Blademaster

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Who are they?

Though their numbers are few, the seasoned Blademasters represent an elite fighting force within the Horde. These skilled swordsmen were once part of the ill-fated Burning Blade Clan which consumed itself in the throes of demonic corruption. With their clan scattered and broken, the proud Blademasters swore a grim oath to free themselves and their brethren from demonic control once and for all. Under Thrall's command, the Blademasters have once again joined the Horde and serve as the young Warchief's personal honor guard. Though Blademasters are masters of stealth and guile, they value personal honor above all else.

The few Blademasters who still exist are mostly loyal to the Horde. They have sworn oaths to free their people from demonic corruption, and they usually do this through example: if they can be as formidable as they are without the Legion's help, other orcs can as well. An example of such a "redeemed" Blademaster who is not a Horde member is Lantresor of the Blade, chief of the Boulderfist in Nagrand. While it is rare, new Blademasters are occasionally trained by current Blademasters, making sure to keep the specifics of their art secret.

Blademasters lead their people into melee, unhesitatingly seeking the most vulnerable enemy champions - mages, druids, and the like. They willingly go toe-to-toe with other melee experts as well, drawing from ages of tradition to fuel their combat prowess. Their sashimono allow their troops to identify them on the battlefield and move to where the action is thickest. Many act as bodyguards for other Horde champions.

Even on their own, a Blademaster's skill equals that of large numbers of their foes, making them a most formidable opponent. They fight with honor, making battle with swords an art form, using their combat prowess only to protect the new Horde, and are forever loyal to Thrall. They are also skilled, or at least familiar with shamans, thus making their blinding speed gained from blessings from the spirits. Blademasters generally appear wearing no chest armor as an act of courage and strength.

A Blademaster's more mystical abilities come from their relationship with the elements. Thus, they are trained specific techniques to harness the natural powers of the world. Most of their abilities rely on maintaining a good relationship with the wind. Wind walking is running upon the wind. Mirror image is having the wind create phantom versions of the master. Whirlwind is the wind speeding them up. While it is rare the elements call upon them for a favor or task, it does happen occasionally, and the Blademaster is just as obligated to do them as a shaman is.

Who likes them?

The Horde, mostly its military.

Blademasters represent the elite soldier. The cream-of-the-crop. They are some of the best fighters the orcs can field, and they are loved for this. Respect is granted to the Blademaster wherever they go, and merely seeing the sashimono of the great warriors can inspire their fellows to great feats. Some might say the morale boost that comes from a Blademaster being present is more useful than their actual swordsmanship.

Training

Requirements

This class is restricted to Orcs. Classes available to become Blademasters are Warriors, Rogues.

It is available to both men and women.

Alliance Alliance »


  • None

Horde Horde »


Strengths

To be a Blademaster is to be a fierce warrior, one who must take on any challenge that comes his way. Come, I shall guide your sword and craft you into a truly fearsome foe.
  • Blademasters are incredibly swift, their shamanistic knowledge granting them inhuman agility. Few things are quicker than them.
  • Their shamanism also grants them access to fierce abilities otherwise unavailable. Turning invisible, making copies of themselves, and whirling about with their blades at high speeds are legendary skills Blademasters can use.
  • Even without the spirits and elementals aiding them, Blademasters are (as the name suggests) masters of the blade. They are some of the best one on one fighters the Horde has access to, and are highly adept at getting in range to use their deadly weapon.

Weaknesses

  • A Blademaster's fighting style revolves around speed and agility. Thus, wearing plate armor makes it impossible to fight in the same manner as one. In fact, the less armor a Blademaster wears, the quicker she is. Many don't even wear any armor over their chest.
  • A Horde Blademaster is one of the elites of the orcs, looked up to by many warriors. Thus, a Blademaster's betrayal would be looked upon more harshly than an everyday grunt. She should expect swift, public, and brutal punishment if ever captured after forsaking the Horde. This is often public execution.
  • Blademasters, as the name suggests, are masters with the blade. Their ability to use other weapons falters as they grow more attuned with their sword. A Blademaster wielding a bow is unheard of.
  • A Blademaster relies on the spirits and elements for granting her great speed and powers on the battlefield. Should she lose favor with either force, her powers shall diminish.

Skills and abilities

  • Wind Walk

The Blademaster can travel on the wind for short periods of time. During such, she can move at unimaginable speeds, often traveling in five seconds what would normally take a minute.

  • Mirror Image

After a moment of deep meditation, the Blademaster calls out to the wind elements to form images of herself. They are temporary, easily dispersed, and do no damage.

  • Enchant Blade

Like a shaman, a Blademaster can call upon an element to engulf her blade. Whether it be fire, water, wind or earth, it is possible as long as she maintains favor with the element being used.

