.. vim: set syntax=rst nosmartindent spell spelllang=en_us: +++++++++++++++++++ Fneb Wood Elf Druid Lore +++++++++++++++++++ Way of the stick ================ The druids often carry staves or sticks. The way of the stick is a collection of fighting techniques and mystical practices that use these. The druid may face a territorial animal, or a wanderer. The druid doesn't want to kill the wanderer or animal. The fighting techniques are meant to disarm and discourage and in the worst case, knock out the attacker. Way of mercy ============ Mostly this art is mostly used for helping a wounded animal pass on to the next life. It involves lots of sneaking and stalking. Maybe using a poisoned dart thrown by an atlatl or a blowgun or a small bow. Druids carry tiny clay vials of various potions. They dip their dart tips in there and then use a bow, or a spear thrower or a blowgun This is the art of sneaking in, maybe poisoning the target with a sedative, and the guiding them to the next life. The druid may say a prayer before or during or after the ritual. Way of the blade ================ Druids can touch metal. It's a myth that it literally burns them on touch. But druids don't like because of what is often involved in its creation: * ore has to be dug up in huge amounts, and this is obviously very ecologically destructive * In order to refine the ore into usable metal, it has to be heated with tons of fuel. And that's made from charcoal, made from wood. Druids feel like outsiders (farmers) all waste so much. There's an easier way to accomplish almost the same thing. Winter ====== During winter, druids do surprising stuff. They often retreat to the mountains some times and then go deep into the caves. Druids build amazing mountain fortresses and they spend the winter doing things like exploring caves, meditating, studying ancient texts, practicing martial arts and magic, doing astronomy, etc. They become almost like scientists in the winter. There are whole civilizations that live underground. The druids visit them at times. The druids have a bonfire at one point and come out of the caves and celebrate the solstice. Summer ====== During the summer, the druids love to party. They worship the powerful sun. They live like indulgent hippies. Lots of drunken orgies. Moon dances =========== Druids often dance around when the moon is visible and wave their prayer sticks at the sky. They believe they are attracting energy from the moon and storing into the wooden sticks. The magic is not very powerful. It's not the same as sun magic. For example, sun magic can be harnessed and stored in crystals dug up deep from the caves. But moon energy is more subtle. It's not great for combat. Instead, the druids love charging up their sticks with it, and then dancing through fields of crops planted by farmers, snatching snacks and then releasing the stored-up moon magic into the fields. Farmers know that if they leave out gifts for the druids, it's more likely they'll show up when the moon is big. Iron and lightning ================== There's a legend about some druids that left the forest to defeat a great far off threat. And only one returned. He came back on a full moon, carrying a gigantic iron rod. And he had clearly altered himself greatly. He was unrecognizable now. He stood in front of the great forest gate and waited, knowing the forest druids would be uncertain of who he was. The druids all came to the edge of the forest, armed with poisoned darts. A voice calls out from the forest. "The traveler bears strange gifts." The returning warrior holds the iron rod over his head. He waits patiently for the forest druids to realize what he has. The warrior places the rod down on the earth, rooting one end into the ground, so it stands up. Eventually, an old one walks out of the woods and approaches. They speak in the secret language of the druids. The old one raises his hands, showing the traveler can be trusted. Then the iron is carried into the forest. The traveler shows how the iron rod can be used to attract lightning. He also shows how he brought back much more iron and steel and other metals. This is the beginning of druids learning to harness electricity. In their most advanced form, druids can channel the elemental powers of electricity and magnetism of the earth. It's not so much that the druids control the weather, as much as they form a telepathic connection with the clouds and the weather and the wind. The druid's consciousness spreads out. Sometimes, it's possible to even see the druid's face in the clouds, watching the ground below. The druid may leave his or her body behind, or spread it out beyond the body.