Sword Dancers", this is basically an underground religion, they are
mostly women (with a very occasional male rarity) they are underground
more because they see magic as a human right than anything else they
follow those whom they call the Sword Lords. It is not entirely certain
who they were though they appear to be a small group concurrent with
the "Lords of Light" who transcended. The religions progenitor Larya
was a direct companion of one of these "sword lords" and brought his
lore to any who would listen. The Sword Dancers believe in perfecting
themselves in preparation for the return of the First Sword Lord or
perfecting themself till they can follow after like Larya the Mother
eventually did.
Those who have the gift(of magic) will
find various "secrets of the sword dance" have more active and visible
effects, for instance they are able to see the "inner armor", though
many consider this defensive ability just luck and attitude for the
gifted it glows and is quite magical(very often any who cannot see it,
manifest and gain the benefit of the aura anyways so if it is magical
it is a mysticism trainable even by those without mystic
perceptions). The sword dancers encourage the few healers they
find and promote healing knowledge in all forms and so all have herbal
skills of one sort or another.. They practice group rituals featuring
highly corriographed dances of spinng swords... it is an ill omen
if someone is injured in these dangerous magical dances. Sword dancers
engage in group rituals typically disrobe atleast down to undergarment
level (in hotter climates this is sometimes even nude) for purposes of
the dance (this is said to be a reinforcement of the intimacy of the
sword dance and to reinforce their connection to their subculture). The
"inner armor" will not work in combination with physical armor perhaps
because the inner armor is considered a manifestion of bravery.
In areas where Sword dancers are more public such as along the sea
costs of southern pelusar they have been known to wear white flowing
shirts and tight leather breaches and carry their swords visible. As
well aswearing necklaces with circular symbols with a sword
crossing (this is also sometimes used as cloak binder even in areas
where it is secret) Sword Dancers fighting style features nerves of
steel precision but with rather circular indirect attacks that some
consider hard to follow, they tend to act fearless as an invocation of
their "inner armor". A sword dancer is expected to protect those they
love and just as love cannot be sold neither can their sword arm. They
teach the use of a very thin swords and long double bladed staff like
sword often these swords are concealable in walking staffs or shepherds
crooks. They also teach the use of a multi-reed piped musical
instrument they call a "lee-yar".
The purposes of these rituals include predicting or perhaps influencing
the future. As well as engaging various spirits in battle, especially
spirits of disease, the gifted see the spirits rise as smokes from the
ill and dancing about trying to dodge the blades.
One of the high rituals is said to be able to allow a dancer to cut a
hole in the veil between worlds and pass on to other planes of
existance.