Justifying a druid from Candlekeep
Necomancer
Member Posts: 622
I'm curious how you could justify being a druid when you spent your entire life behind the walls of candlekeep. I'm having a difficult time justifying being a druid or ranger from Candlekeep. Mind you, theres always the "I wanted to be one so I am one" excuse, but I'd like something a bit more immersive.
I'm also just pondering RPing some other class and dual classing into druid soon after leaving candlekeep. Perhaps claiming Jaheira as a mentor and inspiration. Any other ideas?
I'm also just pondering RPing some other class and dual classing into druid soon after leaving candlekeep. Perhaps claiming Jaheira as a mentor and inspiration. Any other ideas?
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and yes of course Jaheira could have given you more of the rigourous training
Candlekeep has to get food from somewhere. That means farming and hunting. Where there is farming and hunting, there are druids and rangers. There are even "barbarians", where "barbarian" is defined as "one who lives off the land, is highly likely to be a "Great Spirit" type nature worshipper, and has a penchant for solving problems through rage and violence".
Gorion, from what little we have of his character, seems like an enlightened and tolerant enough chap to me, that he would have no problem raising Charname to be a hunter/gatherer nature worshipper if that's what the young demi-godling showed an aptitude for.
And, Gorion's best friends are Jaheira and her husband. I don't see him as knowing nothing about druidic or rangerly arts.
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
For some of the above explanations, I don't think just plain book learning is really enough to explain these classes. Level 1 means having some skills and practical experience.
As well as your generic nature druids, druids are also the main "clergy" of some nature gods. So, you could become one comparably to a cleric, perhaps (that is a druid of a specific god thanks to religious experience). Then, you can get the spells and religious skills and just be a druid who really doesn't know jack about nature in reality. Which I suppose might be a fun roleplay- the neophyte clergyman of a nature god seeing rivers and forests for the first time.
I actually think ranger or barbarian are harder to justify. The whole point of a ranger is having this practical knowledge (how on earth would you have a favoured enemy?). The barbarian is the same, but with the exact opposite cultural experience from that which you have actually had (though I suppose can just say "bhaals taint" again...).
Druid:
Set as they were against the sounds of the sea crashing against the rocks outside the keep, you have always been drawn to your foster father's tales of the unspoiled wilderness. You have occasionally found exotic flowers pressed and long forgotten between the pages of tomes, and often spent long hours studying Nature's varied forms in some of the library's many journals. It is your foremost wish that someday you will leave the sterile walls of Candlekeep, and worship the Earthmother in her own presence.
Hearing the waves and pressed flowers? Wheres my druidic magic!
Ranger:
Inspired by your foster father's tales of adventure amidst the barrens, hills, and forests of Faerun, you have learned to appreciate the power and challenges of the wilderness. While you cannot remember ever venturing further than the outer walls of Candlekeep, you are a welcome and frequent visitor to its stables and pens. Much of your time is also spent atop the great towers of the citadel, where birds often seek shelter from both predators and the chill of the ocean winds. Still, you yearn to reach beyond, deep into the meadows and forests that you behold from your lofty perch.
You see some birds and muck out a stable. Please select your racial enemy!
One thing that does seem to be clear though is that CHARNAME did not leave candlekeep before the start of the game.
Great forum. We grow and learn as we go.
Growing up in range of the sounds of the sea crashing up against the rocks of the Sword Coast, you have always been drawn to your foster fathers tales of the unspoiled wilderness that lay outside Candlekeep's barred gates. Your discovery of more than a few flowers pressed between long forgotten tomes in Candlekeep's vast library has, over the course of your childhood, only made you yearn to explore the realms for yourself.
Your origins steeped in mystery. Though your foster father Gorion, himself a mage of considerable power, raised you, you have no memory of either of your parents. He has told you that he was friends of your half-elf mother, who, while alive, resided somewhere north of Silverymoon. Beyond this you know nothing of her, and apart from an understanding that your father was himself a half-elf you have learned nothing of him.
Though as a boy Gorion encouraged you to learn of nature's magic through the teachings of Silvanus, Forest Father and god of druids, in the last few years your interests have turned towards finding another god who respects your unique heritage. Guiding your decision was a terrible secret revealed to you at a young age. You were born cursed as a lyncanthrope, specifically a Werewolf, and though you can control your transformations this knowledge has changed your view of the universe. Though you are not sure which of your parents gave you the curse, having read of other lyncanthrope in the tomes of Candlekeep your interests in finding more of your people has only grown as you've gotten older. You hope that in time you will find both the funds and the companions needed to safely travel the realms in search of a clan to call home.
