Martial Arts of the Broken Land: Koppo

Many throughout the history of the Broken Land and beyond have sought immortality. One of these searches has become known simply as The Way. It grew out of the abilities of faith healers and chi channelers to mend the body. Followers believe that by balancing the internal humors of the body via alchemy and mediation they will achieve everlasting life.

This post is not about them.

In a land where the body can be repaired via strength of soul and the shaping of energy, dedicated study of the body is rare. Indeed, what would be the point? Of course there were still some who studied the mysteries of bone, muscle, organ, and blood. These physicians are generally considered inferior to the chi healers but in an emergency they are still called upon.

Legend has it that there was once a small village, plagued by raiders who styled themselves lords, yet acted more like tyrants. The town's warriors were long slain,  its spirit idol smashed, and ancestor's desecrated. The closest they had to protection was the town doctor, not even a chi healer. He did his best to heal those injured by the raiders' brutality, despite the injuries he sustained fighting in a battle long ago not his own, that troubled him still. One day the raiders returned. In their fury at the meager tribute they struck down a child. The doctor, fed up with murder of his friends and destruction of his home, challenged the leader of bandits to a duel. If he won they would leave this village forever and if he lost he would serve them in this life and the next. With a wry laugh the bandit leader accepted. Using his knowledge of the human body and his soldiering skills, the doctor left the bandit leader a broken heap. The bandits left the village and never returned. That is the rumored origin of what came to be known as Koppo, the bone-breaking style.

Koppo - 4 points 
Also known as the bone-breaking style. It was developed by a group of physicians who used their considerable knowledge of the human body to figure out how to best break it. It is an aggressive and brutal style, focusing on incapacitating a foe as quickly as possible. Practitioners wrench limbs and snap joints. Some forms teach devastating kicks to the spine or pelvis. Cinematic practitioners know how to magnify their strength, and use backbreaker instead of Wrench Spine.

Skills: Judo; Karate; Physiology
Techniques: Aggressive Parry; Axe Kick; Knee Strike; Neck Snap; Stamp Kick; Wrench (Limb); Wrench Spine
Cinematic Skills: Power Blow;
Cinematic Techniques: Backbreaker; Lethal Kick; Lethal Strike
Perks: Extra Options* (New hit locations: Jaw; Joints; Spine; Pelvis)

Optional Traits:
Advantages: Claws (Blunt); Trained by a Master
Skills: Diagnosis; First-Aid; Surgery

Extra Options*: a separate perk must be taken for each hit location

Common Maneuvers:

“Arm Breaking Strike”
This is a short series of maneuvers initiated by grapple a victim’s arm, then striking that elbow with a fist. It is sometimes learnt as a combination.
Combination (Judo Grapple/Arm + Karate Punch/Elbow) - Judo-6 + Karate-6.

“Breaking the Foundation”
This form involves grabbing the victim, throwing them to ground, and delivering a brutal axe kick with the intent of shattering their pelvis. It is sometimes used following a Judo parry or learnt as a combination.
Combination (Judo Grapple/Torso + Judo Throw + Karate Axe Kick/Pelvis) - Judo-12 + Judo-12 + Karate-14

Design Notes: This write up was inspired by a throw away line from Dominions 4, were it states that Kappas are masters of Koppo. After a (admittedly brief) google search, all I had managed to uncovered about Koppo was that it is not a single style but rather a description of techniques which targeted the skeletal system. This made me think that people with medical knowledge may develop such a style, especially if such knowledge is rare.