  • Bladestorm

Whirling about at high speeds, a Blademaster's blade bites into everyone about her. Wind elements add speed to the spin, causing her to move at incredibly deadly speeds. It is comparable to a blender. Of death.

  • Love of the Horde

Blademasters are some of the most respected members of the Horde. Tauren and trolls acknowledge the prowess of the Blademasters, while blood elves and forsaken do not really care. Orcs absolutely love their Blademasters. Expect greenskins to outright bow to a Blademaster as she crosses their sight, sashimono waving triumphantly in the air. They also gain access to the Horde armory should they be aligned with the faction, though abuse of this privilege will result in it being revoked. Betraying the Horde will swiftly turn this love into hatred.

Training Outline

First off, an aspiring warrior needs to find a master to train under. She might stumble upon a travelling Blademaster out in the wilds, or come across the hut of an old hermit who dabbled in the art during his youth. Or maybe she heads to Orgrimmar to meet with a current Blademaster. Finding a master takes an unspecified length of time, for it is mostly chance that one can even be found simply lounging about waiting for an apprentice to take. It is noteworthy that there is only one student to every master, no more.

Upon finding a mentor, they will be given a trial. This might be some task to slay a great beast or an evil warlock. Maybe even a one on one duel (not to the death) with the Blademaster. Regardless, this quest of sorts must prove that she has the ability to properly fight with a blade. Failure means the elite warrior turn down the aspiring orc, and she would be forced to either find another Blademaster to train under, or to simply give up. Though, keep in mind, failure usually means death.

Once proven, the training begins. First, the Blademaster must hone the student's ability with the blade, teaching her its deadly ways. Seeing as she is likely already a skilled warrior, this probably does not take long.

However, what's key during that period of practicing with the sword is the meditation. The fire in a young warrior's heart must be controlled. For should a Blademaster give in to rage and fury, they lose their ability to fight with their normal cunning and agility. If the aspiring Blademaster fails to lose her berserk tendancies, the master will dismiss her. When wielding her blade, she must be as focused and sharp as its edge.

After ensuring the student can properly control herself and her blade, the shamanism training begins. This begins with rudimentary lessons about the elements and spirits (which is often delegated to a shaman the Blademaster might already know). Then, the master himself teaches his student the sacred and secret arts of the elite warriors. Normally, this starts with learning how to ask the spirits and wind elements for incredible speed, then is followed by their abilities such as 'Wind Walk' and 'Mirror Image'. A good foundation must be set, after all.

When the master is confident in his student's abilities, he shall send her on yet another task. This time it will be one much more dangerous, such as slaying a coven of fel worshipers, or aiding the Horde in one way or another. The trial will most certainly be deadly though, and will test the aspiring Blademaster to the best of her abilities. Should she falter, she will either die or return to her master in shame. In either case, training ceases.

Upon completing this, the apprentice will be given a short period of respite. For as soon as she has recovered from any wounds she has received from the trial, she is to face her master in one on one combat. It is during this that she must show just how far she's come, and that she is worthy to obtain the title of Blademaster. A note would be that this is a non-lethal fight, but if the Blademaster believes that the student isn't up to snuff, he will immediately let her go. Another note to make is that the master is not out to kill the student, though he expects full force from the person he's been training for so long. Keep in mind that the Blademaster has been at this much longer than the student, and will not lose.

As the battle comes to a close, and the master believes his student is worthy, he shall bestow the title of Blademaster upon her, and she shall be fully prepared to take on her own apprentice.

A note to make for Horde aligned Blademasters is that this final duel is a public spectacle. After all, orcs do love their Blademasters, and would thoroughly enjoy ensuring that the latest one is a proper addition to their armies. Thus, this test takes place in the Orgrimmar Arena, and anyone is allowed to spectate. It's often advertised beforehand. Soon after a person is granted the full title of Blademaster, she shall see a high ranking member of the Horde as soon as possible. This may be a Warlord or anything higher. It is before her superior that she shall swear loyalty to the Horde and whomever the acting Warchief might be.

Active Blademasters

Currently there are no active Blademasters, so any applicants would have to create an NPC for their training.


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Archdruid · Archmage · Beastmaster · Blademaster · Bone Crusher · Burning Legionnaire · Dark Apothecary · Dark Ranger · Demon Hunter · Diabolist · Dragonsworn · Far Seer · Graven One · Gunslinger · High Divinist · Ley Walker · Lightslayer · Mountain King · Myrmidon · Necromancer · Potion Doc · Priestess of the Moon · Primal · Pyremaster · Runemaster · Savagekin · Shadow Ascendant · Shadow Hunter · Spell Breaker · Spirit Champion · Spirit Walker · Steamwarrior · Techno-Mage · Techslayer · Templar ·Tormentor · Warden · Whisper Blade