Crystals (Anheim's Tale).

I've recently invested thousands of gold coins in Spell Crystals, ones enchanted with Divine Power, Greater Magic Weapon (for combat gloves) and with Divine Favour.

I've two pairs of combat gloves, one useful with Greater Magic Weapon, and other for when fighting without Greater Magic Weapon.

When under effect of these spells, my unarmed might rivals some stronger armed and armoured fighters in the land.

... and this can be enhanced even more with other potions and spells, like Barkskin, Cat's Grace, Owl's Wisdom, Bull Strength, Mage Armour, Bless, Stoneskin, Haste and Shield.

-=- Combat Gloves enchanted with Greater Magic Weapon. -=-

-=- Combat abilities without and with crystals -=-
-=- (Crystals of Divine Favour, Divine Power and Greater Magic Weapon).-=-
-=- Can be enhanced even more. -=-

4th Dan in Karate/Jujitsu (Anheim's Tale).

I've been participating in some fights near the Dead Horse Inn.

My role was mostly to observe and learn that way, as others fought.

Then I've trained in Kenna's Dojo, incorporating what I've seen.

Either way, my Mind and Body improved by training Martial Arts (Mostly Karate & Jujitsu).

My unarmed strikes are faster (4 attacks / 6 seconds, and before it was only 3 attacks
/ 6 seconds) and more accurate (+1 hit chance for each of 4 attacks), my Mind is stronger (+1 Will Save), Reflexes faster (+1 Reflex Save) and Body tougher (+1 Fortitude Save & +11 Hit Points). A little of kobudo & other weapons skills improved as well, as did my resistance against spells and other minor tricks as stunning attacks too.

I've thought about it and understood that my training level at this moment is sufficient for the rank of 4th Dan, 4th Mastery Level in Martial Arts.

(For Martial Arts & Ranks: click to see).

I am starting to learn the legendary technique of Dim Mak (also known as Touch of Death or as Quivering Palm in Western Faerun), it is one of requirements for 5th Dan rank anyway, aside of following:
- Faster Running,
- Unarmed Attack Precision, (+1 to hit chance for each of 4 unarmed attacks),
- Armed Attack Precision (+1 to hit for each of 3 weapon attacks),
- Faster Armed Attacks (3 attacks / 6 seconds, instead of 2 attacks / 6 seconds),
- Tougher Body (+11 Hit Points),
- Avoiding Hits (+1 to Armor Class).

I'll also try to learn the feat of Blind Fighting. It's useful not only when blindfolded, but also against invisible creatures, including magicians with Improved Invisibility and Darkness spells. These foes are very difficult to defeat, when invisible, when given time for using their tricks in preparation for the actual fight.

Archery Target (Kenna's Tale).

So, long story short, there was an Archery Contest in Norwick, a part of regular fighting contests under the name: 'Fight Night'.

Most of people bet on Lence Arnimannes, a well known and experienced Ranger and Cartographer of the area.

I met there a friend - Amanda - and suggested to ally with her against Lence. She thought it could be amusing.

I was looking at the archery targets with my bow in hand, and spoke my concern:
- 'What if I miss badly and hit Lence?',
- 'That's a sound plan, do that. I might... mis-throw also... who knows what can happen?', answered Manda,
- 'Maybe he will lose his focus and concentration?'.

After a while of such archery innuendo, Manda told me to not go too far, as we could have been in his attention.

I've agreed to be cautious, so nobody would get hurt.

-- Kenna, 6th Dan Weaponmistress of the Katana Sword, always in training.

Ken of the Woods (Character Description).

Current Stats & Equipment:

Desired build: Monk 12 / Fighter 1 / Weaponmaster 7.

At level 12 monks get diamond soul power, which grants resistance to spells (SR 22 at level 12).

Game-mechanics-wise, there's no point in advancing over level 7 with weaponmaster class, as there are no worthwhile powers above this level. Level 7 weaponmaster is optimal. The only reason to have 8+ levels in weaponmaster class is roleplaying reasons.

Worthy feats:
- Blind Fighting - helps a lot versus invisible or hardly seen foes, including magicians who cast invisibility spells.
- Mounted Combat - mounted combat is superior to combat on feet,

If Ken will have too few feats to choose from as he levels, mounted combat feat can be acquired from appropriate magic item. At least for a while, until he learns that feat.

(Not sure if it's possible at all to learn both all neccessary weaponmaster feats, blind fighting and mounted combat at the same time, within this build).

Worthy skills:
- Ride: mounted combat is superior to combat on feet, and riding skill is symbolically related with skill in sex (in medieval ages, when a boy wasn't skilled in horseback riding at agre of 7, it was said that he was suitable only for being a priest/cleric).
- Tumble - for defensive acrobatics,
- Discipline - for resisting advanced combat tricks/feats,
- Concentration - for roleplaying reasons and for resisting taunts,
- Heal - not only for dressing wounds, also for roleplaying martial arts (knowledge of anatomy helps with striking at vulnerable points at enemy's body),
- And perhaps Lore - for roleplaying reasons, knowledge of Kara-Tur and other, and for identifying items to sell them better,

Weapon of choice: Eastern Scimitar - Liuyedao: Known as the 'willow leaf saber', this is the most common form of Kara-Turan (Far Eastern) saber, featuring a moderate curve along the blade.

Character Idea:

Western Warrior Yogin, who practices Eastern Martial Arts.

Planned romance with Crystal.

Brother Of Adeli and of Anheim.

Every Bard is a Girl (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

People joke about bards and their so-called meekness.

There are bards who do not admit to being such, even.

I have a half-orc bard friend, Bon Ausbourn, with whom I regularly go to deeper giants territory, where we do fine.

Should I call him 'Bonnie'?

Many think that every bard is a girl, my beloved diary.

-- Yours, Adeli.

Valley of Red Mist & Beyond (Adeli's Tale).

My Beloved Diary,

With my adventuring Bard friend named: 'Bon Ausbourn', Half-Orc, we ventured deeper into the Giants Territory, into the 'Valley of Red Mist' and deeper.

I spent a lot of gold coins for expensive potions in preparation (Ghost Visage, Haste and Keen Edge), but in the end didn't have to use these. Cheaper potions (Bull's Strength and Barkskin), Bon's inspiring songs, and Bon's bardic spells were more than enough.

It's not worth selling these potions, as the merchants would offer far too low price when compared to the price I paid, so I will keep them for future use, for when there's some kind of more or less unsuspected challenge, or other emergency need.

What we found in the Valley and beyond, was tougher and larger giants, and their tamed wolves (worgs).

I can ride horses pretty well but don't have mounted combat experience, so a helm I bought earlier proved to be very useful. After this adventure, I must admit that having a mount in combat is an Advantage. But what to do with a horse when one has to enter underground cave or other dungeon?

-=- Helm for Mounted Combat. -=-

-=- Mounted Combat vs. Mr Hill Giant. -=-

After we returned from the trip, and sold the spoils, Bon made a small performance - and I've enjoyed it.

-=- Adeli & Bon, Half-Orcish Bard. -=-

-- Yours, Adeli, Rapier-Fencer, Adventuress and a Skilled Horse-Rider. -=-