Schools of Fighting

Rapier and long dagger — A cup-hilted rapier and accompanying long dagger.

In the world of 7th Sea, there are other talents in combat beside the use of magic. These are the Swordsmanship Schools: institutions that teach you the art of fighting with weapons. While any man or woman can, in theory, pick up a weapon and use it, the schools make you a master with the tool of choice, allowing you to carve your way through a battlefield with almost supernatural ease.

While schools are native to (and are located in) specific nations and regions, membership is not nationality dependent; anyone of any nation can learn the art of any school. Most people do not have the dedication to spend the thousands of hours it takes to achieve mastery of the sword. As such, most swordsmen tend to be driven by some cause or desire, rather then blind loyalty to a nation. While some swordsmen take this knowledge back to their nation to advance their cause, most remain independent of their former nation; instead becoming wandering swordsmen, dedicate themselves to the specific cause or quest that motivated them to become master swordsmen. To some this is the Church of Theus, to others it's the knight's code of Chivalry, to others it's revenge, and to yet others it's a simple desire for wealth and power.

Most schools - those that teach sword fighting (excluding Bonita and El Punal Occulto) - provide an additional benefit: membership in The Swordsman's Guild. At Guild Lodges, members can always find a warm bed and meal at low cost, information, clients, and like minded warriors to learn and teach. The Guild is also the only organization in western Theah, whose members are legally allowed to duel. As a result, many nobles hire out guildsmen to defend their honor at high class parties and as bodyguards. Membership allows even the poorest of farmers children to be able to attend the most extravagant parties and rub shoulder with the most powerful men and women in this half the world. Anyone can become a member of the guild, so long as they can prove their mettle, but school learners are automatically accepted after their "graduation". The Guild is not represented or accepted in the Empire of the Crescent Moon, Cathay, or any of the more distant places of the world.

Schools[]

