Snowbird's Spellblades

The spellblades are a group of individuals who are fine fighters and can cast magic in battle. Normally it is difficult to cast magic in armor, for it limits movement needed for hand gestures to call forth the magic, but these individuals have learned to shorten the spells, which also weakens the spells just a bit.

Miyaca Snowbird, Wolf Warrior and friend of Lady Noshi Bluecrystal, returned home to Qalataqa after her adventures with Noshi, Sebastion Blackthorne and her brother, Shadizar to find her Wolf Warriors were few and, she was honest with herself, not as needed as in the past. But there were many elves who had the ability to fight and cast spells so she decided to train them to use their abilities to help all elves (and extension humans as well). It took her several decades to build up her ranks, drawing even from the human population as well. As soon as Noshi created the Crystal Brigade she joined the fight with her spellblades.

A typical Spellblade uses a longsword or a sapaka (my version of a katana). (I will bring this up later, but because some of the elven ancestors were with the humans from Tayke, some of their weapons have made it into mainstream elf culture). They wear leather armor and can cast spells. These spells are typically quick binding or slowing spells or small damaging spells. Some are capable of healing, though normally not during battle. They train for two to three years with Miyaca or her captains, learning the basics of weapons, spells, history, and reading. (Some of the people she finds are from poorer beginnings so need to be brought up to speed). They are also taught how to track, sneak, and climb into odd and unusual places.

As a character class this would be a fighter/mage, perhaps even a fighter/mage/thief, though progression would be very slow. Though they are crack fighters, I know a lot of systems will not allow specialization if you multiclass, so maybe think on giving them a magic weapon sooner to add to the flare. Elves or humans can be spellblades, maybe even dwarves, though they rarely have natural magic users. Akicitia would be poor spellblades, since they can't cast spells well to begin with, because of their rolling r's.

As a side note, Miyaca also trained a new generation of Wolf Warriors (few of which have charges), feeling she owed the God Targon to continue the tradition. These Wolf Warriors are devoted to her (as are her spellblades) and treat her as royality.
Tomorrow: The Kin