Hand of the Healers
Overview
The Hand of the Healers is an Imperial title that serves as custodian of the Houses of Healing at Peakedge Song in Therunin, constructed with the aid of the eternal Lord Rain, and intended to support the healers of the Empire. They have several responsibilities, and in return receive access to powerful magic items that aid healing, including some that are unknown to Imperial lore. These gifts are dependant on Ossegrahn continuing to have a good relationship with the Empire and the Imperial Conclave.
The motion to construct the House of Healing was passed during the Spring Equinox 385YE. The House of Healing is supported by the followers of Ossegrahn and the original opportunity for the construction was presented by heralds of the Cupbearer during the Spring Equinox 385YE. More information on the opportunity can be found in the Rain king wind of fortune.
Responsibilities
The Hand of the Healers has a number of responsibilities; they must strive to support healers throughout the Empire, both magical and mundane, helping them to overcome sickness and heal injuries wherever possible. They are expected also to actively work to reduce suffering in the world, especially through the use of murderous curses or unnecessary violence. Finally, if the House of Healing or any who work there or visit as patients were to come under threat, it would be the responsibility of the Hand to deal with those threats.
Powers
Offerings of Lord Rain
| Healing Implements | |
| 14 crowns | 1 Ambergelt Baton |
| 17 crowns | 1 Boneweaver |
| 18 crowns | 1 Bloodwoven Braid |
| 22 crowns | 1 Staff of Life |
| 30 crowns | 1 Woundbinder |
| 32 crowns | 1 Grimnir's Hearthfire |
| Healing Attire | |
| 18 crowns | 1 Trollsweave Vest |
| 25 crowns | 1 Robe of Blood and Bone |
| 41 crowns | 1 Moonsilver Doublet |
| 50 crowns | 1 Lifetender's Shawl |
| Healing Foci | |
| 7 crowns | 1 Escharotic Cauldron |
| 10 crowns | 1 Phial of the Sun |
| 11 crowns | 1 Cupbearer's Mask |
| 12 crowns | 1 Doctor's Mask |
| 16 crowns | 1 Chrysalis Pendant |
| 23 crowns | 1 Vine Mask |
| 30 crowns | 1 Chirurgeon's Ring |
The House of Healing functions as a ministry - the Hand of the Healers has access to three different purchase tracks allowing them to purchase implements, attire, and foci useful for healing from the followers of Ossegrahn. The Hand of the Healers makes their decision how much money to spend during downtime from their character page. They can only purchase one item from each of the three collections. Money is removed from, and ribbons are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.
If Ossegrahn were ever subject to a Declaration of Enmity by the Conclave the ministries would cease to function.
Gift of Rainfather
Ossegrahn provides the Hand of the Healers with a unique amulet for their personal use that increases their personal healing abilities. The details of this amulet are not widely known. OOC Note: This takes the form of a ribbon, and the player would need to provide their own physrep.
Appointment
The appointment, replacement or removal of the Hand of the Healers is made by the Declaration of Candidacy as part of a Conclave session.
The Hand of the Healers serves until they are replaced by another magician using the Declaration of Candidacy. The Hand cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
Houses of Healing
I'm not sure I understand what you are asking. Healing herbs... heal. They do what they do? You can find new things to heal with them but you cannot find new things for them to do .
Dreekbourne, Herald of the CupbearerThese gentle houses stand amidst tranquil and restful gardens near Peakedge Stread in Therunin. There are half a dozen primary lodges, built in a manner reminiscent of a Navarr wayhouse, along with another half dozen smaller structures intended to house contagious patients or visiting artisans. The burgeoning gardens contain examples of every plant with healing properties that can grow in Therunin, as well as large numbers of aromatic or simply beautiful flowing plants that contribute to the restful atmosphere. At the heart of the settlement is a quiet spring of pure water that is also a Spring regio tied to the domain of the Tarnfather, which allows gentle heralds to visit the Houses and assist the healers there.
The Houses of Healing were constructed as a result of an offer made by the servants of Lord Rain at the Spring Equinox 385YE. The Archmage of Spring at the time, Ibiss Briarheart, asked if Ossegrahn would sponsor a college to study herb lore and the healer's arts, but while the heralds appreciated the sentiment, they did not believe such a thing was possible. Certainly they didn't know of any way for a physick to use herbs in a way the Empire doesn't. The Archmage also asked whether Ossegrahn might provide aid to Imperial healers, and the followers of the Spring eternal were very much more enthusiastic about the possibility of offering direct, practical aid to those who work to keep people alive (even if they do sometimes do it on a battlefield).
