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Empath New Player Guide
Some of the most valued lessons received
when joining the Empath Guild come not from a spell or skill
being taught, but in the wise words passed down from the experience
of others. These words are written in the hopes that they may
benefit you in your career as a Healer.
As Empaths, we bear the pain of all the people of the Lands.
We stand between Life and the Starry Path, protecting people
from Death, saving them from the darkness of Chaos. We cannot
harm people; it is not something we can ever do without regretting
it. We feel the pain of anyone we touch. The work we do is
unique to us alone. Only Empaths have the skill to transfer
injury, poison, and disease. We alone are tuned so keenly
to the suffering of others that we may take it onto ourselves,
and offer health to those who need it in return.
May you find guidance within these pages, and the inspiration
to heal.
THE BASICS: I've Joined the Guild.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
WHERE DO I START?
To begin, the gifts of Hodierna (Elanthia's patron goddess
of Healers) allow us to take wounds, poison, and even disease
from our patients and transfer it to ourselves. Once wounds
are transferred to our bodies, we can use our magic to heal
ourselves.
When you have joined the Guild, you should ASK the
Guild leader about MAGIC. The Guild leader will
tell you about the spells you are eligible to learn. You
will receive first
the External Wound Healing (EWH) spell. This will
allow you to repair external wounds on your body after transferring
them from a patient. To use this spell, you will need to
prepare it using the command PREPare EWH <mana amount>.
After you prepare it, wait for a message indicating you are
ready to cast, and then CAST <body part>. As you grow,
you will be given other spells to learn. These other spells
are often prepared and cast in the same, or similar, manner.
You may wish to seek advice from an older Empath or a Mentor
if you experience difficulty with healing yourself. Though
it is recommended by many that you gain the ability to heal
both internal and external wounds and scars as quickly as
you can, it is up to your skill and your healing style which
spells you will choose in later years.
Another thing you will receive as you grow and gain ranks
in your profession are Time
Development Points (TDPs). These
can be used to increase your statistics, or your ability
to perform certain types of skills. You can view your statistics
by checking your INFOrmation. Many Empaths invest their TDPs
in increasing their Stamina because Stamina helps Empaths
resist the debilitating effects of poison, disease, and constant
injury. How you elect to use your TDPs should depend on how
you want to shape your life. You may want to seek recommendations
from other adventurers for additional information on the
options available.
Joining the Guild will allow you to begin healing others.
To see a person's wounds, touch the person who is injured.
Use the command TOUCH <person>. When you touch your
patient, you are shown all of his/her wounds, and vitality
loss.
To begin healing, use the command TAKE <Person> <WOUND
TYPE> <body part>
Examples:
TAKE <person> INT RIGHT ARM to heal internal
wounds in the arm
TAKE <person> INT RIGHT ARM SCAR,
to heal the scar left when you have healed the arm
The commands
are the same with external wounds. Simply replace INT with
EXT for external. There are variations of this combination,
such as using the word TRANSFER rather than TAKE. It is
important to be aware that some terminology may cause different
messaging;
we recommend experimenting to determine which method works
best for you. You may also want to ask your fellow healers
for advice on the method they prefer.
Initially, the young healer will find it difficult to maintain
the connection with the patient. This is not uncommon, and
may take many levels of knowledge to overcome. Be cautious
not to press this and risk overhealing. Since it is easy
to overheal when young, it is very important to keep an eye
on your vitality. You can do this by checking your HEALTH.
Many young Empaths experience their first death due to healing
rather than by an attack in the fields. Even too many scars
can cause death, so it is important to watch those areas
in which you have layered your healing. Try and heal any
bad injuries you have transferred to yourself before healing
another patient with an injury in the same location. If you
are very young, and haven’t yet gained all the spells
necessary to heal yourself, you may want to ask an older
Empath to assist you with cleaning your own wounds. Be sure
to appreciate the assistance when given, as Empaths do not
gain any skill from healing another Empath.
The command BREAK <person> is very important to know.
It is recommended you use this when you check your health
and notice your vitality has dropped drastically, if you
are taking a wound too severe for you to heal in one transfer,
or if you are near death. This command will break the healing
link between you and a patient, ceasing the transfer of their
wound to your body. A less effective way to break a link
is to leave the room your patient is in for a minute or so.
Be advised that if you have TOUCHed and TAKEn multiple times
from a patient, you will need to either BREAK the link multiple
times to cease transferring wounds entirely, or BREAK <person> ALL.
Use this last option with caution, and always verify that
all links have truly been broken.
One more piece of general information: As Empaths, we must
remember to never attack another person or creature. Doing
harm, even to something as pesky as a shiprat, results in
our being stunned and developing Empathic shock. The shock
will take away your ability to heal. The length of time this
lasts depends on what kind of harm we have done. If the attack
results in the death of what you have struck, you will never
be able to heal again.
Where Do I Go to Gain Experience Healing People?
It's a misconception in Elanthia that Empaths are required
to heal everyone. It is important to remember this golden
rule: an Empath's first priority is to remain healthy. With
every wound an Empath takes, they must heal twice as much
as they have taken. This can become a crucial point when
a new healer takes on the first typical healing challenge-the
Infirmary, located in the Crossing Empath Guild.
An Empath must deal with disruptions in the Infirmary on
a daily basis. While the Infirmary is primarily a place to
be healed, many also view the Infirmary as a valuable resource
for knowledge, and come to practice skills, and teach and
learn in classes of various types. While this makes the Infirmary
a wonderful place of learning, it also serves to add to the
noise surrounding those that most need to concentrate. A
lapse of concentration can lead to mistakes...mistakes in
this profession can mean death.
While some folk seem to understand that the Empaths work
as hard as is safely possible, many that come to the Infirmary
are there for one reason and one reason only: to get healed
as quickly as possible. Often, a gentle nudge or reminder
to those being disruptive will encourage them to cease any
unnecessary activity. Remember, too, that you are not obligated
to heal anyone. The gift of healing is one you can choose
with whom to share.
As a general rule of thumb, don't jump in and start helping
with a patient already being healed. Ask the attending Empath
if they would like assistance first. The practice of transferring
wounds is a difficult skill to master, and some Empaths may
object to sharing their opportunity to learn. In addition,
the attending healer may become confused if wounds they are
planning to take in a certain order begin to disappear. Be
careful to look before beginning a shift of healing to ensure
that those already present receive the same courtesy that
you would like to receive.
When the healing is completed, the healer is often offered
a payment of some sort. This takes many forms: pelts, coins,
gems, herbs. The choice of whether or not to accept a tip
is up to each individual healer. While some choose to request
a simple hug or thank you in exchange for a healing, others
believe that a financial contribution should be expected
of those that wish healing. It is important to remember,
though, that just as acknowledgment of healing is expected,
so too is appreciation of any thanks received. Doing so establishes
a good reputation and the foundation for a returning clientele.
Lastly, to help reduce the amount of confusion in an already
confused atmosphere, familiarize yourself with what does
and does not belong in the room. There are places to put
unwanted things in both the Infirmary and the main room.
The white cabinet in the Infirmary, the bucket of viscous
gloop in the main room, the barrel outside the Empath Guild,
and the donation shelf are all alternatives to dropping trash
on the ground. While many of our patients are too impatient
or unaware to care about the upkeep of the Infirmary, consider
the courtesy you extend to your fellow healers when you choose
to pick up a stray bolt or arrow and dispose of it properly.
Are There Any Tricks To Help Make Me a Better Healer?
There are many skills in addition to the basic ones required
by the Empath Guild Leaders that will prove beneficial should
you choose to learn them. Magical
Devices knowledge is just
one of the hidden secrets to effective healing and general
Empath skill. Using magical devices as a skill is not usually
considered until you are relatively established in the guild;
however, we encourage you to take advantage of this helpful
tool.
When first learning how to use magical devices, it is probably
best to start by getting a runestone. They are commonly dropped
by some creatures, and are sometimes carried in surplus by
adventurers. Asking around your guild for an extra runestone
is a good idea. There are several different kinds of magical
devices in the lands that function similarly to a runestone,
so we'll keep the explanation general here.
Each type of runestone contains a different spell. FOCUSing
on the runestone can help determine what spell is encased
in the runestone, and the magnitude of its power. The spells
vary, from harmless spells to offensive combat spells. Because
of this, it is a good idea to ask what spell is in the runestone,
or what it does, if you wish to use the spell. Runestones
with offensive combat spells should not be used by Empaths.
All of this focusing leads to utilizing one of the best
tools for an Empath: cambrinth. Cambrinth items function
a little differently than runestones, and come in many forms:
from rings to earrings, animal figurines to hair nets. Cambrinth
items are capable of storing small amounts of harness, and
then releasing it when you cast a spell. This comes in handy
when in low-mana rooms, or when casting a high-powered spell.
For more
information about magical devices, please refer to the magic
documentation.
Hey, Those Runestones Are Cool, What Else
is Out There?
As Empaths of the realms, we are expected to grow in both
Survival and Lore knowledge. Finding herbs by foraging is
a fundamental Empath survival skill, and the more you practice,
the more adept you will become in finding a variety of herbs.
