CLIMBING
The rugged explorer seeks no path barred,
To climb without a challenge would leave them scarred.
Rock climbing, rope climbing, and more,
A skill that aids in every climbing chore.
Stairs and ladders require no skill,
But challenging climbs will test your will.
With a height assigned and a challenge to face,
You'll need enough skill to make the required checks in this race.
Once you start climbing, there's no turning back,
To the top or bottom, you must stay on track.
Up and down commands can switch your direction,
But don't get exhausted or face falling's affection.
When energy is low, rest and regain,
Climbing downward will spend less of your strain.
At 50% of the climb's height, you'll move higher,
But completing the skill checks is still required.
Melee attacks can only hit at the climb's ends,
Fending off or parrying, the climber depends.
Bad rolls or disabling effects can risk your grip,
But don't let go or you'll take a fatal trip.
If the climb is too tough, don't be ashamed,
Ask for help, and a rope can be hung and claimed.
Climbing is a skill that takes time and energy,
But the view from the top is worth every entry.
VIALI
From Constantia they fled
Oppressed by the theocracy
The Viali sought a new life ahead
And found Ivial their land of destiny
With the help of the Fasa, they settled in
And soon began to build their towns and forts
Their success and growth were a win
And Ivial became one of the largest territories, of all sorts
Their appearance, tan and bronzed skin
Dark brown hair and brown or blue eyes
A people with beauty and grace within
And culture emphasizing honor that never dies
Polite and proper, their manners extreme
Roundabout statements, no direct question asked
Emotions displayed with an intense gleam
Melodramatic, yet sentimental to the last
Tragedy their passion, in literature and plays
Opera that tells stories of love and pain
The Viali express their feelings in many ways
A people of heart, a people with a great domain.
CLOAK PARRY
In the world of combat, there's a trick to be found,
A way to turn the tables when an attack is inbound,
It's called Cloak Parry, and it's a skill to be learned,
By those who wear cloaks, for whom the tide can be turned.
When a strike comes your way, and you can't dodge or block,
Wrap your cloak around it, and take a different stock,
You might yank their weapon from their grasp with a tug,
Or at the very least, make them stumble and lug.
This skill requires tactics, the Duelist's art,
And a cloak to wrap around your beating heart,
For it's not just a fashion, it has a use in the fray,
To throw off the attacker and make them pay.
But be warned, the cloak may take damage in the bout,
And need to be repaired before it's pulled out,
And it's not a sure thing, just a chance to avoid,
A parryable attack, that would otherwise have destroyed.
So remember, when in combat, and in need of defense,
Cloak Parry might just be your saving pretense,
With a balance loss of just five, and a cooldown of ten,
It's a skill worth learning, again and again.