After some discussion, among themselves and with the Cupbearer himself, the heralds put forward a proposal. There are a number of artisans in the Empire and elsewhere who are friends and allies to Ossegrahn who will craft magical tools for the benefit of the Empire's healers. Thus, the Houses of Healing were proposed, to be built either near Peakedge Stead in Therunin, or at the Gardens of High Chalcis in Reikos. There are apparently Spring regio near both locations that would serve as the foundation for their construction.
In addition to providing a safe and tranquil location for the artisans to work, they allow for the study of chirurgery, physick, herblore, and healing magic, as well as providing healing to any who visit. Ossegrahn proposed that a single individual would be appointed to oversee the Houses, called the Hand of the Healers, and they would bear additional responsibilities both to the doctors and healers of the Empire and to the friends of Ossegrahn who support them. In return, the eternal would serve as a patron, guiding and inspiring healers to find ways to reduce the suffering in the world.
The Hand of the Healers has access to ministries that allow them to purchase magic items intended to assist mundane and magical healers. Some of these items are unknown to Imperial crafters, being either secrets unique to a small group of artisans, or secured from sources outside the Empire. In each case, the artisans and merchants are individuals who have a good personal relationship with the Rainfather or one of his heralds. In addition, once each year, the Rainfather himself agrees to provide the Hand of the Healers with a unique amulet for their personal use that would increase their personal healing abilities.
These powers are contingent on good relationship with Ossegrahn. In the event the Conclave declared enmity against him, they would be lost. There is no guarantee they would automatically be recovered if the Conclave later changed their mind. Without the support of Ossegrahn the Houses of Healing would simply revert to being a hospital (it would essentially be a folly).
| Summit | Nation | Elected |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Equinox 386YE | Navarr | Raewynn Farkas |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Raewynn Farkas; it can be reelected at any summit by a declaration of candidacy. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
Tools of Healing and Protection
Click Expand to see a summary of the items that the Houses of Healing can provide which are not common knowledge among Imperial artisans.
Lifetender's Shawl
- Form: Armour. Takes the form of a robe. You must be wearing this robe to use its magical properties.
- Requirement: You must have the magician skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Three times per day you can swift cast the heal, purify, or restore limb spell on another character without spending any mana. You must be able to cast the appropriate spell to use this power, and cannot use it on yourself.
- Roleplaying Effect: While wearing this robe your empathy for other people is greatly enhanced. When you see a living creature in pain, you feel an urge to alleviate that pain, regardless of how you feel about that person.
Doctor's Mask
- Form: Talisman. Takes the form of a ritual focus. You must be wearing this item or holding it in hand to use its magical properties.
- Requirement: You must have the magician skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Gain 1 rank for the Blood of the Hydra, Hands of Sacred Life, and Hearthfire Circle rituals, subject to the normal rules for effective skill.
Cupbearer's Mask
- Form: Talisman. Takes the form of a ritual focus. You must be wearing this item or holding it in hand to use its magical properties.
- Requirement: You must have the magician skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Gain 1 rank for the Chirurgeon's Healing Touch, Fountain of Life, and Hands of the Healer rituals, subject to the normal rules for effective skill. When contributing to a performance of one of these rituals, you may choose to substitute weltsilver for crystal mana. Every 2 measures of weltsilver spent counts as 1 crystal mana, up to the normal limit determined by your effective rank of spring lore.
Vine Mask
- Form: Talisman. Takes the form of a ritual focus. You must be wearing this item or holding it in hand to use its magical properties.
- Requirement: You must have the magician skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Gain 2 ranks for the Regrow the Land's Heart, and Rivers of Life rituals, subject to the normal rules for effective skill. When contributing to a performance of one of these rituals, you may choose to substitute ambergelt for crystal mana. Every 2 measures of ambergelt spent counts as 1 crystal mana, up to the normal limit determined by your effective rank of spring lore.
Chirurgeon's Ring
- Form: Talisman. Takes the form of a tool. You must be holding this item in hand to use its magical properties.
- Requirements: You must have the Chirurgeon skill to bond to this item.
- Effect: Twice per day you can use the stay with me skill as if you knew it without spending any hero points.
- Roleplaying Effect: Whenever someone nearby is injured, you feel an echo of that injury. It is easy to be overwhelmed with grief when someone dies, even a total stranger.
The Title in Play
The role does not provide additional information about events in the Empire, nor allow the player holding it to request special reports or downtime actions. These details are assumed to be below the abstraction layer. The title holder is encouraged to create their own stories about their activities within reasonable limits and to get involved in events appropriate to their title during the game, but they do not have any powers beyond those explicitly listed in the section on powers.
These details exist partly to provide context and character to the role - and partly to allow our writers to use the title as a plot hook. Plot that involves the position will be rare - but all the campaign positions in Empire have these details to create the potential for it to happen.