Maula Kae
The breaking of joints and crushing of bones are the hallmarks of the Maula Kae, the wrestling style of the goliaths. For many years, the goliaths had no need to name it, but, when others began to learn it, those races insisted that the style and its attacks needed names and those below are what has evolved to fill that need.
Its students have learned that many so-called warriors become frightened children when relieved of their weapons or shown just how many weaknesses their bodies possess. Though weapons have their uses, most Maula Kae practitioners forgo them in favor of the more primitive and brutal combat to be found in a grapple.
Escape Artist is the discipline skill for Maula Kae, for even the most powerful warriors prepare to meet one with greater skill. The unarmed strike, claw, scorpion claws, mancatcher and grapple are discipline weapons for Maula Kae.
Note: A swordsage who adds Maula Kae to the list of disciplines he can learn maneuvers from removes Desert Wind from that list.
1st Level
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Bruising Grip
Maula Kae (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
Your vice-like grip leaves your opponents black and blue.
For the rest of your turn, your grapple checks using the Damage Your Opponent option do an extra 1d6 points of damage +1 point per initiator level
Confounding Strike
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You strike from an odd angle, leaving your opponent unsure what you'll do next.
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack against an opponent. If your attack hits, you deal normal melee damage and the opponent is unable to make attacks of opportunity against you until the end of your next turn. It can make attacks of opportunities against other characters as normal.
Intimidating Presence
Maula Kae (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You flex your muscles and make it clear that you are a threat to any who come within your reach.
While you are in this stance, you can make a grapple check any time you would make an Intimidate check.
Quick Escape
Maula Kae (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
In a flash, you release yourself from the bindings or opponent that restrain you.
You make an escape artist check as a swift action. If escaping a grapple or bindings, the relevant opponent makes an opposed grapple or use rope check respectively as normal.
2nd Level
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Weakening Strike
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 2
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You leave a visible dent in your opponent's flesh, rendering one of his limbs less able to fight you.
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack against an opponent. In addition to dealing normal melee damage with the attack, you deal 2 points of Strength damage.
Wrist Lock
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You apply pressure to your opponent's wrist, often wrenching his hand open and forcing him to drop whatever he holds.
As part of this maneuver, you must succeed on a melee touch attack against your foe. Resolve the lock as a grapple attempt, but you do not provoke attacks of opportunity. You can use your Dexterity in place of your Strength modifier in the grapple check, whichever is higher. You gain a +4 bonus on the grapple check. If you are already grappling, you do not need to make a new touch attack, you simply use the Damage Your Opponent option with the above conditions as a standard action.
If you win the grapple check, in addition to dealing your unarmed strike damage, you disarm your opponent of a light or one-handed weapon he is wielding. He retains hold of any two handed weapon he is wielding but takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls with it until he escapes the grapple or returns his hand to the weapon by winning an opposed grapple check.
3rd Level
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Elbow Lock
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 3
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You bend your opponent's arm behind him and torque the elbow, causing pain which only increases as he struggles to break free.
This maneuver functions like Wrist Lock (2nd level strike) except as noted here.
If you win the grapple check, you deal an additional 3d6 damage and are considered to be pinning the targeted opponent. Additionally, that opponent takes d6 damage on each unsuccessful attempt to break the pin.
Walk the Weapon
Maula Kae (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 3
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
You travel along the path of your opponent's weapon, using his own arm as cover to close for your attack.
You instantly appear in a square adjacent to a creature that attacks you with a melee attack, after resolving the enemy's attack. You cannot move into a space that is occupied by a creature or object. You can move up to 50 feet in this manner. If you cannot move adjacent to the target, this maneuver fails to function but is still considered used.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
4th Level
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Crushing Grip
Maula Kae (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 4
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
The blood of your opponent rings in your ears, then falls silent as you arrest its flow.
Your grip tightens and you feel your opponent's pulse slowing as you crush the artery against the bone. For the rest of your turn, your grapple checks using the Damage Your Opponent option do an extra 2d6 points of damage +1 point per initiator level.
