Everlynn: Serenade of the Dark Lands ~The War of the Thirteen~

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The Blade Dancers

The origin of this select group is shrouded in the mists of time, but scholars of this group all agree that the Blade Dancers began as an elite sect of combatants comprised of knights, martial artists, and other various peoples sworn to protect those leaders of the known ancient world to ensure that balance was maintained between all of them. As the world grew and the people became more intellectual in their dealings with one another, the need for Blade Dancers began to dwindle. After a time, they went into hiding or became protectors of select families. This continued on for generations until they passed into legend. It is said now that they are again needed.

The Blade Dancers began to work in secret unbeknownst to the world and even those they protected were unaware of who their protectors really were. The Blade Dancers enjoyed total secrecy. They continued to watch over the world this way with their brethren the Shadow Walkers, and the Blood Singers, other sects that watch over the world in their own way who also share the same roots as the Blade Dancers. Together, they were able to maintain a type of peace that was beneficial for the world.

Those who still practiced and trained in the way of the Blade Dancers continued to do so. They found others who showed potential to become part of their sect and were brought in and taught their ways.

The Dancers continued, selecting very carefully those who would join their ranks. Schools of swordsmanship proclaiming they taught the Blade Dancer forms sprang up, many times deluding the hopeful they would be renown swordsmen. The Blade Dancers did nothing to stop them, but they did take those showing promise and trained them.

Over the centuries their numbers grew smaller despite their best efforts to increase ranks. Finding those worthy enough to carry on their traditions became more difficult until there were only a handful left. Now, the Blade Dancers slowly die away with their numbers growing fewer and fewer every year. Only a select few are taught this ancient form of combat, even in families of Blade Dancers. Now, only the most worthy are taught.

Weapons and Techniques

The weapons typically used, but not limited to, are two daggers visibly worn at the belt and a short or long sword strapped to the back with other weapons hidden on the body. These are the weapons traditionally used to teach the basic forms. If a student wishes to use other types of weapons, they are more than welcome to but must do this on their own time.

Here is a list of weapons known to have been used by Blade Dancers. This list will be changed as more is uncovered:

Long and short swords
Daggers
Dirks
Axes
Scimitars
Shippu or Swallow Blade

This is not to say that use of other weapons is dissuaded. On the contrary, it is encouraged; however, there is the need to keep traditions alive and to keep this form of combat as pure as possible. Thusly, when a variation of a form or forms are created, they are called 'techniques.' Normally, they take on the name of the originator unless the one who created the technique wishes to call it something else. A good example would be Rader Rahn, who's technique was utilized the shippu. His was named after the legendary hero Strite Everwynn, who supposedly died with Guenwhyvar under mysterious circumstances.

What follows is a list of well known techniques. This list will be edited as more are either developed or uncovered:

Strite Technique
Dual Arms
Cascading Waterfall

The Philosophy of the Blade Dancers

One of the first things that anyone learns is to be like water, to flow like water. Being flexible is key to this form. This allows the combatant the ability to adjust and respond to the situation as need be; to shape themselves to the form required in order to be victorious and protect their charge. This is figurative of course. The body is not shaped, the mind and technique are.

Dancing, believe it or not, is also required. It helps with foot work as well as keeping the body flexible. Dances learned at court, such as waltzes, will not help in this instance. What helps most are the festive dances seen at celebrations. This may seem odd at first, but all will make sense in the end.

Circular movements are normally the signature of most Blade Dancers. Every aspect of the basic forms are based on circular patterns, but this does not mean that the forms are limited strictly to them. Blade Dancers are encouraged to create their own techniques, just as Rader Rahn did, by incorporating moves that they have seen, learned, or created.

By taking all of the above into account, one hopes that those learning to become Blade Dancers understand why being able to flow and be like water, dancing, and circular movements are so important. It does make reading the Dancer's movements by your opponent difficult. Do not think that this makes it impossible. As with all things, if one studies long enough on a subject one will understand it. This is true of your opponents.

Blade Dancers normally do not fight unless absolutely necessary. They try to avoid friendly bouts of strength and skill and even try to avoid fighting their enemy. Alternate means of dissuading a fight are always implemented first. The only two instances where this changes is if the opponent strikes first without warning or if the charge's life is in danger.

The protection of a Blade Dancer's charge is foremost within their mind. Their safety comes before all other things. If this means the sacrifice of one's self then so be it. A Blade Dancer's duty is to protect. If one does not have a charge to look over then protection of the innocent is put in its stead.

These are the things that are most important to the Blade Dancers and the rules by which they live by. They must always be prevalent in one's mind if one is to become a Blade Dancer.

