longer.blue

✯༝┉˚*{𝕻𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕬𝖇𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖊𝖘}*˚┉༝✯ "𝘋𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨...." ──────────────────── ⋆⋅✯⋅⋆ ──────────────────── {𝕾𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖞} Dione's primary method of combat is swordplay that has been refined over the years to handle a wide variety of opponents encountered in combat; from rival warriors that he crosses paths and blades with, to the monstrous and often ravenous creatures of the night. Although he prefers to wield a heavier blade, the prince favors technique and precision, often catching opponents off-guard with flashy and dynamic displays of offense. After spending an extended period of time training at Bladehenge, the Avalon Royal Knights' proving grounds, the prince has mastered the ancestral swordsmanship techniques of the Avalon Royal Bloodline and incorporated them seamlessly into his personal fighting style. Respecting his fundamentals, however, he incorporates a number of specialized stances in his swordplay. Listed below are the stances typically used by Dione in the midst of battle: ⚔︎Heavy Metal—A balanced and straightforward stance that emphasizes self-defense and technique. While relatively simplistic in nature with its focus on diagonal slashes and piercing attacks, its efficacy cannot be understated, especially against enemy swordsmen and those who use short-range bladed weaponry such as daggers and wristblades. In practice, it resembles traditional longsword techniques. ⚔︎Speed Metal—An elegant and swift stance that greatly emphasizes speed above all else. In this stance, Dione's sword becomes as light as air and capable of stabbing and piercing through even rock solid defenses, making it extremely effective against armored foes and those who carry shields in battle. In practice, it resembles traditional fencing used by duelists who favor epees. ⚔︎Power Metal—An aggressive and forceful stance that greatly emphasizes power above all else. In this stance, Dione's sword becomes an inflexible blade of destruction and he incorporates more unarmed strikes with his swordplay, which is most effective against brutish and monstrous opponents. In practice, it resembles traditional swordplay techniques used by warriors from a certain mountainous kingdom. ⚔︎Thrash Metal—A sweeping and flowing stance that greatly emphasizes defense above all else. In this stance, Dione's sword becomes an extension of his body that allows him to react and parry with more precision, leading to more painful counterattacks. This style finds its uses against spearmen and those who wield polearms in combat. In practice, it resembles traditional techniques that are used by bladesmen from a certain island kingdom. ──────────────────── ⋆⋅✯⋅⋆ ──────────────────── {𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝕬𝖗𝖙𝖘} The secret techniques of the Avalonian Royal Family, the Blade Arts were passed down throughout the age to each successive generation of monarchy and those they were to take as either consort or retainer. Through their willpower and the channeling of their life force, these techniques allow the practitioner to generate a positively charged energy that counteracts most supernatural powers, in particular the ones harnessed by the creatures of the night. Although their potency is evident, the Blade Arts can only be harnessed through the use of swords enriched with certain metals; common steel blades are ineffective and other weapons are useless in the hands of the royal dynasty. Whenever a Blade Art is used where the practitioner is propelled towards a given target, a series of ethereal afterimages is often left in their wake. Listed below are a number of Blade Arts Dione has mastered: ⚔︎Vorpal Blades—A projectile-based technique designed for ranged combat. Although the most basic technique in the Royal Knights' repertoire, its effectiveness in battle cannot be understated enough. Through a concentrated sword slash using a blade charged with life energy, an ethereal projectile is shot towards the opponent, cutting into them with scything force. This technique is typically used with impunity, usually to pressure opponents who choose to fight at a distance. ⚔︎Spiral Slash—A spinning slash technique designed for breaking overwhelming numbers surrounding the user. When surrounded by multiple targets within close proximity to him, Dione can unleash a volatile spinning attack that strikes everything within range of his sword. This technique is typically used as a counteroffensive to prevent aggressive attackers. ⚔︎Rising Force—A rising slash technique designed for reaching airborne foes and launching grounded opponents upward. When met by a flying opponent, Dione can leap upward to greet them with a wide crescent slash, leaving a trail of sparkling energy in its wake. The wide arc of the swing can also catch any opponents that happen to be in close proximity to the prince, launching