Druids
Defenders of the natural realm and servants of the gods, a druid can be of water, fire, air, or land. They use purely elemental magic, and also have a certain skill with weapons.
A druid is first and foremost loyal to the nature goddess, Irotana, then the druidic order, then to their sphere and the god/ess of their sphere. It usually doesn't matter what sphere a druid was born to -- an elf can be a druid of water or a mer can be a druid of air, for instance -- but usually they are a druid of the sphere they were born to.
Most are long-lived as learning all a druid needs to know can take centuries. There are very few, if any humans. If a race that only lives a century becomes a druid, they often will not manage to reach Changer rank in their lifetime. If they do, they reach it in very old age, and only enjoy the rank for a few years before dying of old age.
They are part of the creation myth, and were individuals who were given power by the Unitarian gods so they may be come Protectors of the Realms.
Druidic magic
Druidic magic is clerical, but not in the usual sense. Certainly, druids have to be loyal to their god/ess, but they do not have to spend time in prayer. The druidic gods and goddesses respect devotion to, communion with, and protection of their realm above all else. Thus, druids are most often in solitude - practically hermitlike - in their realm. For instance, a druid of land will usually keep to him/herself in the forest or some other life-rich area of land. To the druidic gods and goddesses, devotion to nature is a better cause for reward than any amount of prayer - devotion to nature is a type of prayer, in this case.
Elemental Magic: This is the first type of magic learned. Those of Laugar will learn to use magic involving water; those of Tyrea will learn to use magic involving plants; etc.
Healing Magic: Druids learn how to heal the creatures of their sphere with magic. They can only heal creatures and bond creatures of their sphere, however - not humanoids.
Divine Magic: A step up from elemental magic, divine magic is the concentrated energy belonging to the druid's realm, energy straight from the god/dess they worship. If the energy of their realm is not enough, druids can draw on power from Irotana herself.
Shapeshifting: The rite of passage between a Cleri and Changer rank druid.
First, the druid must know almost everything about the creature they are shapeshifting into. They choose one species and learn everything about it -- its physical features, both inner and outer; reproduction; behavior; digestion... everything. Then they must have a very strong sense of self -- they must know who they are, and must know about themselves. If they do not, they may lose themselves in the animal they 'shift into. Finally, the druid will actually perform First Change (the name given to the act in which a druid first shapeshifts into his/her chosen creature) with the supervision of two druids who already have gone through shapeshifting. Some druids HAVE died in the process, and some have lost their sense of self and become fully animal. The two supervisors can sometimes help bring those who lose themselves back, but not always. The whole process of research and gaining a strong sense of self takes many years -- sometimes two or more decades.
Ranks
Acolyte: At this level, the druid learns to speak the language of the creatures of their sphere, and learns the basics of the interaction and behaviors of the different species. Once this is done, they learn elemental magic and the harnessing of it, as well as healing magicks. They will then pass a test to become Cleri.
Cleri: In the Cleri level, the druid will improve on their magic. They will also choose an animal to study and eventually change into. Once they perform First Change, they are Changers.
Changer: Changers have performed First Change, and will often begin to study another animal to change into.
Guildmaster: Irotana's Chosen, the one druid who leads the druidic order.
Clothing
Most druids wear colors that go with the sphere they serve. Clothing is usually loose-fitting, comfortable attire for easy movement, although for ceremonies and gatherings, robes in their sphere's colors are worn. All druids also wear their god or goddess' pendant about their necks.
- Laugar: Deep blue and sea green trimmed with white.
- Tyrea: Forest shades, dark green and brown.
- Aeryon: Sky blue and white, or black and silver, symbolizing the night sky.
- Claeryn: Red and orange trimmed with the blue and white of a flame's center.
- Irotana's Chosen: Irotana's colors, silver and white.
Miscellaneous
Weapons: The usual weapons of a druid are the bow and the staff, although some choose to specialize in other weaponry. Blades, however, tend to have to be replaced on a fairly regular basis, as druidic magic can melt the blades and/or dull the edges.
Diet: Contrary to what some people might think, druids are perfectly fine with eating meat. After all, the gods and goddess of the four realms are predators, though Irotana is not. However, they do not kill unneccessarily, and do not interfere with people hunting for food or predators hunting meat.
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