Code of the Blade Dancers

Duty first.
Integrity always.
Never kill unless absolutely necessary. It must be avoided at all costs. Kill only as a last resort to stop your opponent.
Do what must be done to protect your charge. If need be, maim or take off extremities to stop your opponent. This does not mean that you let your opponent die.
Always fight with honor and dignity.
Do not fight for honor and glory.

Famous Blade Dancers

Below is a list of famous Blade Dancers throughout history.

The Dark Herald

A creature of legend, no one is sure whether this incredible fighter was man or woman, human or beast. One thing is known for sure: the Dark Herald was a force to be reckoned with. In ancient times, the herald served a king and did his bidding, regardless of what was asked of him. He was reputedly ruthless and did his job well. His name was whispered in fear and used to scare children into bed when they misbehaved. To this date, no one is sure whether this herald was still a Blade Dancer while he served the king. There is all possibility that he had been dishonored for having killed so many and thus discharged from the Blade Dancers. No one knows for sure; however, the fact remains that, regardless of whether or not he was a Blade Dancer or not, he knew the forms for this ancient style better than most and executed the moves with deadly precision. Nonetheless, he is seen as an example of what one can accomplish.

Guenwhyvar Roan
- Perhaps one of the most illustrious Blade Dancers ever. She was the daughter of Sir Liam Roan and Shena (sh-eh-nah) Roan. Her father was also a Blade Dancer and protected the members of the noble House of Davornae, as the Roan family had done since time immemorial. When Guenwhyvar came of age, she began her training young as a Blade Dancer at her father's insistence. As she progressed, Guenwhyvar showed great potential to be one of the best. At the age of 17, she rightfully attained the title of Master Blade Dancer and was given the charge of protecting Lady Wyndelyn of the House of Davornae. She and Lady Wyndelyn traveled for many years across the countryside learning what they could before Wyndelyn had to take her rightful place as ruler of her lands and head of the House of Davornae. As great as Guenwhyvar was, she died tragically. The circumstances of her death are unknown but her legacy continues amongst the Blade Dancers. She is still believed by most to have been one of the best before her untimely demise.
Lady Arcana
- A mysterious woman who learned the Blade Dancer form but from who no one is sure. The only person that had ever seen her was Rader Rahn, as he has been the only man known in history to have been trained by her. She is described to have golden brown hair with amber eyes and being tall for a woman. Records amongst the historians of the Blade Dancers say that she may have been one of the few originators of this powerful form of combat, so old is she; however, if this is true, it does not explain how Rader Rahn could have met her when he had been alive. By all accounts, she should have been dead long before then. There may be something more to this alluring lady than what is known.
Rader Rahn
- He is probably the most well known Blade Dancer. He began as a simple knight, only following orders from his commander. On a routine scouting mission, he was ambushed. He had been able to escape and found his way to a temple led by a middle age man named Kotetsu with his betrothed Arcana. Badly wounded, Rader stayed at the temple and as he grew stronger he yearned to improve his swordplay. Arcana saw his potential and decided to take him under her wing. She taught him the Blade Dancer forms and was proud that he learned so quickly. Once ready, he left the care of Kotetsu and Arcana and returned to his beloved country. He developed his own technique of the Blade Dancer form and progressed quickly through the ranks. He soon became a Knight of the Order of the Sword, an elite sect of knights that protected the royal family in ancient times, and later became their commander. He was revered and idolized until his death of natural causes. Even long after his death, other would be knights look up to him as an example of what knight should be and what a knight stands for. He is honored amongst the Blade Dancers for his steadfast belief in the codes that the knights stood by and the philosophies of the Blade Dancers.
Tarrant Ovone
- Possibly the most famous Blade Dancer aside from Guenwhyvar herself. Not much is truly known about him. Scholars say that Tarrant was a human but other sources claim that he was a member of the legendary Serens, the very predecessors of the Elves themselves after intermarriage with humans. To this day, no one can confirm or deny the claims. He was also once the Blade Dancer of Lady Adaemee, one of the most powerful magi of her time, before she sent him to help Guenwhyvar in her attempt to stop the corrupted portion of the Void from using Lord Brimra, a colleague of hers, to bring about the destruction of their world and others. According the events that were recorded afterward by Guenwhyvar's brother, Lucien, Tarrant's last act as a Blade Dancer was to throw his sword at the Void entity after bursting into the room in a desperate attempt to distract the creature and to allow Lady Wyndelyn to capture it in her spell and banish it for all time from their realm. His distraction succeeded, but he did not survive, for he had been fending off beasts created by the Void to delay everyone from reaching it. His body was never found. Tarrant exemplifies the very traits that all Blade Dancers aspire to, whether this legendary man was human or Seren. His sacrifice for the greater good and to preserve what others have worked so hard for will never be forgotten.

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