The character was raised by a butcher to be a butcher. Their father taught them knife skills from the time they were young to help them learn coordination, manual dexterity, and eye-hand coordination to combat their disfigurements, and it paid off. Now they are practically extensions of their very arms.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with bladed weapons (not including axes).
+2 dice to all rolls with bladed weapons (not including axes). You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using bladed weapons (not including axes).
You also gain the following effects:
The spirit of Yoritomo Yoshitsune, the legendary samurai, has partially possessed Leon. After possessing Yoritomo's body in a trial to earn the recognition of the spirit of Japanese Valor, he made the spirit's recognition. Leon has been imparted with significant skill with the long arms he was known for using.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with Japanese Long Arms.
+2 dice to all rolls with Japanese Long Arms. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using Japanese Long Arms.
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:
Whenever I hold a sword or knife and am about to use it, it will glow with a red fiery glow when it makes contacts it will the person hit will hear a vain roar of a dragon.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with Swords and Knifes.
+2 dice to all rolls with Swords and Knifes. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using Swords and Knifes.
You also gain the following effects:
Combining the rough life of his misspent youth with the work that has come to define him, Mike knows his way around a tractor wrench or a breaker bar. He knows how to wrap an opponent around one, too.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with repair tools.
+2 dice to all rolls with repair tools. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using repair tools.
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: