Skindancers

"Remember this, son. If you see your enemy strike themselves before they strike you, do not fight that battle."

Scars all along the arms, a curved blade that shines gold but doused in the red of their own blood, a stare from beyond death. These are the marks of a Skindancer, the sorcerer-warriors of the Empire of the Sun.

Composition

Weaponry

Their signature weapon is a khopesh, and they are named the same as their occupation. In fact, it is likely the weapon gives them the name, as in the language of Tik'Al, the actual name for the type of blade means "dances on the skin".

Structure

Skindancers take their orders directly from the Emperor, and have no hierarchy among them beyond recruit and fully fledged soldier. Any member can train recruits. Their merit is based simply on the name they make for themselves, as they are few enough to be known as such by the Emperor.

Tactics

The skindancers begin any battle with a ritual slice across their fore-arm, to enter the trance that allows them to endure and live in the battle. They use the blood from this and any further wound as the source of water for their magic, and focus most of their energy on drawing blood from their enemy so that they can begin to drain it and use it against them.
When more than one is dispatched for an operation, they aim to surround their targets, and focus attacks on a single one to ensure they get past defences quicker.

Training

Children in Tik'al who are caught showing signs of sorcery are taken from their parents' homes at the age of thirteen and passed through a rigorous and deadly training and indoctrination program. Training involves very strict punishments, starvation and dehydration, as well as various forms of torture meant to strengthen their faith.

Type

Magic

Overall training Level

Elite