Flying Fists
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 4
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 full round action
Range: 20 feet
Target: One or more creatures within range
Catching opponents off guard, you strike at those who think they are at a safe distance.
As part of this maneuver, you make all of your unarmed strike and natural weapon attacks as if their natural reach were increased by 5 feet and can not make attacks with manufactured weapons. Your unarmed strikes and natural weapons count as one-handed weapons rather than light weapons for the purpose of disarm attempts. This maneuver is a supernatural effect.
Lean Into It
Maula Kae (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 4
Prerequisite: 1 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
You roll your shoulder to accept the incomng blow as it lands, grabbing your opponent as his body follows his weapon
Immediately before an opponent strikes you in melee, you may take a -4 penalty to your armor class. The first time you are struck by an opponent within your natural reach after taking this penalty, you may make a grapple attempt against that opponent as an immediate action. The armor class penalty lasts until your next turn.
5th Level
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Adaptive Attack
Maula Kae (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 5
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
With quick reflexes, you correct a flaw in your attack before it fails.
Reroll any one attack roll or grapple, trip or disarm attempt with a +3 bonus.
Shield of Muscle
Maula Kae (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 5
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You have trained your body to redirect rather than avoid attacks made against you.
While you are in this stance, you may add half your Constitution modifier to your armor class in place of your Dexterity modifier, up to the Maximum Dexterity Bonus of the armor you are wearing. Additionally, entering a grapple now reduces your dexterity bonus to AC to +1 against opponents you are not grappling, rather than denying you it, as long as your Dexterity or Constitution modifier is positive.
Shoulder Lock
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 5
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You pull your opponent's arm behind his back and turn until you hear a loud snap.
This maneuver functions like Wrist Lock (2nd level strike) except as noted here.
If you win the grapple check, you deal an additional 3d6 damage and limits your opponent's ability to use that arm. For 1d3 rounds he takes a -3 penalty on attack rolls with a one handed or light weapon held in that hand and a -2 penalty on attack rolls made with a weapon held in both hands. A fortitude save (DC 14 + your STR modifier) negates the penalty, but not the extra damage. For each 5 you beat the opposed grapple check by, the DC increases by 2.
6th Level
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Disciplined Force
Maula Kae (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 6
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
You study your opponent and determine where best to strike.
Your base attack bonus becomes equal to your initiator level if it is higher (which may give you additional attacks). Addtionally, the DC for the save of any strike you use this round is increased by 3.
Full Nelson
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 6
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Your arms reach beneath your opponents' and yank them back when you apply pressure to it's spine.
This maneuver functions like Wrist Lock except as noted here.
If you win the grapple check, you deal an additional 2d6 damage and your opponent must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 16 + your STR modifier) or be stunned for 1 round. For each 5 you beat the opposed grapple check by, the DC increases by 2.
Strong Arm Defense
Maula Kae (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 6
Prerequisite: 2 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You knock away an attacking weapon, destabilizing your opponent.
If your opponent attacks you on his turn, you can replace your AC with the result of a grapple check as an immediate action. You must decide whether to initiate this maneuver before you know the result of your opponent’s attack (but after the attack is declared). Your grapple check applies to only one attack. You must be aware of the attack to which you will apply the effect of this maneuver and not flat-footed.If using this maneuver causes your opponent to miss, he can not make more attacks with that weapon against you this turn.
7th Level
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Avalanche of Blows
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 7
Prerequisite: 3 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 full round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
With a piercing whoop, you launch yourself at an enemy and deliver a lightning fast barrage of blows.
As part of initiating this maneuver, you make a charge attack. Instead of making a single attack at the end of your charge, you can make a three attacks at your full base attack bonus. You do not gain the standard bonus on your attack rolls for making a charge attack, but still take the penalty to your Armor Class.
Pulverizing Grip
Maula Kae (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 7
Prerequisite: 3 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn
Your opponent shudders in pain as nerves he did not even know he possessed cry out in protest under your expert pressure.
Each blow sends waves of pain through your opponent's body. For the rest of your turn, your grapple checks using the Damage Your Opponent option do an extra 3d6 points of damage +1 point per initiator level
8th Level
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Choke Hold
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 8
Prerequisite: 3 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Your arm slides around your opponent's neck and crushes the flow of air to its brain until he collapses.
