Moon Riders ( Kishutsuki )
The valley that surrounds High Peak is full of dangerous creatures that lurk around its permanently dark forests and cliff faces. To combat these creatures, the elves of this region started organizing themselves into three-man groups that would travel into these dangerous locations and rid it of things that might threaten the village.
When they returned, scarred and a death's doorstep, if they were so lucky, the people would greet them with warm food, replenish their supplies and nurture them. After a while, this became an unwritten tradition of the town of High Peak and members started engraving their doors with the symbol that represents them. A shining sun overlapped by a crescent moon.
When they leave to secure part of a forest, foragers and lumbermen follow them to gather supplies and food and this cycle has allowed the town to survive through many generations.
Among all the elves in Usilia, the Moon Riders are said to have the best aim of them all. There is a Usilian saying that goes: "If bows could shoot needles, a Kishutsuki would be able to pierce the center of a snow flake".
Each year, the village holds an archery contest the winners of which earn the privilege of becoming "Young Pups" and begin their training to eventually join their ranks. Generally the Moon Riders try to maintain the numbers of their ranks the same, for too many of them would disturb the careful balance that allows the village to persist so in any given year, at most up to three recruits will be picked if they all happen to be exceptionally skilled.
Not all of the warriors specialize in range weapons with some taking up long and powerful ranged weapons some prefer using long and powerful weapons. Though the Katana remains the weapon of choice for most of the villagers, all of which have some degree of proficiency with it, the Riders prefer heavier and more powerful weapons, due to the type of threats they face. Among them is the Naganaki, a blade with a handle roughly as long as the blade, or just slightly shorter. This unique sword requires years of practice to yield and uses the combined power of both arms and the core of the user's body to deliver powerful blows against any target, giving even the relatively slender elves the ability to deliver powerful blows.
The Naganaki warriors typically train with them from a very young age, performing an arduous routine every day that not only prepares them for using the weapon but also trains their bodies and transforms them, granting them broader and stronger shoulders than other elves and strong arm and torso muscles. Even an untrained eye can easily distinguish the physique of these elves from others.
Structure
The Kishutsuki always depart in groups of three. It is considered taboo among them to embark in the woods alone or without a full group. Within each group, the most skilled member, generally the oldest, is regarded as the First Rider and he is the one who leads the group.
Savage or life-altering wounds occur with some frequency among the Kishutsuki. Those who are affected by them either retire, help organize gathering outings with villages or help prepare other elves to join their ranks. Despite not being active as hunters, these retired members keep receiving support from the villagers as when they were.
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