Druids (Eíre)

Perhaps the most important figure in Irish society, druids are venerated and respected as much as any warrior. In Eíre, the druid is much more than the woodland cleric depicted in most stories. Acting as priest and healer, counselor and judge, and in many cases chief law enforcement officer, the druid is one of the most educated and intellectual of citizens. Like the bard, the druid is a keeper of culture, but the druid is more academic in nature than the bard. Both are educated at schools and share the first two years of training. But while the bard begins to apprentice after study, the druid’s education continues on for many more years.

The Druid College retained the books and other documents left behind by Roman scholars. Druid scribes translate and copy these texts and have also begun a program of transcribing the myths of Eire, which have previously existed primarily in oral form. Those who pursue druid studies may study other cultures and learn a number of languages. They are also educated in mathematics, geometry, philosophy, and other areas of study. Druids are also studied in all manner of Irish religious belief and custom, and are able to provide appropriate religious services the worshippers of any god or goddess of Eire.

Required Advantages

• Clerical Investment
• Power Investiture 1-4

Required Disadvantages

• Code of Honor (Druid), -15 points
• Discipline of Faith (Mysticism), -10 points
• Honesty, -10 points

Religious Rank and Status

The druid order is composed of many ranks and orders. None have any particular authority over any other, save the Druid Martial and Chief Cruid. By tradition Ollaves answer to Druids and Druid Priests, focusing on religious duties and having very little to do with law enforcement.

Ollave: Religious Rank 1, Status 0.

Druid: Religious Rank 2, Legal Enforcement Powers 1, Status 1.

Druid Martial: Religious Rank 2, Status 2, Legal Enforcement Powers 2.

Druid Justice: Religious Rank 3, Status 3, Legal Enforcement Powers 2.

Druid Priest: Religious Rank 3, Status 3.

High Druid: Religious Rank 3, Status 4.

Chief Druid: Religious Rank 4, Status 4, Legal Enforcement Powers 3.

Note on Status: A druid of a particular deity or tradition may enjoy special status if he is clothed in the vestments of his particular order and is in an area where the people are strong in that faith.

Languages & Cultural Familiarities

All druids (and most bards) are educated in more than one language. Native language (Gaelic) plus one additional language at broken level are required. Usually the druid education makes the second language Latin, followed by Greek or more exotic tongues. Available Languages: Gaelic (Native), Anglo-Saxon, Norse, Pictish, Latin, Greek. Some druids may have knowledge of Elven and Dwarven tongues, along with other rare speech of the Outlands.

Cultural Familiarities: Druids study the writings of the Roman scholar who occupied Eire for many years. They may be familiar with a number of cultures, even some on the continent. Available Cultures: Eire, Prydain, Norman, Norse, Roman, Pictish. Druids have a great deal of knowledge of Elven and Dwarven cultures, due to a number of “cultural exchange programs” over the decades.

Required Skills

Druids study a wide variety of subjects, but share a broad core education and set of skills found in every student or member of the druid order. Any druid should have at least 6 skills from the General category and at least one skill from each of the specified categories below.

General: Area Knowledge (Eire), Diplomacy, Esoteric Medicine, First Aid, History (Eire), Housekeeping, Law (Eire), Meditation, Religious Ritual (Druid), Research, Survival (Woodlands).

Animal: Animal Handling, Falconry, Riding, or Veterinary.

Plant: Farming, Gardening, Naturalist, or Herb Lore.

Arts: Literature, Poetry, or Expert Skill (Bardic Lore).

Clerical Spells and Druids

Clerical spells have no prerequisites. A druid of any rank may acquire a new spell any time he has points to spend, simply by praying for it; teachers and study are unnecessary. Through their standard education and relationship with the spirits of earth and forest, druids are generally limited to the following spell colleges: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, and Healing. On occasion a druid will be allowed to specialize in a non-traditional field and even engage in the formal study of magic and sorcery under the tutelage of a wizard.

The Druid College Core Curriculum

Druids study all the natural and elemental schools of magic. Any student of the druid curriculum will have a general working knowledge and practical ability in Air, Earth, Fire, and Water magic (the traditional elements), as well as Animal and Plant magic. Any druid must spend at minimum of 3 points in each of these schools.

Deities and Spells Available

Devotion to a particular deity may allow a druid to acquire spells outside these standard colleges.

Aengus. Communication and Empathy. Mind Control.

Airmed. Body Control. Healing.

Brann. Necromancy.

Cernunnos. Sound. Weather.

Dagda. Weather.

Danu. Food. Making and Breaking.

Lugh. Light and Darkness.

Macha. Fire. Making and Breaking.

Morrigan. Divination. Knowledge. Necromancy.

Ogma. Communication and Empathy. Enchantment. Knowledge.

Tuireann. Weather.

Note: The player should inform the GM if the druid character is devoted to a particular deity and what, if any, ritual or other discipline must be followed. The GM will determine the attributes of the deity, if necessary, though he will likely just adapt the stats from a certain classic fantasy RPG tome. Any player wishing to use a deity not listed above should consult with the GM concerning spells available and other matters.