot is a favorite mid-combat activity for many du Paix gunmen. Roll and keep an extra die of damage when making a single attack with two pistols (bringing the total damage to 6k5).

Master: A master gunman of du Paix is brutal enough to make Legion itself blanch. For each kill the gunman has made this round and the last, gain an unkept die to all Intimidation rolls.

New Knack: Stop-thrust (Firearms) - When attacked, you may opt to spend a current or Held Action (not an Interrupt Action) to roll your Wits+Stop-thrust as an attack against your opponent. If you hit, roll damage as normal. If this causes a Dramatic Wound to your opponent, the attack they were about to make is cancelled without effect. Note that your firearm must be loaded to make a stop-thrust.

Last updated: April 1, 2004
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