Blade Weavers: Elite or Common Soldiers?

Blade Weavers: Elite or Common Soldiers?

Original Email: Greetings Meridian. Naeolin here once again, but instead of wondering if Irekei/elf pairing can happen, I am now curious about blade weavers and their status among their kin.

Are blade weavers the common soldier of the elves, or are they more elite?

if the latter, would a soldier or even a magi show respect for one?

Blade weavers seem to have a little bit in common with the blade singers of DnD.

Blade singers refused to teach anyone but other elves their art. Anyone who was caught teaching it to one of non-elven nature, or anyone that was caught watching it being taught was hunted down and killed.

As you can see the similarities are what led me to write this email.

Blade singers also saw their style of fighting as an art, and were usually considered the defenders of elvenkind. Is it the same for blade weavers?

Also a thread started in the IKA elven Culture discussion hall about blade weaving styles. The idea was brought up that their was different schools or "Dances" such as an air weaver dodging all attacks, and only striking when an opening appears. Or an Earth weaver who would likely be very static, and his attacks comeing as rarely as an Air weaver's, and most of them are parry-strikes.

Someone also pointed out that blade weaving is an art from the age of twilight, and thus every move a weaver makes is something he learned and memorised until perfection.

Any info you can release about this would be much appreciated. I wouldn't ask so much normally, but I'm currently writing a guide to blade weaving. Kind of like a helpful hand to all the new blade weavers showing up in the golden lion, and a way to limit the amount of chain mail-wearing blade weavers who can deflect an overhanded blow from a half giant's battle axe. =)

Thanks again for anything you can tell me.

Naeolin Elliund Thaelostor of The Hands of Twilight, banner guild of House Lok-ri, Evil demented Dar Khelegur ranger/blade weaver with a taste for torture.

Meridian's Response: Hey there!

Sorry about the delay - things have been hectic here.

Blade Weavers are not just elite among Elvish military forces, they're SUPER elite. And yes, their dedication to an ancient art would draw respect from more common soldiery, and even Magi. The Elves believe they've created a few truly immortal, perfect arts. Magic is one, blade mastery another.

Yeah, there was a little blade singer inspiration going on.

Blade Weavers are artists. As for different schools or styles, I had originally taken the concept even further: every weaver is taught a few basic moves by their master, but then they leave to develop their art on their own. Each weaver dances a different dance. Limitations in animation and custom powers will keep this from becoming a visual reality in game, but I still like the concept.

As for defending all Elf-kind, some weavers no doubt feel that they're dancing for vengeance. I can see others who are pure artists, caring little for power or glory, who merely seek perfection. Others might withdraw, focusing on the dance above all else, trying to ensure that their afrt does not vanish from the sundered world. There's lots there.

Hope this helps!

M