Battle Dancer (Character Kit)

== Battle Dancer ==
The battle dancer cleric/fighter is an elf warrior who fol- lows the call of one of the revered elements. A battle dancer is basically a specialized ritual dancer, one who uses his or her talents not to tell stories but to defend the tribe. In elf tribes, very few elves are afforded the title of element singer. Others who show clerical abilities, or who seem attuned to an element other than the one revered by the tribe, are urged to become multiclassed ritual dancers. Those who decide to combine the skills of the warrior arts with priestly endeavors become battle dancers.
Full of grace and speed and agility, battle dancers per- form across the field of battle much as the slaves of Salt View perform across the stage. The call of combat courses through their strong limbs while the call of their revered elemental sings in their hearts. These religious warriors are looked upon with awe by their tribesmates, and they often become the champions of their tribes.
Recommended Tribal Affiliation: Battle dancers can be found in any elf tribe, but those of the Water Hunters and Silt Stalkers tribes are among the most deadly and fanatical.
Role: Battle dancers dedicate themselves to one ele- mental force, usually the one revered by their tribe
(though this is not always the case). In times of peace, they use their skills of dance and ritual storytelling to inspire their tribes and to help their elemental singers administer to the spiritual well-being of the elves under their care. When combat opportunities present them- selves, the battle dancers welcome them. They feel clos- est to their chosen elements when combining warrior skills and clerical magic into a deadly dance of violence.
As spiritual leaders and defenders of their tribes, bat- tle dancers hold a place of honor among the elves. Dur- ing the wanderlust phase, they take their powerful expression of faith to outsiders, demonstrating the bene- fits of merging the priestly magic of the elements with the strong physical nature of the elves. They are devoted to both elven traditions and a particular element, often exclaiming the virtues of both to all they meet. Those who disagree may witness the battle dancers skills from the point of view of the targetmuch to their dismay.
Through the combination of cleric powers and warrior skills, there are few elves as deadly or as committed as the battle dancers. They are masters of the weapons they choose and devoted students of a particular element. In few other kits is the concept of the superiority of elves over outsiders more evident, for battle dancers believe themselves to be the best of the elf raceand therefore far above even the best outsider.
== Weapon Proficiencies ==
Members of this kit must select the long sword and the long bow, the traditional weapons of the elves of Athas.
== Nonweapon Proficiencies ==
The proficiencies for the battle dancer are as follows.
== Bonus Proficiencies ==
Blind-fighting, dancing.
== Required Proficiencies ==
Religion, spellcraft.
== Recommended (General) ==
Heat protection, languages (choice), singing, water find.
== Recommended (Priest) ==
Ancient history, healing, musical instrument, reading/writing, somatic con- cealment.
== Recommended (Warrior) ==
Armorer, armor optim- ization, bowyer/fletcher, endurance, running, sur- vival (choice), tracking, weaponsmithing.
== Equipment ==
Battle dancers begin with a bone long sword and a long bow (both of excellent tribal make), leather armor, and a holy symbol dedicated to their ele- ment of choice.
== Special Benefits ==
Battle dancers can attack with two weapons without suffering attack roll penalties.
With the successful use of the dancing proficiency at the start of combat, battle dancers receive an additional +1 to attack and damage rolls, and a +1 bonus to their Armor Class for a number of combat rounds equal to the success of the proficiency check. For example, if a bat- tle dancer needs to roll an 18 or less to successfully begin dancing and she rolls a 14, then she receives the battle dancing bonuses for 4 combat rounds (1814=4). For the next four rounds, she receives the attack, damage, and Armor Class bonuses listed above.
== Special Hindrances ==
If a battle dancer fails her dancing proficiency roll (which must be made at the begin- ning of every combat encounter), then she receives the following penalties for 1d8 rounds of combat: 1 to at- tack and damage rolls, and 1 to Armor Class.
Battle dancers can never learn to use weapons beyond those they initially select. They receive no new weapon proficiency slots with the advancement of levels, and if they choose to use a nonselected weapon they suffer a 2 penalty to attack rolls.
== Wealth Options ==
Battle dancers start play with 5d4x 30 cp as well as the items listed under Equipment above.