This maneuver functions like Wrist Lock (2nd level strike) except as noted here.
If you win the grapple check, your opponent is pinned and helpless until the end of your next turn. A Fortitude save (DC 18 + your STR modifier) negates the helplessness but not the pin. For each 5 you beat the opposed grapple check by, the DC increases by 2. On its turn, the opponent gets another saving throw.
Human Shield
Maula Kae (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 8
Prerequisite: 3 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Seeing a weapon move towards you, you instinctively throw an opponent in its path.
When an enemy attacks you on its turn, you can attempt to make him strike the opponent you are grappling instead. Make an opposed grapple check against an opponent you are grappling at a -4 penalty. Your opponent gets a bonus on the grapple check equal to the enhancement bonus of the weapon being used to attack you. If you win the check, resolve the attack against the opponent you are grappling. If you lose the check, you are attacked as normal.
Touch the Untouchable
Maula Kae (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 8
Prerequisite: 3 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You feel your way through the tendrils of magic energy that lesser grapplers find impossible to penetrate.
While you are in this stance, you can partially bypass the effects of a freedom of movement spell. Rather than causing all grapple checks made by the affected person to avoid or escape a grapple to automatically succeed, they instead get a +10 bonus on those checks. This stance is a supernatural effect.
9th Level
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Remove the Head
Maula Kae (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 9
Prerequisite: 4 Maula Kae maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Full round action
Target: One creature
...and the body will die. With a sickening snap, you demonstrate this simple truth to your opponent.
This maneuver functions like Wrist Lock (2nd level strike) except as noted here.
If you win the grapple check, your opponent must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 19 + your STR modifier) or die. For each 5 you beat the opposed grapple check by, the DC increases by 2. On a successful save, you deal your normal Damage Your Opponent damage as well as an additional 20d6 damage.
Feats
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Goliath Wrestling
Your training in the Maula Kae discipline has taught you that raw power is useless if not applied correctly.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, one Maula Kae stance
Benefit: While you are in a Maula Kae stance, you can add your Wisdom modifier as a bonus on all grapple checks to a maximum of 1 + your swordsage class level plus levels in classes that advance your maneuvers known. You may add the same bonus to escape artist checks made to escape a grapple.
Special: Goliath Wrestling can be used in place of Clever Wrestling to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other special ability. If the substitution gives you a new option to use while grappling, that option is only available to you while you are in a Maula Kae stance.
Grasp the Situation
The knowledge of the Maula Kae discipline gives you unparalleled control over grapples you enter, even allowing you to respond to those who would seek to interrupt it.
Prerequisites: One Maula Kae maneuver
Benefit: As long as you have moved less than 10 feet since the end of your last turn, you gain a +1 insight bonus to your AC against adjacent opponents you are not grappling while you are in a grapple.
Primal Instincts [Tactical]
Prerequisites: Goliath Wrestling, BAB +6, two Maula KaeBenefit: The feat allows the use of three tactical options
Flight response To use this maneuver, you must have taken damage from an opponent you are grappling. During the next round, you may choose to subtract a number from all melee attack rolls and add the same number to rolls made to resist or escape a grapple. This number may not exceed your base attack bonus. The penalty on attacks and bonus on grapple avoidance and escape rolls apply until your next turn.
Spurn metal To use this maneuver, an opponent must attack you with a manufactured weapon while you are grappling him and miss. If he does, you may immediately make a grapple check to knock the weapon from his hand. If you win the grapple check, he loses his next iterative attack. If you win by more than 5, he drops the weapon as if you had disarmed him. Using this maneuver consumes one of your attacks of opportunity in the current round.
Wounded Prey To use this maneuver, you must pin an opponent and prevent his escape for one round. During the next round, you get a +1 bonus on grapple checks and damage rolls made as part of the Damage Your Opponent option and an additional +1 for each successful use of that option.
Maula Kae [3.5, Discipline; PEACH; now with PrC]
