Bladesinger

Bladesingers have a prominent place in the society of the Tel'Quessir of Faerûn, being renowned as heroes of the Tel'Quessir race, and welcomed in Tel'Quessir communities. Bladesingers are taught in a single master-apprentice tutelage system, with a master taking on a single apprentice to carry on the work of defending the Tel-Quessir and promoting their principals and way of life.

Bladesingers are terrifying weapons experts and spellcasters, specialising in the bladesong martial art. They often tattoo themselves with old runes, and each lodge has a special symbol it's members tattoo themselves with to identify their membership. Their armor and weapons are all of great antiquity and beautiful craftsmanship, even more so than other elven warriors, representing their special dedication to and pride in the weapon they have dedicated their lives to mastering. They shower precise detail and decoration on their swords, dedicating themselves to making a thing of beauty out of an object which would otherwise be an ugly weapon of war.

Bladesong

The bladesong itself is an extremely demanding martial art, the epitome of Tel'Quessir mastery of the sword, almost never taught to those not of Tel'Quessir blood. The bladesong is a primarily defensive style of combat, with devastating strikes considered less important than a superior guard position. From this superior defensive posture, magical attacks and spells may be used without fear of successful counter-attack, when performed by a Tel'Quessir fully proficient in the style. In addition to the violent purpose inherent to all martial arts, the bladesong is uniquely Tel'Quessir in the fact that the aesthetic components of the style are as important as its martial efficacy, with its dance-like movements and the haunting whistling sounds produced by the sword blade cutting through the air being the source of the name bladesong.

These dedicated elf warriors take their craft seriously enough to have created a uniquely elven fighting style. Unlike the martial arts of other races, the elven fighting style, also known as the bladesong, emphasizes beauty and economy of movement over sheer destructive power. However, the elven bladesong is deceptively dangerous, for all its seeming gentleness and apparent grace.

Bladesong is so named for several reasons. The first and most obvious is because of the whistling of the blade as it slices through the air when this style of fighting is used. The second, according to some, is for the haunting, wordless tune many of its practitioners are said to sing as they fight. Other sources indicate that Bladesingers practice an ancient elven variant of the art of Spellsong which they have adapted to suit their uniquely elven arcane-martial style.

Those who practice the bladesong appear as if they are dancing when they fight. Their movements seem misleadingly slow and elegant, deflecting opponents' blades while lazily drifting back to score hits themselves. The technique requires, above all, misdirection and subtlety. The bladesingers do not believe in smashing blows or strong and crushing offense, but rather in guiding their opponents to anticipate a different attack entirely, thus overbalancing the foe and making him seem clumsy.

The Oath

Below is the Bladesinger Oath. Remember it and heed it. Once you become a bladesinger in Tel'Mithrim, you will gain a book with the oath scribed inside, and the 'badge' of office.

I walk in the light but darkness surrounds me;

Mighty are the foes of my people;

I am their shield;

My blood for their blood,

My life for their life;

My sword and I are one;

We will serve our people and The Elven Way.

I have sworn this Oath upon my life;

This day and forever, I name myself Bladesinger.