Martial Art Styles of Selan

While knowledge of martial arts is not common in much of Selan, there are a number of different styles available to those who know where to learn them. Originally created by elves during the Hannarian Empire, a wide variety of styles and modification of styles have evolved within the Warlon Empire. These variant styles were carefully guarded by each ruling house, and only taught to those found to be truly loyal and obedient. Each House has a different style that incorporates fighting stance, weapon katas, general inclinations of combat, and preferred maneuvers. These styles eventually became so ritualized that two nobles facing off could determine to which House the other belonged simply by his fighting style. The following is a short list of the most common house forms and their general grouping in the weaponless combat forms.


Hast Nost’morOffensive
Hast RastelOffensive


Hast LisetDefensive
Hast BultassDefensive


Hast RivenBalanced
Hast KilseNBalanced
Hast HollackBalanced
Hast DaemarBalanced


While the elves have been perfecting and specializing their martial arts, priests of the god of War have also been studying hard. Most priesthoods devoted to him have developed at least one of the forms of martial arts, usually a variant of Balanced. While there are often similarities betweens forms, each usually has its own unique style. The priests of Toln in E’gath call theirs the “Arts of Toln” while priests of Cele’dast call it, roughly translated, “Focused Fury”. These priesthoods usually only teach these lethal arts to Protectors, Priests, and very loyal Devotees. They are rare in a world of armed combat and should remain so. However, most temples have tutors or classes in brawling, wrestling, and unarmed combat.

With the various styles of martial arts so rare in Selan, many unknowingly lump all advanced martial arts with elves. Lesser maneuvers are generally considered unarmed combat and ignored. But when a character enters a strange fighting stance, most warriors take note.



BACK