Мастер ка'ток

Выдержки из нарнского фактбука, не канон, но все равно впечатляет. Попробуем представить, что собой представлял Та'Лон (поскольку из вавилонских нарнов, он был как раз мастером ка'ток, которого мы могли видеть).

Ka’Toc Master

A Ka’Toc master is more than just a warrior; he is a student of what it means to be Narn and what his place is in the galaxy. A Ka’Toc Master never calls himself оne. He is aware that there is always something more to learn and something greater to strive for than what he has already attained. To consider оne’s self a master of anything is to entertain arrogance of the highest level. It is a deception that оnly blinds the deceiver.

It is this denial of truth that must be avoided at all costs, as a Ka’Toc Master is taught early оn that the hardest thing in the universe to cut is the web of deceit that lies like a shroud over all reality. To become a true master of the Ka’Toc is to learn to see through the deceptions and glimpse the universe for what it is- infinite and filled with promise. All of this is done in terms that revolve around the weapon skills of the Ka’Toc, a symbol of the honour and martial traditions that date back to long before the Centauri came to the Narn Homeworld.

Most who wield the Ka’Toc do so with honour, but few have the patience or foresight to seek out a Ka’Toc Master and endure the arduous training that can hone their skills into something that transcends mere fighting. A true Ka’Toc Master can do things with his weapon that other Narn would never believe, mostly because other Narn could never comprehend the mental and physical enlightenment that makes such expressions of skill possible.

Focused Fury: оnce per day, a Ka’Toc Master can reroll a missed attack using his Concentration skill ranks instead of his normal attack bonus. This оnly replaces his Base Attack Bonus; attribute, feat, and other bonuses to his attack roll still apply. This feature is оnly usable with a Ka’Toc in melee combat; it does not apply to any other attack or with the presumably rare instance of a thrown Ka’Toc. At 4th level, a Ka’Toc master gains the ability to invoke his Focused Fury twice a day. Regardless of the result of the reroll, it must be accepted and cannot be combined with any other ability that might grant a reroll in combat.

Balance оn the Blade: When armed with a single Ka’Toc in both hands, a Ka’Toc Master’s sense of balance and placement in combat becomes fluid and effortless. This allows him to sidestep, parry, and riposte attacks with flawless timing, becoming a constant motion of steel and skill. Ka’Toc Masters of 2nd level learn how to harness this combat form, replacing their normal Defence Value each round with a Balance skill check made at the beginning of their turn. This is a move equivalent action, leaving them just enough time for a single attack, but they become very difficult to strike back.

Balance оn the Blade оnly affects a Ka’Toc Master’s DV in melee combat. He still has his normal Defence Value against ranged attack or special attack forms. Balance оn the Blade is difficult and exhausting to perform as well; it can оnly be used for as many consecutive rounds as the Ka’Toc Master has prestige class levels. There must be at least оne round spend at rest (a full round action that permits the Ka’Toc Master to defend himself normally but not move or attack) before Balance оn the Blade can be called upon again.

The Price of Honour: A Ka’Toc Master knows that when the moment to strike comes, it must be taken at any cost. The galaxy does not offer a given truth more than оnce; to not seize the true moment of attack is to be denied victory. Even if it means being struck or killed as well, an opening in a duel must be taken without hesitation and with everything оne has. To hold anything back is to not be truthful with the galaxy in return.

A Ka’Toc Master, upon missing an attack, may spend hit points equal to the margin of error оn the attack roll and succeed in his strike. These lost hit points represents being hit with an opponent’s weapon, so any special qualities that attack might have (such as poison) will also occur. The Price of Honour can оnly be used оne against a given foe each day; the proper opening to take such a perfect stroke оnly occurs infrequently.

Shattering Slash: A Ka’Toc Master knows that some duels need not be fought to the death when an opponent can be defeated simply by taking away his ability to attack. When striking at a foe’s weapon, the Ka’Toc Master does not draw an attack of opportunity and may reroll any 1s оn damage against the weapon if he successfully strikes it. This ability does not affect other inanimate objects, even if they are being held by an opponent, unless they are being wielded as weapons against him.

One Soul, оne Strike: The ‘ultimate’ truth, if оne truth can be considered such a thing when the оnly reality of a Ka’Toc Master’s search for perfection is that he will never achieve it, is revealed at this level of experience. By following the rhythm of the universe during a fight, a 5th level Ka’Toc Master can, оnce a day, feel the exact right moment to attack and pour his entire warrior’s soul into оne lethal attack. This strike can never be taken as non- lethal damage, it does not roll to confirm a critical hit, and no class feature can be used to reroll it or ensure that it hits successfully.