The Fighting Schools of Theah
Name	Home	Description
Andrews	Avalon	A school of fencing that makes use of the Rapier
Donovan	Avalon	An old style of swordsmanship based around the Old Empire's Gladus and a Buckler
Goodfellow	Avalon	A style of Long-Bow usage based on the legendary exploits of Robin Goodfellow
Peecke	Avalon	A fighting style built around the use of the Quarterstaff
Robertson	Avalon	A fencing style based around using the Rapier in conjunction with a cloak to feint and entangle
Finnegan	Inismore	A style of pugilism (fist fighting) native to Inismore
MacDonald	The Highland Marches	A traditional style of swordsmanship native to the Highland Marches which makes use of the massive Claymore
Aldana	Castille	A style of fencing based around Rapier defense and teaches proper etiquette. It is popular among nobles
Gallegos	Castille	A style of fencing based around quick movements with a single Rapier
Gustavo	Castille	A style of fencing built upon mounted combat use of the Rapier
Soldano	Castille	A style of fencing built to use two Rapiers in conjuction with quick movements
Torres	Castille	A style of fencing built upon the use of the Rapier to attack and the cloak to defend
Zepeda	Castille	A style of fighting using the Whip to bind and disarm the enemy.
Hua Shao Ren Te	Cathay	Using a Jian (a double-edged straight sword), Hua Shao Ren Te uses quick movements and soft martial arts to defeat its enemies
Shan Dian Dao Te	Cathay	Using a Dao (a single-edged saber like sword), Shan Dian Dao Te uses heavy strikes and feints.
Zheng Yi Quan	Cathay	Zheng Yi Quan uses a combination of soft and hard martial arts to strike and defend, even against slow-moving ranged weapons.
Wu Tsain	Cathay	Wu Tsain uses techniques of soft martial arts primarily for self defense and never actually strikes its opponents; instead using their own strength against them
Tie Xiong Kung	Cathay	Tie Xiong Kung uses hard martial arts and decisive movements to deliver powerful blows.
Chin Te	Cathay	Using a Seurng Tjat Koen (a pair of long wooden rods connected by a chain), Chin Te uses precise movements to disarm opponents and strike them down.
Ki Kwanj	Cathay	This form uses all limbs to strike hard at the enemy where they least expect it. It's a form of kick boxing.
Shaktishaalee	Cathay	This form uses a Tulwar (an elongated scimitar) while mounted to great effect.
Ying Sun Wo	Cathay	This form of hard martial arts emphisizes fighting dirty; often going for the throat or eyes.
Chima Gongjian Shou	Cathay	This fighting style is a method of mounted archery.
Daphan	The Empire of the Crescent Moon	Using a scimitar, Daphan uses heavy strikes and swings to intimidate its oponents.
Marikk	The Empire of the Crescent Moon	This style uses a pair of knives to get close to the target where they cannot strike easily and attack relentlessly.
Sersemlik	The Empire of the Crescent Moon	This style uses two-handed swords and attacks with them at extremely high speeds at strange angles
Vahiy	The Empire of the Crescent Moon	This style actually is a method of horse back military command and is designed to allow for the fast distribution of orders during an engagement.
Yael	The Empire of the Crescent Moon	One of the oldest styles in the world, Yael uses two scimitars and attacks quickly with weight.
Drexel	Eisen	Based on the Highland Claymore style of fighting, Drexel makes use of an even larger blade - a Zweihander - and dirty fighting to destroy enemies
Durchsetzungburg	Eisen	This style of fencing uses a Rapier and scholarly knowledge of anatomy, tactics, and terrain to control the fight.
Eisenfaust	Eisen	This deadly style of fighting uses a broadsword to strike and a panzerhand to break enemy weapons
Gelingen	Eisen	This style of fighting was made to fight against the creatures lurking in the dark. It makes use of whatever is on hand and knowledge of anatomy to destroy monsters
Hopken	Eisen	This fighting style focuses on mastery of the crossbow
Loring	Eisen	Like Eisenfaust, this style uses the Panzerhand to break weapons, but it also uses the panzerhand as a weapon to cut into enemies and pull them off balance
Posen	Eisen	This style of cavalry uses a Boar Spear as a lance to strike at enemies from the safety of a horse
Steil	Eisen	Rather then a style of fighting, Steil is a school of command for the nobles of Eisen with an emphasis on diplomacy.
Unabwendbar	Eisen	Like Steil, this style is for command, but it emphasises scholarly tactics over diplomatic means.
Boucher	Montaigne	This is a form of dual-knife using fighting used by many criminals within Montaigne.
Gaulle	Montaigne	This style of fighting uses a rapier and a small three-bladed dagger. It makes heavy use of parrying and disarming
Rois et Reines	Montaigne	This style of fighting is one of the newest and uses a musket with bayonet. It is used heavily by the common soldier.
Tout Pres	Montaigne	This style of fighting uses a Rapier and whatever else might be available to strike quickly and oddly
Valro ux	Montaigne	The most common fighting style in Theah, Valro uses a Rapier to attack and a Main Gauche to defend
Bogatyr	Ussura	This style of fighting uses a woodcutters axe to cut people apart like trees. It also teaches you how to hunt via ambush.
Buslayevich	Ussura	This style of fighting grew out of the need to hunt with a bow and ride a horse.
Dobrynya	Ussura	This style is for wrestling enemies and prey to the ground.
Halfdansson	Vestenmannavnjar	This style of fighting uses the Harpoon and grew out of early whaling
Kjemper	Vestenmannavnjar	This style of fighting uses a Heavy Shield and a Longsword to destroy enemies.
Larsen	Vendel	A recent style developed by the Vendel, this fencing style uses a Rapier and a Lantern and emphasises the use of terrain to your advantage.
Leegstra	Vestenmannavnjar	One of the oldest styles, Leegstra uses any heavy axe or sword and wrestling moves to attack like a beast
Ramussen	Vendel	A Vendel style, this style is for the up and coming businessman and uses a pistol and good manners to protect the user.
Siggursdottir	Vestenmannavnjar	This style uses a hand axe to rip enemies apart up close or at range
Snedig	Vendel	This Vendel fencing style uses medical knowledge to better aim Rapier blows and was developed by a Vendel surgeon
Swanson	Vendel	This style of fighting makes use of the swordcane and underhanded tactics.
Urostifter	Vestenmannavnjar	A true Vestenmannavnjar style of fighting, this style uses two Longswords and relentless attacks to destroy opponenets
Ambrogia	Vodacce	A bastardization of Valro ux, Ambrogia uses a Rapier and a Main Gaunche for fencing, but adds in a degree of dirty fighting for fair measure.
Bernoulli	Vodacce	This style of fencing uses a Rapier interspersed with pugalism to wreck enemies
Cappuntina	Vodacce	This style grew up on the streets and uses throwing knives and dancing to great effect (at close or long range)
Lucani	Vodacce	The most direct of Vodacce styles, this style uses a broad sword and fists to pummel enemies
Villanova	Vodacce	This fencing style uses a rapier and a knife to parry and strike quickly and precisely.
The Friars	The Vaticine Church, The Objectionists	This form of pugilism focuses on using improvised weapons and fists to protect the life of your flock.
Rossini	The Vaticine Church, The Objectionists	This ancient form of combat is almost as old as the church. It uses a Halberd and wrestling techniques to protect the highest members of the church
Swords of Solomon	The Vaticine Church, The Objectionists	This fighting style is used by the elite soldiers of the church to protect itself and advance it's will. It uses a Rapier and a Shield to fight.
Shield Man	The Explorer's Society	Shield Men are the muscle of the organization, protecting the more scholarly explorers no matter the situation. They are trained to keep in perfect shape and fight dirty with anything on hand.
Syrneth Tinkerer	The Explorer's Society	Tinkerer's aren't so much a school of fighting as a school of surviving. They use academic knowledge to activate ancient Syrneth devices to protect themselves.
Desaix	The Knights of the Rose and Cross	This fencing style is a modification of Valro ux, using a Rapier and Main Gaunche. The style however is much more maneuverable (at the cost of heavier strikes). It focuses on parrying, feinting, and quick, precise strikes
Bonita	The Invisible College	This fencing school uses Rapiers and well trained bodies to fight. What it lacks in style and ability, it makes up for in stealth running speed.
Mortis	Die Kreuzritter	If it existed, Mortis would focus on remaining hidden and using a special folding knife called a Stiletto. It would focus on stealth and quick kills.
El Punal Occulto	Los Vagos	This style of fencing uses a Rapier to strike the enemies who find them and a Knife to strike the enemies who don't. They have a number of non-lethal techniques for enemies they wish to "speak" with.
Vipera ex Morsi	Rilasciare	This knife technique focuses on stealth to get where needed and dirty tactics to kill enemies.
Necare	Sophia's Daughters	This style is based around using a poisoned knife. They are also trained in spycraft to gain access to resources they require.
Rogers	The Pirate Nation	Rogers, as you might expect, is the very first fencing style and is based around dirty fighting with a Rapier. It hasn't changed much over the centuries and is therefore somewhat weaker than the mainland styles, but maintains its edge on the sea where; no matter the state of the ocean, the stances are strong.