Doing that was not too hard. They just had to point me in the right direction. I followed them to the outskirts of Ralora Clan territory. "Are we supposed to kill them all?" I asked. This was very important to know. I did not want to get too crazy and have them all kick me out if things got too crazy. The leader of the raid looked at me like I was insane. "We steal and block them from getting in our way while we steal their goods. They'll try to capture us and hold us prisoner until we work off the debt we owe them with hard labor." he explained. I nodded in understanding. They wanted stuff, but no one was seriously going to kill over anything that could be replaced. counted us down and we ran in hooting and hollering. "Kearie Clan sends its regards. We're taking our due!" he said. They were not going to take it laying down. I got in the way and fought with the guards that were getting ready to stop us from leaving. Some of the better guards gave me some problems, but I was able to get by. The weaker guards were a piece of cake. I took some game they had hunted and we all retreated together.
Excellent. We did really well. We did not lose a single elf in the raid. When we got back, the village cheered for them. They were still wary and distant towards me. Even still, there was nothing for the raiders to complain about. I needed to stay in the village with them. I was a huge flight risk after all. Since I could lead future humans to their clan and the Ralora's, I had to be monitored. Due to that, I was allowed to live with a pair of brothers that had gone on their first raid today. Their names were Ayred and Sontar. Both were fair skinned with long blond hair and hazel eyes. Sontar, the younger brother, had hair a couple shades brighter than his brother's. They were both lithe and spry warriors with slight muscle tone in the chest in back and slightly more in the arms and legs. They led me to the tree where they had their dwelling. We took turns, each of us introducing each other. It seemed the pair were orphaned and wanted to prove themselves now that they have came of age. "Only the elite warriors can become arcane archers, so it was either this, guard work or being hunters." Ayred said.
Feeling that this was pretty important, I asked more. Sontar smirked and said "You humans wouldn't get it but they are the pride of the forest! You're known as the best of the best if you become one." Ayred smiled and ruffled his hair. "That doesn't explain anything. Arcane Archers are clan champions that specialize in imbuing magical properties onto their bows. They then attack with them. Because they are ranged attackers, Arcane Archers focus on dealing heavy damage fast and avoiding getting hit." he added. From what they told me, once you were the proper level you learned magical theory or some of the secrets of nature—typical for practitioners of this elven martial tradition. It then allowed you choose to gain proficiency in either the Arcana or the Nature skill, and you chose to learn either the prestidigitation or the druidcraft cantrip in your studies. When you fired an arrow, you could apply one of your Arcane Shot options to that arrow. If they hit, they could have very special effects applied to them. It seemed like fun but might be really hard for them. It was a Tier 3 class to take.
If you wanted to become and Arcane Archer you first had to be a member of an elven clan. I was working on that. If I went on all 3 raids, I would be able to live here with the Kearie Clan. I was human, so it was not possible for me to fake lineage to an elven clan. However, I could marry in and have a half elf kid. That would be something if just living here among them was not enough. This truly was a elf-specific class. However, it was also level locked from people. As a Tier 3 class, it meant that you had to be level 30 and in a Tier 2 class. The Tier 2 class was Sharpshooter. Ayred and Sontar both were elves of age in this clan. If they could work their way up the ranks and make it to level 30, they could become Sharpshooters and then Arcane Archers. As someone that was level 30, I was already at the place that I could do it. Once I was part of the clan, that would be the one that I would choose to take. Sharpshooter was not a race-specific class, so I could take that at any time an instructor was willing to teach me. When they were ready for bed, they showed me a bed. I slept with Sontar.
