Beloved of Gaia

When one thinks about the term 'Druid', one likely imagines men in white cloth, with long beards, carrying staves and observing the world around them with an eye towards what might be considered practical philosophy. But, there is more to this legend and there are kernels of truth which have remained hidden.

When Gaia created the Fae races, and imbued the Sidhe (sometimes called the Tuatha Dé Danann), She knew that there would need to be humans that took up the cause of the Earth and would act in ways to protect and defend her. With the limitations the the Fae would have placed upon them by their very natures, Gaia called out to certain humans. These humans, after long periods of training became the first Druids. In some ways, the Druids were intended to be counterparts to the Fae, and partners with the Sidhe. In other ways, they were intended to go where the Fae could not.

The advent of Christianity saw the Druids come under fire as the Christian faith spread from old Rome to encompass most of Europe. The Irish, home of the Druids, in particular were targeted by Christian missionaries and the legendary Saint Patrick. Before Christianity was finished with the British Isles, most of the Druids had been slain. A few were taken to the world of the Fae, also known as Tír na nÓg, and there hidden. Only one Druid remained on Earth, and after two thousand years of hiding, running, and mastering a unique form of magic, has begun to train others. This druid, Siodhachan O Suileabhain, has managed to train the occasional Druid before the modern era, including in his unique form of magic, but for the first time he has the focus and the time to do so in more than one-on-one relationships.

As the Goddess commanded the Fae to return the to the world, the few Druids remaining in Tír na nÓg have joined the Fae in returning to Earth, and while few in number, the aptly named 'Iron Druid' is no longer the only Druid.

The Training of a Druid

Training new druids is an arduous process that lasts, by necessity, a minimum of 12 years. This time is spent learning languages, which are important for creating different modes of thinking, which allow the Druid the necessary mental headpsace to interact with elementals and to use magic as well as learning about the supernatural world and the nature of Druidic powers. It culminates in a 3 month process wherein the Apprentice is "bound to the earth", recieving mystical tattoos which link the Druid to Gaia and create a conduit to the power of the earth that can be used to fuel the Druid's magic. These tattoos stretch on a single side, the length of the body, beginning with the feet and ending around the shoulder. Gaia herself works with Druids during the binding, and guides the elder Druid in the tattoos the new Druid is to recieve. After the binding, the apprentice graduates, and is considered a full Druid in their own right with all of its attendant rights and responsibilities.

Each Druid, as part of the tattooing, recieves 4 different shapes that the druid can shapeshift into. As Gaia helps bind the Druid to herself, these shapes are a gift of Gaia and chosen by her. These animal shapes represent normal animals of their species, and are not supernatural in any respect. Each druid recieves a land-based predator shape, a flight form, an aquatic shape, and a land-based travel shape. As an example, Siodhachan O Suileabhain can turn into a wolfhound, an owl, a sea otter, and a stag. One of his apprentices, Granuaile (pronounced GRAWN ya wale) MacTiernan can turn into a black jaguar, a peregrine falcon, a sea lion, and a horse.

These tattoos are what bind the Druid to Gaia and maintaining their integrity is important. If the tattoos are destroyed, the Druid loses this connection. If they are only partially destroyed, the Druid may lose the ability to shapeshift. If they are covered up they also seem to be less effective. Tattoos can be 'touched up' or reapplied by another Druid, but this takes an extended period of time, although not the full three months the initial binding takes.

Druids and Elementals

Elementals, known as Furies to the Alerans, are the spirits or chimera that embody specific biomes or elements. In the case of the Elementals of specific biomes, they are geographically landlocked to the same area they represent. Other elementals tend to be a little more flexible, or accessible regardless of where the druid is when they call upon the elementals. Elementals recognize the Druids are friends and brothers and typically work with the druid to accomplish the Druid's ends. This however does not preclude the concept of elementals demanding favors or payments for their service. The desert Sonora, for example, once requested that a coal mine be shut down in return for organizing and moving a vein of gold to a desired location.

Elementals do not communicate in any language, but instead seem to communicate by emotion-images, which after a little bit of practice can be interpreted as words by Druids. They also tend to idenify specific Druids by different monikers or descriptors. Granuaile, for instance, is known as 'Fierce Druid' to the elementals.