Three-String Sword Prana

Cost: 1m per 2lhl; Mins: Performance 5, Essence 4; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Cooperative, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Vibrating Strings Defense

A gifted musician understands his instrument in the same way that an archer understands his bow or a warrior his sword. For a Dragon-Blood who knows this Charm, this sentiment is more than a metaphor, as the Exalted musician can now launch deadly attacks armed only with a sanxian, flute or any other musical instrument. The attack is targeted with the Exalt's (Wits + Performance) and has an Accuracy bonus equal to the Dragon-Blood's permanent Essence. The attack also has a range of a number of yards equal to the character's (permanent Essence x 20), and it inflicts a base damage of two levels of lethal damage per mote of Essence spent. The musician cannot spend more motes of Essence than he has dots in the Performance Ability. Although the attack is actually made of sound powered by Essence, it typically manifests in some more martial form according to the musician's will and personality, as well as by the potency of its damage potential. Such manifestations often appear as slashing swords, mailed fists, fiery arrows or even charging beasts, which come flying out of the Dragon- Blood's instrument hurtling toward their target. Because these manifestations have a physical component, such attacks can be parried or dodged like any normal attack, and an attack made with Three-String Sword Prana can be used in conjunction with a flurry as if it were any other form of attack. Because of the obvious nature of this Charm, it cannot be combined in any way with the Charm Blossom Hides Thorns.

Three-String Sword Prana is also a cooperative Charm, and multiple Dragon-Blooded who know the Charm can combine their powers to form greater effects. The characters' combined Essence is used to determine the maximum range, and the Accuracy bonus of the attack is equal to the highest Essence of any participant plus two per additional participant. Also, each participant can spend Essence up to the limit of his individual Performance Ability to purchase damage dice, with all the dice purchased added together to form the base damage pool. Generally, Dragon-Blooded may use this Charm cooperatively only if the instrument used is one large enough for all participants to play simultaneously. For example, the guzheng, an oversized lap harp, is about four feet long and has18 to 25 strings. While it is typically played by a single musician with the instrument on his lap, it is big enough for two players to play simultaneously. At the Storyteller's discretion, it might possible for a group of musicians to use this Charm cooperatively with separate instruments if they have extensive experience playing together in an ensemble (such as a gamelan orchestra or a quartet of street musicians). The maximum number of Exalted who can participate in the application of this Charm is equal to the highest Essence of any participant.