The Way of the Placid Lake was founded some centuries ago in the tranquil forests of the Nora’bree. It is said that the elven hero Aramil spent much of his life defending his homeland from cruel raiders and foul undead, but his greatest foe with the turmoil within his own heart. While taking solace in nature, Aramil found that he could quiet his mind and heart only by focusing his meditations on the tranquility of a small, crystal clear pond.
Seeking to perfectly replicate the calm, soothing tranquility of this tiny lake hidden deep in the woods became Aramil’s life’s goal. His martial arts gradually took on the traits of stillness as his will began to impose tranquility on the world around him. Drawn to the oasis of peace, other soon gathered around him, learning his ways. One day Aramil opened his eyes only to realize that a new school of martial arts had been born.
Key Skill: Insight.
Discipline Weapon Groups: Monastic, Natural, Unarmed.
Stillness
The techniques of Placid Lake focus on stillness and tranquility, peace and meditative calm. As such, it is a slow and deliberate discipline. Techniques which have the stillness descriptor embrace this concept. When a disciple initiates any technique with the stillness descriptor, they willingly gain the Immobilized condition until the start of their next turn or for the duration of the technique, whichever is longer. Freedom of movement and similar effects cannot overcome this condition, as the disciple willingly chooses to accept this limitation.
Any form of movement, whether voluntary or not, ends the effect of any technique with the stillness descriptor.
Placid Lake Techniques
1st-Level Techniques
- Calm Waters, Still Mind [Strike]
- Drawn into the Shallows [Strike]
- Heron Stands Among the Reeds [Counter]
- Meditate upon the Pinnacle [Boost] [Stillness]
- Rest upon the Rock [Stance] [Stillness]
- Tranquil Dance [Stance] [Stillness]
2nd-Level Techniques
- Ice Melts into a Brook [Counter] [Stillness]
- Ripple Distorts Reflection [Strike] [Stillness]
- Serene Palm Reversal [Counter] [Stillness]
- The Lakeshore Crumbles [Strike]
- Unseen Ripple [Boost]
3rd-Level Techniques
- Lotus Grows in Shallows [Stance]
- Sediment of Silt [Strike]
- Still Water, Quiet Water [Boost]
- Tranquil Surface as a Mirror [Counter] [Stillness]
4th-Level Techniques
- Crane Observes as Stone Drops [Strike]
- Halcyon Waters, Surface Unbroken [Counter] [Stillness]
- Reflections and Echoes [Boost] [Illusion (Figment), Stillness]
- Ripple Becomes the Wave [Strike]
5th-Level Techniques
- My Foe Slows Before Me [Strike] [Stillness]
- Still Waters Drown the Unwary [Stance] [Stillness]
- Unseen Splash [Boost]
- Water Erodes the Hillside [Strike]
6th-Level Techniques
- Rain Weathers the Stone [Strike]
- Surface Holds No Reflection [Boost] [Illusion, Stillness]
- Tide Swallows the Stone [Strike]
- Waters Close Behind [Counter]
7th-Level Techniques
- Lotus Floats in Serenity [Stance]
- Reflections Without Substance [Counter] [Stillness]
- The World Slows Around Me [Boost] [Stillness]
8th-Level Techniques
- Surface Reflects Nothing [Boost] [Illusion, Stillness]
- Waves Erode the Cliff [Strike]
9th-Level Techniques
- The Winds Still, The Waves Calm, The World Rests [Strike] [Stillness]