Because an Empath's studies are required to encompass many
aspects, alchemy becomes a perfect way to acquire many levels
of knowledge. As you grow and gain experience in life, you
will find many uses for the things mentioned in this section.
Elanthia has many natural herbs possessing defined healing
properties. Many of these natural medicines can be foraged
and used to aid us in the healing process. It is recommended
that healers experiment with their foraging skill to determine
which items are attainable by foraging. If you do not wish
to forage for the herbs, some can be purchased at various
herbalists in the provinces. Two such fine establishments
include Mauriga's Botanicals in the Crossing and Tiger Clan
Home Cottage.
Sometimes we can prepare these herbs further using alchemical
processes to increase their properties. Alchemy is the practice
of combining substances, such as natural herbs containing
healing properties, with catalysts. The philosophy behind
this practice is to create more potent compounds that can
heal wounds. There are many combinations for possible alchemical
results. Experimentation is always the best course, though
asking others can also help provide clues to medicinal recipes.
These days, a knowledgeable Empath has the best chance at
surviving. When the spells fail, it is nice to have a standby.
I've Learned a Lot, Now I'd Like to Explore
While many Empaths are perfectly content to sit in one location
and heal the wounded that pass by, some Empaths feel this
is too confining for their tastes, and they prefer to heal
and adventure in the various hunting grounds in Elanthia.
These are what we call "Field Empaths," because
they heal in the hunting fields. While this practice is mostly
associated with older Empaths possessing the Battle Empath
title, this aspect of our profession is not limited to any
specific rank. However, if you are considering this type
of lifestyle, you should keep a few things in mind.
First, you need to decide if you want to allow any creatures
in the fields to approach you, or if you prefer to stand
back and let the hunters do what they do best. Asking to
be guarded in the field is perfectly acceptable; however,
if you are in an area where creatures outnumber hunters,
it can be difficult to be guarded constantly. Exercise caution
at all times! There is always a chance the critter will injure
you, and when you are trying to save another's life, there
is no need to jeopardize your own.
If you are the type who wants to wrestle a bit with critters,
armor is highly recommended. Most Empaths like leather armor
because it is light and easy to maneuver in, but armor should
be a personal choice. Having a shield or a parrying weapon
handy helps as well, but be careful that you don't use the
weapon incorrectly (i.e. jabbing at the creature!). Parrying with the weapon, however, will help you maintain your balance.
Also, a vital skill to learn if you plan to heal or fight
in the field is evasion. This will aid in your ability to
dodge attacks if you are engaged with a creature. These skills
can be learned by listening to classes taught by more experienced
persons, or by actively using the skill in a combat situation.
As mentioned previously, the commitment Empaths make to
the preservation of life prevents us from actively hunting
or fighting critters. If you do choose to hold a weapon for
parrying purposes, be careful that you are parrying only
with it. Jabbing, slicing, or otherwise using the weapon
in a threatening manner will cause you to feel ill in your
stomach. Making contact with a creature will result in a
long stun and possible additional injury should you fall
beneath the creature’s attack while immobilized. If
the creature dies as a result of your attack, the end result
of the stun you experience is a loss of the healing skill
that is so necessary for the Empath profession. Be aware
of your actions in the field at all times; Empaths serve
themselves and others well by being observant.
If you are out healing in the fields, try to be in an area
with decent life mana, or at least make sure you are not
too injured. Injuries hinder your ability to evade attacks,
and sometimes even a slight wound can result in bleeding
when an angry creature hits a previously injured area. It
is a good idea to practice your Power Perception skill so
that you can use the magic in the room to your advantage,
as well as decipher if you can dash into a nearby room to
cast your spells more effectively. To see the mana in each
room and better your Power
Perception skill, simply CONCentrate
in each room you are in.
Those adventurers who fight in the fields welcome Field
Empaths. It is a genuine service to the hunters of Elanthia,
particularly those that wish to avoid entering cities and
towns. Going directly to those that need assistance enables
hunters to continue hunting with little interruption. You
will find, should you choose this path of the profession,
that the emotional and financial rewards to field healing
are addictive.
A Few Last Words
The life of a healer is not an easy one, but the benefits
of doing a good day's healing often outweigh the pain absorbed
during the course of this work. It is hoped that the information
contained here will help start you on the path to becoming
a well-balanced Empath.
CONTRIBUTORS: This guide was originally posted on the Mentor
Web site, and has been updated and modified. We'd like to
thank Auroria, Callyste, Damaria, Florine, Nynnia, Vivianna,
and Sizear for their contributions to the original work.
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