And what about the Avenger? I am wondering, where did that druid sect hide on the cliffs of the town.
or Necromancer (Gorion: Tell me my child...where did that dead body of Dreppin's other cow go?)
or Blackguard (Imoen: Heya! Who was that big black demon you were talking to?)
eastern-style,monk (I'm not like all these mnks in cowls around. It's far east. You have probably never heard of it.)
and what about the Wizard Slayer? ( domestic violence from Gorion- a mage. He probably used Bigby's Slapping Palm a lot on you to turn to hate mages)
Barbarian is difficult because of the wilderness/ uncivilized blurb, given where you are from.
Avenger... yeah thats hard. I quite like the lycanthropy background above- "You were born with it" actually makes total sense for that one.
Happily I don't play the hippy classes anyway
"Your youth was shaped by two major influences: your foster father Gorion and a group of monks in the service of Bahamut who spent several years within Candlekeep. While Gorion worked to grow your intelligence and kindness, these seemingly strange monks fostered your wisdom and discipline. After they left, you adopted their ways as your own and can now rightfully call yourself a monk. While you treasure the years spent in Candlekeep, you now feel the urge to pursue spiritual wisdom."
Is that good enough?
Btw, I did not realize there were different class-based bios written into the game. I should check out those screens more often. I usually forget to read them for the npc's, too, but I never thought to look under the bio tab in my own character sheet.
There are still things to learn about this game, after all these years.
Now that I remember, its been awhile since I've played, Karoug is a Greater Wolfwere. So I guess it would be the villagers who would be inviting you to join. Considering though that they seem like the secretive type they probably wouldn't be big on an outsider joining. Plus there are other considerations like the whole Gorion dying thing (you've gained new priorities since leaving Candlekeep). Maybe Kaishas would just want to use you to kill the wolfwere's regardless of your heritage and then feels threatened by your strength?
Plus, actually, as a shapeshifter the whole end of the quest chain needs to change really. Logically, Charname wouldn't be able to be cursed with lycanthropy, so presumably you could just let all your buddies die and then continue on.
I mean, I'm not sure why you would do that... but in principle!
Yeah well, tell my girlfriend about spiders and it will suddenly seem viable...
Done.
Secondly, 1st level characters would have trained in their given professions. This does not mean that they are worldly and fully conversant in every single aspect of that profession. it is possible to take several years of accounting classes and never enter into an accounting firm during that time. Equally, the number of scholars that pass through Candlekeep would be plenty enough to teach anyone interested in the subject all you need to know about being a 1st level Druid without ever having made it to a Druid's grove. That comes later.
I guess I have to use the example of an Assassin. Living in a cloistered environment such as Candlekeep does not preclude this class choice. As a 1st level Assassin, you probably haven't had a lot of experience killing people, but you can certainly learn the basics. Same with Druid or any other class combination you choose. As a novice in any class, you have the foundations of that class, all of which can be gleaned from books and tutors, without ever having 'Practiced' that profession. Candlekeep is supposed to be the beginning of your journey, not some midway point where you are experienced.
To answer the OP's question, just assume that all of the basic tenants of faith have been taught by various tutors over the years. The basics of herbology and animal husbandry were taught either through second hand experience or in the day to day performance of chores in and out of the keep itself. Expand your thinking to include daily or weekly forrays into the woods and even to the stone circle where Gorion was eventually killed. And hey-presto you have your 'justification'.
Indecisive Half elf Fighter/Cleric/Mage and an Enchanter who is obsessed with mental domination and becomes the queen of xvarts after charming the entire xvart village, haha I make myself laugh sometimes.
In 1e, you weren't a real member of your class until you reached "name level" -- usually around level 10.
A guy with one level of Magic-User wasn't a Wizard, for example -- he was an Apprentice. Being a level 1 druidic Initiate? Sure, why not, you can get there by reading books.
Level 15 Grand Druid? Yeah, you'd better have some mud on your boots.
Druids/clerics/monks and just about any other class you care to mention at 1st level have very little to go on than their basic tenants of faith. This alone gives them some 'Learned' skill at minor cantrips but little more.
That is why fighters can just barely hit the broad side of the barn, thieves can just about pick a pocket, wizards gain 1 single spell, etc... They are true novices at their profession.