Natural Bond/Druidism

Those of the Emerald Order are different than the rest of us. They have a more unique bond, that is harder to explain in such conditions as a lecture hall. So for those of you so connected, that Dulra is the manna of which you shall be tied too, your education shall be a much more unique experience than that of your fellows of the other Orders.

First Arcanist Theresa Lindlewood, giving the introductory lecture to the a hall of several dozen newly marked magister hopefuls in the Academia of Octi, the largest campus of the Magisterium, in the city of Valenwood.

Magister of the Emerald Order are something of a breakway from the other orders of the Magisterium. They embrace the wilderness in the way that they train, and prefer to educate, pretty much from the beginning, in one on one, mentor and apprentice relationships. There is no period of group or classroom or college style learning for potential apprentices of the Emerald Order. They instead jump right in, no matter their age, and are assigned to a mentor, someone whom they will spend night and day with, learning to survive, and thrive in the natural world around them. Hunting, fishing, foraging, basic survival, tracking, natural medicine, these are the sorts of activities that are utilized as gateways, as methods to teaching the basic concepts that will insure a strong, solid and healthy partnership and relationship with Dulra. Through this training, and over time, the Natural Bond will begin to grow and manifest itself in the apprentice, as they learn and master these adjacent skills and their magickal arts.

Manifestation

Like any of the elemental magick bonds, the Natural Bond manifests in a wide ranging variety of ways, effecting the body physically and physiologically, as well as effecting the mental and emotional state of the magister. It will again effect everything from dietary choices to training methods, and discipline/behavior to simple matters of taste in literature and artwork.

Physical Changes

Those whom go through the Natural Bond will oft by choice forgo standard societal garments and structures, wearing clothing made by hand and of raw materials. Their hair and eye colors will shift, their hair will likely be kept long, rather untamed and wild. For some the changes may become more notable as listed below;

• Emerald Magisters all seem to key into a particular aspect of the environment they were raised in. Be it their eyes becoming like those of a great hunting cat, or like a wolf's, or an eagle, this is something that happens to all Emerald Magisters, the shape and look of them change. However the iris of these eyes is always emerald green.

• Their hair color and thickness, even its texture, will oft change as well, emulating a creature, within the limits of hair versus whatever sorts of fur or feathers that creature may have. Or in some cases their hair merely alters in color, becoming a leafy green, growing wild and thick.

• Some even have their teeth take slight changes in shape, emulating, at appropriate scale, the tooth structure of a particular animal

• Their dietary preferences will shift heavily to favor basic simple foods, but rich in flavor. Wild game, harvest wild flora, fresh fish, at most cooked over an open fire. Some even supposedly change in such a way where they can digest raw meat.

Emotional Changes

Those of the Emerald Order natural become rather introverted, generally preferring to shun large gatherings or large volumes of people, preferring the natural realm and the predictable, if arguably more harsh, rules and social structures of the wild, such that they exist. They are often stoic, seemingly prickly or unapproachable, but actually quite kind in their own way. They seem to be more in tune with their instincts as well, able to lean on and trust them more than most sapients can.

Physiological Changes

As mentioned previously, it is known that some Emerald Magisters develop the capability to digest raw meat. This is far from the only physiological change that seems to occur, as detailed many of them are tied to outward physical appearance changes. However there are a few other more detailed ones. Magisters of the Emerald Order will oft have unique and different sleep cycles, inheriting some level of their sleep cycle as similar to the totem animal that seems to be tied to them and their connection to Dulra. Emerald Magisters are also known to seem to take upon them a body type common to their home climate. Some are lean and athletic like hunting cats of the great plains and savannahs. Others are stout and powerful, grizzly like the bears of the woods and highlands. Those touched by Dulra inherit many and varied qualities from their connection to Dulra, far more than any other Order and far to numerous in their potential to be fully discussed here.

by Keon Croucher (discord name, drizzt103) was the input operator, Midjourney AI took those inputs and put the image together.

Magicks of Druidism

Druidism is a unique discipline compared to its brother and sister magicks in its practice and technique. The other schools take a much more...educative and well...classroom approach, or one borne of repetition, extreme and constant training and practice, as befits the essence of the manna that they manipulate and treat with. Dulra is of a different force and energy entirely, however. It is instinctual, wild, animalistic. It is survival, it is wilderness, it is to trust one's own baser instincts. There is no deeper techniques or understanding to be taught directly, no real theory to educate about. One must simply hone and become comfortable with their more basic instincts.

The source of a Druid's power comes from the Emerald Currents of manna, that of Dulra, of nature and life. This energy is volatile, it is very lively, hearty, wild and free. It is without deeper constraint or logic, without deeper reason or goals, it is merely life, alive for its own sake. It is the rawest of instincts, those to survive, to thrive, to live well and hearty, given true form.

A druid's mastery of their connection can be manifest through a variety of spell-forms, which are listted below;