Tier 3 Snobs? Probably too slow, thought with much, much, lower stats they do my cleric ok around the same ranks, just have to work them a bit. I had decent luck with the elder brocket deer (hit like trucks), blightwater nyads/dryads in boar clan (hibi), or maiden's tress (again in boar clan).
Tress (does this become tress' or tresses?) might be a good place to get those lower weapons up, as they're right next to bloodvines, a critter very similar to vines/creepers but a bit harder. Problem with the stuff in hibi is it's not skinnable unless you're going to hit up ogres. And it's all cursed, though not true undead, so I'm not sure how it would effect your magic.
Deer might be your best bet, since they're skinnable and don't use weapons. If the elders are full, normals or young would teach lower weapons well.
Let's save us all some time: I'm a troll who rarely has anything helpful. There.