The Four Foundations

The Four Foundations are the subconsciously acknowledged tools for battle devised throughout generations by Soulborn. Like their Soul Weapons, the Foundations are talents engraved into their genetics and are inherent to their repertoire. There is no limitation to the number of these varying foundations that exist - as the many factions, small-time families & schools scattered across the Soul Plains have devised their varying means to apply their basal principles to different styles, affinities & techniques. While all four are seldom used by a singular Soulborn, they are all intricately-developed under the notion of prevailing in a singular cast of activity --- combat.

Zanjutsu is defined by the arts utilized to employ one's weaponry, namely their Soul Weapon. Contrary to its name, Zanjutsu tends to be used for any weaponry a Soulborn may possess & wield with proficiency. They are naturally gifted at grasping the movements displayed around them, and can easily reformat them to suit their needs. It is not uncommon to see a Soulborn devise a style that is a derivative of something else, though they struggle to pass on this knowledge. This is because their physiques are inherently capable of replicating minute muscle motions and repeated procedures/patterns they've discerned, but they're incapable of breaking down what they do not mentally grasp into a 'one step at a time' instruction.

As a result, most seasoned Soulborn have preliminary and 'true' styles. Their true styles are the genuine demonstration of their Zanjutsu and are often veiled from the common eye, lest a Soulborn is in the presence of allies or individuals they intend to kill.

Traditionally, Zanjutsu are arts purely devoted to physical action (backed up by Hakuda and/or Hoho) or spiritually intertwined, utilizing one's Methods. In the hands of a Soulborn using their Affinity this is even more deadly, as they can suffuse even complex style techniques with affinity-influenced reiryoku. This manifests itself in the form of extending the range of one's attacks spiritually (be it as a literal extension, or a pressurized burst) or deviations in the parameters inherent to micro-movements of an action, such as the sudden increment of physical force, speed, defensive potential or even skill demonstrations. This is the closest thing to traps inherent to Zanjutsu styles that do not devote themselves to it, such as what's used by the Den of Stalkers or more stealthy Soulborn.


The second Foundation among the Four, Hakuda is entirely relative to motions intended to bring unencumbered harm to an adversary. This is by far the most basic application of the Foundations, as it utilizes purely the internalized reiryoku of oneself to enhance parameters and enable supernatural feats. It is a great ally to Hoho - as when combined with the speed of an individual's steps, Hakuda follows up with tremendous power. It allows even the most frail and muscularly barren-looking of Soulborn to deliver impeccable amounts of force, as they are inherently fueled by the potential that Hakuda brings. Some even forego the use of Zanjutsu to devote themselves to this art -- typically those who have a Soul Weapon that appears as greaves, dusters or some other bodily armament.

Among the more popular qualities of Hakuda is its factor of intuition. Motions employed by Hakuda are not a frequently practiced measure but rather a natural response employed by a Soulborn who has come to unconsciously grasp a style of fighting, and it is the easiest thing for them to teach to one another. Techniques from it are usually combined with Projection at higher levels, enabling short-range junctures of air or reiryoku to assist one's movements, and brief demonstrations of explosive, area-influencing force. It is also the easiest to weave one's affinity into, as the raw expressions of reiryoku release are merely overlaid by influenced.


Feats balanced in the way of movement, Hoho prides itself entirely on stepping and the general fluidity of the form. It allows even the burliest of Soulborn to move on the principle of 'flowing toward your opponent without being struck', and challenging an approach head-on. Employment of movement in general can vary between steps, leaps or even purely spiritual dashes, but they are all performed at the breakneck, and incredibly difficult to act upon concerning the spiritual releases. This field is most developed by more elusive Soulborn, who employ their affinities to add 'visual disturbances' to their Hoho.

Higher-end Hoho specialists seem to be able to employ it in any position or predicament, using it as a catalyst to jettison or help evade/land something by forced locomotion. Techniques can also be multi-faceted, tending to involve 'repeats of the same motion' to get higher output, be it in speed or disruption; this is especially common for prolonged feats of Hoho, which usually accrue momentum that's sustained for an extended period. As access to it is opened through possession of the basic method for Movement, it is arguably the most important Foundation due to being woven into a Soulborn's every daily motion, even amid their Hakuda & Zanjutsu.


By far the most arcane of the Foundations, Kido only began to be considered by the subconscious of Soulborn less than three centuries ago. Created by the founders of the Projector's Guild, Kido makes use of a specially-produced reiryoku-conductive parchment, formed into kanji-inscribed tags that store the affinity of their wielder until used, as well as a specific function in accordance to the kanji (such as 'Wave', 'Barrier', 'Blast'). This allows them to impart applications of their affinity in very basic manners of employment, frequently as formed objects, blasts & waves of reiryoku, lathering of an object, and so on. It is by far the most versatile but also most complex, but extremely rewarding as it is the other most common medium for reiryoku that a Soulborn can use. They can form a vast range of things atypical to average demonstrations of some affinities, such as launching a fire bolt or a compressed wave of wind.

Most Soulborn use these to create temporary tools, lasting only a few seconds, to land a decisive strike or unexpected one lathered in their Affinity. Traditionalists use this as their wakizashi, bows and other samurai-esque side arms, but they are also an inspiration for shinobi & kunoichi types that have cropped up more recently. Overall, these tools permit them access to a variety of different equipment -- such as shuriken, kunai, smoke bombs, logs & so on that leave no trace beyond injury, making them especially useful for those who cannot afford affinity-attuned iterations of that equipment, or who do not want to expend their physical accesses of it due to them being a finite resource.