Dancing Wasps (The Elven Warrior Houses, part 4)

While this group was never an original "House" created by my friend, the idea of an "Elven Duelist" house has actually been in a number of my games for quite some time. I figure I would include them here. I find that Duelist based games are an interesting sub-section of the standard gaming set up. Not normally meant for a standard group, these type of games are a bit heavier on a single combat per session. While a normal RPG session may have three or four combats that occur, I have found that a duelist game may have one combat between two duelist that may take up the entire session. Maybe I'm not running it as effectively as I could be; and the Ultimate Combat book wouldn't be out for a number of years; but these games are high on the drama, high on the intrigue, and then heavy on the one duel. LOL I may actually put forth some more Duelist styles and such at a later date. There's an old WotC duelist write up. I wonder if I could find that sometime and do a Pathfinder update on it? Hmm... 

Originally, I was going to call this the Dancing Serpents. For some reason, though, it just wasn't really fitting well with me. Then, while I was in the middle of other things, it kind of hit me. Serpents really don't properly represent the sudden, fluttering movements that I envisioned with this House. While a snake strikes, I need something that strikes and then strikes again, just as suddenly and quickly as the the first strike. In Pathfinder, the elves are also tied to a wasp goddess, so this added to where I wanted to go with this House.  I then pondered Drow for a moment, and realized how many wasp vs. spider nature segments I had seen on TV. Things evolved from there. 

Dancing Wasps (Salkal Calar)

Favored Weapons: Dancing Wasps prefer "elegant" blades, such as the dagger, longsword, rapier, scimitar, short sword and similar weapons.

With only the Striking Crane coming close in outward shows of skill, the Dancing Wasps are the House most commonly thought of when one thinks of an "elven duelist". Masters of sudden darting strikes, graceful dodges, and arcane talent, the Dancing Wasps are (in their opinion) the pinnacle of the duelist art form. Of course, there are many differing opinions on that assertion but generations of perfecting a blending of blade and magic have created an unquestionably impressive and deadly style.

Pulling from a large pool of young, eager, glory-hunting nobles, all eager to demonstrate the elvish ideals of perfection in swordcraft and spellcraft, the ranks of the Dancing Wasps are filled with recruits ready to defend the honor of the "elven nation" at the merest provocation. This has given the House a deserved reputation of hotheads and braggarts. Fortunately, though, as an elf progresses within the House, their fevered zeal cool while their skills improve. Heads of houses are often observant, cunning, calculating, and among the most feared duelist of the region, city, or realm.

The darting, quick moving, and never stopping style of the Dancing Wasps is amazing to watch and difficult to defend against. If one masters this difficult style, they can easily gain a reputation and personal wealth as duelist for hire. Such mercenaries traditionally only accept employment of an elven noble house, but there have been those less scrupulous members have accepted employment in any "noble" cause willing to pay.

Many Houses have special distinctions and badges of honor, few, though, have the reputation of those that receive the title of Spider-Slayer Wasp. This distinction is given only to a member of the order that has personally slain a drow in single combat. It is a very coveted award, and those that have received this commendation are seen with awe and admiration among the younger elves. It is important to note, though, that all that needs done is to kill a drow, it does not matter the reason why or what condition the drow is in before the fight begins. It just has to be a "one on one fight". This has caused whispered concern that some Spider-Slayer Wasps are nothing more than bullies and cowards. The general belief of the elves, though, is that a dead drow is still a dead drow, and thus the only good type of drow. (There have been some unsubstantiated rumors that a collective of drow have started to become "Wasp-Hunting Spiders", but other than whispers and a few missing duelist nothing have been confirmed.)

Traditional Colors: Each duelist has their own unique style and sense of fashion, but most will include gold and black, frequently in a wasp motif to signify their allegiance to the House.

Associated Classes: Bards, Magus and multi-classed wizards and sorcerers with levels in fighter, swashbuckler, or rogue are the most common members of the House. There have been reports of a coven of multi-classed witches have started training in the House, as well.

Trait: Stance of the Wasp's Sting (Elf, Combat) - When wielding one of the favored weapons of the Dancing Wasps, the duelist gains a +1 to his combat performance, concentration and Acrobatic skill checks.