Elven Priests

[Darkstar]

Ed Stark wrote:

> Again, if you want to have elven priests for some reason, go ahead. Just
> keep in mind that you are changing the existing dynamic of the BR campaign
> setting.

I have Elven Priests who follow Rhoubhe Manslayer, however they don't
gain any spells from this and work more a sort of agitators to stir up
the local Elven populations into supporting Rhoubhe.

- --
Ian Hoskins

e-Mail: hoss@box.net.au
ICQ: 2938300
Home Page: http://www.box.net.au/~hoss/birth.html

From the Darkness we came,
and to the Darkness we will return.

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Wed, 17 Dec 1997, Sythryc wrote:

> well that makes little sense, not using healing spells because its unnatural,
> heck, magic divine or otherwise isn't natural either

You've made the cardinal error of interpreting "natural" in terms of our
own world, rather than in the context of the game world. In Cerilia, and
to the people living there, magic is completely natural. It is a normal
function of the natural world on the plane of Aebrynnis. To the elves,
divine magic is unnatural because they had no knowledge of it until humans
came to the continent. But, of course, to humans, it IS completely
natural, a natural component of the world in which they live--which has a
definite divine component.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[Sepsis]

At 04:09 PM 12/17/97 EST, Sythryc(Sythryc@aol.com)wrote:
>
>well that makes little sense, not using healing spells because its unnatural,
>heck, magic divine or otherwise isn't natural either
>

Exactly. Thats why they will only use their magical abilities to restore
natural settings, and resources. *Any* use of magic is at least slightly
unnatural, and thus abhorred. Only when restoring nature do they feel
justified in its use (speeding the natural course of healing is not
justified, replacing tree growth that has been wiped out by logging is).
For the most part they are the caretakers of the various "holy" rituals and
functions (ie. weddings, funerals, etc.) that are a necessary part of life,
they represent the spiritual side of Elves and their connection to nature.
They are not meant to grant Elves access to Priest spells, that would
disrupt one of the most basic truths about Cerilian Elves (as was well
pointed out by Ed). In this form, Elven Druids fill an obvious void without
causing this disruption.


Sepsis, richt@metrolink.net (ICQ:3777956)

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State;
the province of life or death;
the road to survival or ruin.
It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied."
-Sun Tzu,(The Art of War)-

BR Netbook: http://webpages.metrolink.net/~veleda/birth.html

[Sepsis]

At 08:02 PM 12/18/97 EST, Sythryc(Sythryc@aol.com)wrote:
>
>i still cannot fathom your remarks, if they 'heal' the wood then why not
>'heal' elven protectors of the wood?
>

Elven Druids see themselves as overseers of the Elven spiritual life, and
protectors of the forests. They are willing to use their abilities to
"heal" unnatural damage done to the woods, but feel that the "civilized"
society of Elves can choose and pick their battles. If they pick to fight
then the damage they incur is of their own volition and thus "natural";
they will have to heal on their own. Now an exception might arise if, for
example, a group of wayward Goblins stomped into an Elven village and
attacked non-combatants (children, etc.). In that circumstance the Druids
*may* heal the Elves, but they are just as likely to say "it is the way of
things, Elves and Goblins fight and people die on both sides." While a tree
does not normally do combat with mammals, and an attack on them by Humans,
Goblins, or Elves (such as lumbering) is not natural and steps must be
taken to even it out. Another point of view is that Elves are creatures of
nature, and by interfering with the Elves natural bodily processes it some
how takes them away from nature. Of course I will probably go along with
Trizt's suggestion and limit the Druids to only having access to the Plant
and Animal Spheres, and that solves all questions of why don't they heal.


Sepsis, richt@metrolink.net (ICQ:3777956)

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State;
the province of life or death;
the road to survival or ruin.
It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied."
-Sun Tzu,(The Art of War)-

BR Netbook: http://webpages.metrolink.net/~veleda/birth.html