Penpahg D'Ahn

Grandmaster Penpahg D'Ahn was a monk of Tabot who settled in Ashanath in Thesk in the 9 century DR. He created a distinctive martial art practiced centuries later by Turkel Bastan and his student Danica Maupoissant.

Description
He passed on his teachings to his followers, who then passed them on to the next several generations. His teachings, which consisted of fighting and concentration techniques, were still active far into the 14 century DR, mainly through scrolls that had been distributed around the land.

Martial Art
Penpahg taught a powerful martial art based around unarmed combat, with many strikes, kicks, locks, and wrestling maneuvers.

It had a philosophy of strict personal discipline and lawful behavior, and required meditative practices.

The practitioner developed keen senses and with concentration and meditation, they could notice unseen and invisible beings and identify traps. By entering a meditative trance, they could even see things as they truly were, though this took four hours to achieve and lasted for only two. Also through meditation, they could control their bodily functions, to limit injury and slow bleeding, and in effect partly heal their wounds. The pinnacle of this technique was the ability to enter a state of physical suspension, slowing breathing, pulse, and heartbeat to such a degree they appeared to be dead to almost all observers. This lasted up to eight hours.

The grandmaster perfected Gigel Nugel, a battle maneuver that allowed him to break through stone with just his head. He was able to maintain complete control of his body, and his very being. The powerful monk could even suppress his breathing and the beating of his heart.

History
After forming his secretive group and distributing his life lessons,

Penpahg D'Ahn passed away circa 860 DR.

Legacy
Penpahg's teachings lived on, being practiced by a small and secretive monastic order and recorded in rare and precious scrolls. The Edificant Library in Erlkazar had acquired a collection by the mid–14 century DR.

In the 1350s DR, Master Turkel Bastan, a Tabotan monk and follower of the long-dead grandmaster who had settled in Westgate, taught the martial art to his apprentice, Danica Maupoissant. Circa 1360 DR, having taught her all he could, he bade her travel to the Edificant Library to learn directly from the scrolls kept there.

She, however, did not possess the ability to read or comprehend these scrolls, but her lover, Cadderly Bonaduce could. After deciphering them, he communicated with her the meaning of the scrolls, and she carried on his legacy.

Danica dedicated herself to mastering Penpahg's techniques and philosophies.