Druid, a priest

The leaders of The Druidic Faith are oftentimes not known by any specific title, simply Druids. That the word (usually lowercase) applies to all members following the druidic faith as well has never seemed to bother any of them.

Career

Qualifications

druidry talent, education, experience

Career Progression

Priests and elders lead the community. The terms Acolyte and Apprentice are interchangeable, both meaning a priest in training. (No one apprentices to become an elder, the term is given to those of vast experience.)

Payment & Reimbursement

These priests are supported by their communities in whatever purposes they are about. Traveling priests can expect to be supplied with riding or pack animals, supplies to carry them for a while, and shelter wherever they go. Landed or resident priests are usually gifted with whatever lands and shelter they own, and those who are seeking counsel or assistance provide them with food and other necessities. Some landed priests are acknowledged by secular leaders to the point of being given donations on a regular schedule in return for being accessible should need arise.

Other Benefits

Druid sages are the most highly respected members of the druidic community, but often they are well-known outside of their own demographic as well. The respect comes with responsibility, but with the entire history of the Druidic Faith to back them up, they function as well as any experienced leader can, subject only to the frailties of their own body and mind.

Perception

Purpose

These priests, sages, and elders are the knowledge-base of their community, fulfilling roles from teacher to adjudicant, healer to champion. Generally they lead the druids local to them, or travel between several areas, and network with other Druids to share information, experiences, and news.

Social Status

This is the highest social status among those of the druidic faith, and often those non-druids who recognize the depth of learning and wisdom inherent in the priests. At times this status has brought great hardship in places that have tried to cast out or outright harm druids for one reason or another. (A leader of exiles is still an exile.)

Demographics

Only a small portion of the druidic people are priests, but an additional portion are considered apprentices or acolytes, and sometimes this is the sought-after position. An acolyte can teach children, for instance, without seeking further education as a priest for other purposes. Acolytes are more common than sages.

History

The leaders of the druidic people date back to before it was considered a specific faith, back to when all people followed their shamans, who attempted to explain the world around them.

Operations

Tools

Knowledge is the foremost tool used by the Druids, followed closely by Druidry or druidic magic, though often more mundane tools are involved in the use of either. Any tools used by a scribe, an archivist, a healer, or a nobleman are likely applicable here.

Materials

As a spokesperson or leader of other people, not much is truly required of a Druid. Still, everything from parchment and ink to herbs and magical implements are used. Most commonly a traveling priest will carry writing supplies, foodstuffs, a healer's kit stocked with herbs, and any materials specific to any personal talents or fields of interest that Druid may have.

Workplace

Druids lead from among their people. This can look like a meeting hall or can involve a house call. The priest may live in one place or travel around. Those who teach may have places erected to do so or teach from a forest clearing. The location is far secondary to the people and the purpose.
Standing stones are sometimes considered part of a Druid's work area, but it is difficult to define the interactions between the two. Ritual garments, furnishings, and even special food and drink can be involved in ceremonial duties, but there are far more mundane tasks for the sage to attend to.

Alternative Names

Sage, Priest, sometimes Elder; Greybeard (derog.)

Type

Religious

Demand

Required in Druidic communities.

Legality

The legal status of Druids can vary from region to region. In some, they are considered religious leaders, and have no legal position to adjudicate conflict. In others, they are accepted as counselors, but not allowed to tend to their people without oversight. Most who follow the druidic faith accept the options open to them, knowing that they're one people among many.