them upward. ⚔︎Focused Thrust—A lunging technique typically used to close the distance between the practitioner and their target. When met by a distant opponent, Dione can thrust his sword forward in a sudden burst of speed and rushing force. This technique, while meant for catching opponents off-guard, can also be used to push aside crowds of gathering monstrosities. ──────────────────── ⋆⋅✯⋅⋆ ──────────────────── {𝕬𝖕𝖔𝖈𝖗𝖞𝖕𝖍𝖆} Dione's enhanced life force and understanding its limits through careful experimentation has provided him a number of other supernatural abilities that do not require his use of his sword to activate, but still draw upon the same source of mana to fuel them all the same. Though not as overt as the Blade Arts, these special abilities allow him to command the flow of battle as he sees fit, oftentimes acting as desperation maneuvers in otherwise hopeless situations. When activated, these abilities generate a sparkling aura from which Dione takes the sobriquet: "The Stardust Prince". Listed below are the current apocryphal powers Dione has access to: ✯Telegnosis—An extrasensory ability that Dione uses to perceive and detect magical phenomena and entities that would otherwise be unseen to the naked eye. While this ability only works within his natural sensory range, its sensitivity cannot be understated as it is capable of piercing through illusions and glamours with little effort. However, as this ability requires a certain level of concentration to maintain, Dione can be overwhelmed by a multitude of supernatural creatures appearing all at once or by divinities when they shed their physical avatars. ✯Combat Focus—An ancient technique used by the Royal Knights during their crusading days, developed as a countermeasure against the darklings. As the user wears down magically-inclined beings through battle, their mana begins to leak from their wounds. With a focused breathing technique, the user can rasp away this loosened magical essence and absorb it into themselves for later use. When encountering certain magically-enriched materials such as magicite gems, Dione can draw them towards himself. ✯Starlight Sphere—A means of safely traversing dimly lit areas when torches or lanterns are in relatively short supply. When Dione concentrates his energy into his hand, he can produce a glowing sphere of scintillating light, illuminating his immediate surroundings. In the presence of illusory walls or beings, the light can dispel them when pressed against them. In combat, it can be used to temporarily blind a person who are within striking distance of Dione. ──────────────────── ⋆⋅✯⋅⋆ ──────────────────── {𝕻𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝕾𝖐𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖘} As Dione is an experienced adventurer, he has access to a number of disparate skills in combat, exploration, and occultism that would allow him certain tactical advantages. Below are a sampling of skills at his disposal: Sword Mastery—Dione excels in swordsmanship due to it being his instinctive fighting style and mastering the techniques of the Blade Arts at a young age. As such, he is capable of wielding swords and other similar weaponry with near-superhuman power, speed, and technique. He is adroit enough to deflect arrows and bullets away from him, precise enough to cut through small moving targets, and skilled enough to strike his enemies with non-lethal attacks with his blade. He is also capable of spinning his sword in place and throwing it at long range to pin down mobile enemies. Melee Weapon Expertise—As a student of the Royal Knights’ fighting arts, Dione’s training also included traditional knightly weapons using swords, polearms, daggers, axes, and bludgeons against mundane and supernatural threats alike. While not an absolute master of each style and weapon variant, Dione knows well enough to dispatch his foes with maximum efficiency. At times, he is capable of picking up improvised weapons from his environment and use them to great effect as well. Marksmanship—Dione can also use a number of ranged weapons like firearms, bow and arrows, and projectiles in the midst of combat, though he operates more efficiently without them. As such, Dione prefers to use them in situations that require a good deal of distance between himself and his chosen target. Hand-to-Hand Proficiency—Dione can use a number of brawling and grappling techniques to defend himself against aggressive opponents, as well as supplement his fighting style with maneuvers that grant him mobility on the battlefield. Acrobatics—Dione can traverse through some of the most uneven terrain or architectural sprawl using a number of freerunning and gymnastic techniques. He can also use them to evade certain combat situations. Magical Knowledge—Dione has become familiar with magical phenomena throughout his journey, being able to detect and identify the schools of magic at work. However, he is only knowledgeable of magics that are commonplace throughout the realms.