The Woodswalker

Artist - ego - Artsplash.com

Artist - Clarence Bateman - Artstation.com

Qualifications

The Woodswalkers have undergone the trials of Murtak, the god of the Forest.
The trials are designed to test all skills and temperaments that would be required of the rank of Woodswalker.
The first day of the trials is all the physical skills. In sight of gods and men, the subjects would engage in public trials at the festival of Murtak. A series of challenges would put the subjects through a wide range of testing. Areas of testing: Plant identification, first aid, agility, flintknapping, bow making, bowmanship, tracking, snares, hunting, field dressing, navigation, water location and gathering.
The second day was testing the spirit. The subject would undergo rituals under the watch of the High Priest of Murtak. The High priest and the subjects would lock themselves in the temple, and the ritual would begin away from the rest of the people. The ritual was intended for the subjects to be tested and judged by Murtak himself. The subjects would be given the ink of sight, the extract from the Kobocha Mushrooms, vivid hallucinations would be induced and the priest would guide them through a trip testing their limits of their spiritual constitution, and interpreting the judgement of Murtak.
The third and final day of the trials would test the limits of the subjects psyche. The high priest, along with the acolytes of temple of Murtak would bind the subjects to the dais in the temple, and the Mark of the Woodswalker would be applied. The Mark of the Woodswalker is a ritual tattoo process, bestowing the wearer with the protection of Murtak, as well as signifying their rank as Woodswalker. The ritual continued with the High Priest continuing to tattoo the rest of the new Woodswalkers face and body, until the subject looses consciousness, thus completing the ritual. With their limit being defined, it serves as a measurement of the heirarchy within the rank of Woodswalkers.

Appointment

The High Priest of the temple of Murtak is the ultimate judge of trials. The Emperor puts all faith in the High Priest as the worldly conduit of the will of the god of the forest.

Duties

Entry to the forest is forbidden by the emperor, unless accompanied by a Woodswalker.
The Woodswalkers, main duties are to protect and guide travelers, merchants, and soldiers out into the forest. They have proven to the emperor and the gods that they are able and worthy to survive into the forest, and their services are rented by anyone who wishes to go into the forest. Their services are in high demand.

Benefits

The Woodswalkers earn the glory and admiration from the all of the Valsgardi Empire. With their station, they earn a home in the Nobility district, and they are free from taxation by the court of the Emperor.

The Mark of the Woodswalker and accompanying tattoos.

Artist - Casey Jones

Type

Nobility, Honorific / Ceremonial

Form of Address

Brave One

Length of Term

Once a person earns the Mark of the Woodswalker, their position, and its glory, is held until the person no longer draws breath.