Remembering his training, getting memories as to how they were taught to simply feel no emotion aside from hatred and anger towards the enemy, to have no feelings and see them as the shit stain of the earth it kicks in farther and further when he is picking up the artifact and remembering the monsters that were people that he killed during the war. Practicing the anger of yesteryears past he attains a new height of skill and is able to use it with weapons used by soldiers of both past, future, and present.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact and you are engaged in combat with Military Melee Weapons.
Your attacks with Military Melee Weapons deal +3 Bonus Damage. Armor is fully effective against this damage.
You also gain the following effects:
Using a quick flourish to confound his opponent, Eric strikes quickly incapacitating his opponent.
This stems from his hours of practice with armed combat. It seems to be an almost unnatural gift. Touching a weapon he tunes in and is dialed into whatever combat he experiences.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with melee weapons.
+2 dice to all rolls with melee weapons. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using melee weapons.
You also gain the following effects:
The culmination of training within the realms beyond, mastering the art of using one specific weapon type to its fullest potential. This specifically entails mastery over Great Weapons, and the complete and utter dominating use of it in combat, to a supernatural level. . .for a Hunter must not settle for mere mundane mastery.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with Great Weapons.
+2 dice to all rolls with Great Weapons. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using Great Weapons.
You also gain the following effects:
Rather than aiming for brute force, each strike is executed with a controlled finesse that speaks to a deep understanding of the human anatomy. The blade seems to caress the air as it arcs through a mesmerizing series of loops, spins, and thrusts. With each movement, Machida's eyes remain fixed on his opponent's form, as if reading the very essence of their being.
"Itamae style: Usugiri" draws inspiration from the precision and finesse displayed in the traditional Usugiri cutting technique employed by Itamae. Just as the Itamae utilize their delicate knife skills to create thin, precise cuts in delicate ingredients, Machida applies a similar philosophy to his swordplay, but in a combat context.
The connection becomes evident in the way both techniques emphasize control, accuracy, and respect for the subject. In Usugiri, the goal is to cut ingredients so finely that their natural flavors are preserved, demonstrating the chef's skill in enhancing the essence of the food. Similarly, Machida's approach is not to inflict severe harm but to precisely incapacitate his opponent while minimizing undue suffering.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with melee weapons.
+2 dice to all rolls with melee weapons. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using melee weapons.
You also gain the following effects:
Zephyren collects blades almost obsessively, perhaps because they are some of the least detectable weapons. Or, he does it instinctively because a bird is never complete without its talons. In result, he's also the most proficient with blades.
On weapon usage:
People have guns (even in Canada, they're just quieter about it), but Zephyren legally cannot own one, and traveling with those can be such a pain for those with licenses anyway. He very much prefers a quieter option too. Also, blades are far more versatile (he wants to toss a bunch of vegetables in the air one day and try to slice them all). Never bring a knife to a gun fight? Think again.
On blade proficiency:
Fighting isn't the only thing Zephyren uses blades for. If anything he's rarely had to fight outside contracts; he mostly uses knives in the kitchen, and since he has been cooking from a very young age, there's no surprise that this is what he's the most comfortable with. In any video games, he predominantly uses a knife or sword. Don't ask how he's gotten through Resident Evil; let's just say he had to face a lot of corpses up close.
On bird talons:
Thankfully Zephyren has never been attacked by a bird, but from what he's read, talons can be really sharp. They have to grip onto things after all, even if it means they'd puncture their target.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with knives and daggers.
+2 dice to all rolls with knives and daggers. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using knives and daggers.
You also gain the following effects:
Benny is adept at striking from the shadows. His stealthy attacks are silent, quick, and deadly.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are in shadows or darkness and you are engaged in combat with melee weapons.
Your attacks with melee weapons deal +3 Bonus Damage. Armor is fully effective against this damage. You may React to and Defend against firearms and other projectiles.
You also gain the following effects:
The ninja is a master of a wide variety of martial weapons. They kill quickly and quietly.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with melee ninja weapons.
+2 dice to all rolls with melee ninja weapons. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using melee ninja weapons.
You also gain the following effects: