Background
Houlun is a member of the Circle, a secret group of oracles whose bloodline was thought to have ended as a condition of peace after the First War. Having lived in hiding for the past few centuries, the Circle is scattered throughout Ozora, but most still call Ovog home. To the public, the Circle is no more. They exist only in the stories parents tell their children of the Time Before, when great titans roamed the land and Father Magnus spoke his first words to the world. In truth, no one knows how many oracles exist today. To the Ovogiin, Houlun is little more than a spiritual leader. Very few know the full extent of her power.
All oracles of the Circle can see visions of probable futures, but Houlun’s visions are most vivid—and most accurate—when she fights. Known as the Iron Oracle due to her proficiency with gunswords, especially her Graviton Sledge, Houlun is a woman of measured words and deliberate action. Her small frame and gentle demeanor belie her martial skill. The eldest member of the Circle, Suuliin ne’Gamiid, is said to have trained the Iron Oracle, both in Seeing and in dueling.
Fighting Style
Houlun practices an ancient fighting style called Hamasa El-zhabel, or “The Mountain’s Whisper.” According to legend, this fighting style was created by the djen of the northern steppes millennia ago. It is from these djen, the hawadi, that the Oracles of the Circle derive the Sight, and by weaving this Sight into the movements of the fighting style, Hamasa El-zhabel is able to be both seemingly effortless and unmistakeably complex. A master of Hamasa El-zhabel is a master of unpredictability. By incorporating the Sight, the fighting style has within its reportoire maneuvers that can ebb and flow like water, and be as calm as a whisper only to crash like an avalanche a moment later.
Favored Weapon
Graviton Sledge
Duelist Technique: Sight Beyond Sight
Reveal the first card you draw during each of your turns.
The first Skill card you play during that turn gets -X Cost. X is the revealed card’s Armor value. This can’t reduce a card’s Cost below 1.
Favored Weapon Technique: Graviton Sledge
You start the game with the Graviton Sphere token.
At the beginning of the match, place the Graviton Sphere token anywhere within Bishop 1 of you. The Graviton Sphere is considered an obstacle. Additionally, it can’t leave the space it’s in by another player’s effect.
When you take Initiative, you may pay 1 Momentum to move your Graviton Sphere “Jump Queen 1.”
When any foe plays a Skill card while adjacent to your Graviton Sphere, each maneuver on that Skill gets -1 Range, to a minimum of 1.
Strengths
Houlun’s primary strength is, unsurprisingly, her ability to manipulate the future. Her Technique, Sight Beyond Sight, grants her a discount on her first Skill card each turn. Many of her Skill cards allow her to manipulate the top card of the deck, so good planning can allow for some explosive plays. Houlun players will want to maximize this advantage by using present turns to set up future turns. Keeping an eye on the future is key to having success with Houlun.
While Houlun has the Graviton Sledge in her hands, she has access to some of the highest damage cards in the game. Foes who aren’t well-prepared for the slow-to-fast tempo changes that her Skill cards can provide will easily fall victim to these attacks. With the granted Technique Graviton Sphere, Houlun can zone enemies who seek to fight on her terms, punishing them for improper positioning. The range penalty that the Sphere provides is useful, but don’t overlook the strength of controlling a maneuver-blocking obstacle. Try to make sure your opponent has to work harder to hit you.
Weaknesses
Few duelists rely on their Techniques as heavily as Houlun, so expecting a big gain out of Sight Beyond Sight and missing can easily foil your plans. Because many of Houlun’s Skill cards have high cost, failure to properly interpret the future can be a major weakness in Houlun’s game. As any oracle knows, if you’re uncertain of the future, plan for anything and everything. It often pays off to hold onto your finishers until the exact right time.
As with her Skill cards, the Skill cards granted from Graviton Sledge are high-risk/high-reward cards. She can put out some devastating damage, but if her attacks don’t hit, they can leave her low on Momentum and wide open for counterattacks. With her Graviton Sphere, don’t make the mistake of forcing a path that isn’t going to happen. If you notice your opponent is making sub-optimal plays in an attempt to lure you off your gameplan, don’t be afraid to abandon your Sphere to punish. Even if it’s not obvious from the game, the Graviton Sphere will invariably force your opponent to play differently. But if you become overly reliant on the Sphere, you’ll miss opportunities to take the advantage. Houlun and the Graviton Sledge have some tricks, but they’re not as versatile as other Skill sets. Make sure you are able to adapt your strategy should another path present itself.
