Profile
Druid Age: 24 (initially)
Skintone: Medium
Bottle Prosthetics: None
Druid Gift: Blackberry bramble (Rubus fruticosus), green leaves, white flowers, dark/light purple fruits
Druid Animal Form: Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Druid Discipline: Healing
Design Notes:
- Their gloves are not laced up, they have a brown and grey striped portion on the centre back.
- The back of their vest has a similar but longer v-shape/coat-tail, like the front.
- They are agender dfab and have had some top surgery to reduce the size of their bust, otherwise they have a wiry feminine build.
- The briar wrapped around their right arm is a blackberry bramble, it grows out of the middle-back of the forearm. The shape and size of the vine can change, although it should still originate from this point. There is a hole and additional snaps in the back of their right glove to facilitate it.
- All buttons are made of wood, all fabrics are silk/cloth.
Backstory:
Xen was born to parents they never met, as is the Springtide way. They were named ‘Xenia’ by the healers who raised them, a slight corruption of Xinnia, a favourite flower and gift of a druid at the nursery. It was obvious something was wrong early on - a history of severe bleeding from very early on in life. It was only through the application of healing magic that they could avoid permanent internal, neurological or joint damage. A disease of the blood - they knew it would only worsen when menstruation began, a fact they dreaded. It seemed only a matter of time, even with frequent ministration by the healers, before they would acquire some major organ injury. They were often laid up in bed with fatigue and pallor. They never performed sufficiently in any particular field to mitigate this ‘flaw’, and neither were they particularly adorable. It came as no surprise, even to the child, that they were never chosen to be adopted.
Despite the circumstances around them, they have fond memories of their time in the orphanage. An annual event was when a particular Providing druid would pass through the area at the same time every year, on their way to deliver some research to a larger settlement. They would make the grounds of the orphanage burst with fruitful vines, which would then be picked and baked on the spot, or preserved for winter. Xen chose their own gift with these memories in mind. They enjoyed looking after the younger children, even when they were treated with some pity by them both for their condition and length of stay.
When they reached the age of ten, any of their peers who still remained slowly began transitioning to be overseen by Shielding druids. However, no druids of this branch were willing to take on the responsibility of overseeing Xen. It was a sad fact that children with conditions like theirs, and even more severe, would require life-long care. Although the Order could forcibly make this assignment, the Healers who were currently acting as guardians resisted this as far as they could, knowing that an enforced assignment was far less likely to be a happy one. The only one who accepted of his own volition was a man named Verne, a younger druid at 28. A member of a Shielding regimen, he had never had personal responsibility for a child before, and Xen never plucked up the courage to ask what exactly had made him step forward. Verne and Xen, however, spent more time together than was usual. He would accompany them to their healing visits, although his maintained his other Shielding duties.
Xen was the one who first expressed their desire to also become a druid. It would allow them in their eyes to make something of their life, and play a role in society. Anything that they might otherwise like to do felt gated to them, limited by both their body and lack of social standing. Verne was the one to suggest healing. It was pragmatic - a combination of this magic and a healing factor would allow them to live a mostly normal life. Verne was always supportive as Xen struggled with and discovered their own identity. In their final years together, Xen saw him begin to struggle himself, with some aspects of druidic life, although did not fully understand why. In their correspondences during their study, he would sometimes urge them to seriously consider the path they were taking. However, as this was very much in line with the words of the Order itself, they didn’t feel it was a concern. Xen was not initially aware of the death of Verne's close friend Guysborne - although they had met in the past at events involving both realised and trainee druids. They knew he would occasionally become uncontactable for weeks or months, but this was not unusual as his duties regarding them had ended, and his other Shielding duties remained. By the time word of mouth reached them, it had been some time and Verne had begun to reply again.
Xen was never the brightest in the class, never the young prodigy. Their focus on study skills, and the diligent application of these, got them through but not without considerable, painful perseverance. They knuckled down to the work at the cost of all else. This was a strain, but never felt like a burden. After all, that was the life they were seeking to enter. What else was there? Their proposed specialization came to them during study. They never found it difficult to care for the patient, even when they didn’t care for themselves. It felt like a re-balancing, to bring new life into the world, when their own life had already required so much special care.
Verne went dark again during the last portion of their training, although they were too absorbed in their final studies to notice the extent of it. Nobody thought to inform them specifically. When Xen was fully realised, they travelled back to the place they knew Verne had been stationed, and heard the news that he had supposedly deserted. This rocked their world, and led them onto yet another path that would again both mirror and contrast that of their mentor.
Other:
Xen is a healer specialising in obstetrics. Their gift might seem inappropriate for a healer in their specialisation, something that both members of the order and patients are not shy to comment on. They have a variety of options for dealing with the thorns. The simplest is to simply unbutton the cuff at their elbow, and pull the pull length of their sleeve (which is pushed up) down over their arm. Secondly, they are able to clip and tend to the thorns, rendering the briar an ordinary vine. Thirdly, they can trim the vine itself, back to a smaller area around the back of one forearm. In addition, a healer’s magic means that they come into actual physical contact with the patient less often than a general doctor. Overall, it was a sweet but regrettable choice, but it doesn’t affect them too badly.
At some point after realising, they convinced another healing druid specialising in surgery to alter their appearance to be more comfortable to them. Combined with their nixed reproductive function, this was much more acceptable to their perception of themselves. This could possibly seem at odds with their specialisation - however, they don’t care to be drawn into pointless arguments about whether they find the ‘female’ body distasteful. They know what is right for them, and would encourage others to seek what is best for themselves. Their identity makes no difference to the care they provide.
Their animal form is more of a source of annoyance than their gift. Although they were already mindful of cleanliness given the potential of their illness to cause infection, they are now essentially a mysophobe. They scrub their skin a little harder than would be wise, and encourage the fragrant flowers on their gift to blossom. They worry about what this means for them, as a person.
Life after leaving the Lands Below:
secret for now ;)
Xen was born to parents they never met, as is the Springtide way. They were named ‘Xenia’ by the healers who raised them, a slight corruption of Xinnia, a favourite flower and gift of a druid at the nursery. It was obvious something was wrong early on - a history of severe bleeding from very early on in life. It was only through the application of healing magic that they could avoid permanent internal, neurological or joint damage. A disease of the blood - they knew it would only worsen when menstruation began, a fact they dreaded. It seemed only a matter of time, even with frequent ministration by the healers, before they would acquire some major organ injury. They were often laid up in bed with fatigue and pallor. They never performed sufficiently in any particular field to mitigate this ‘flaw’, and neither were they particularly adorable. It came as no surprise, even to the child, that they were never chosen to be adopted.
Despite the circumstances around them, they have fond memories of their time in the orphanage. An annual event was when a particular Providing druid would pass through the area at the same time every year, on their way to deliver some research to a larger settlement. They would make the grounds of the orphanage burst with fruitful vines, which would then be picked and baked on the spot, or preserved for winter. Xen chose their own gift with these memories in mind. They enjoyed looking after the younger children, even when they were treated with some pity by them both for their condition and length of stay.
When they reached the age of ten, any of their peers who still remained slowly began transitioning to be overseen by Shielding druids. However, no druids of this branch were willing to take on the responsibility of overseeing Xen. It was a sad fact that children with conditions like theirs, and even more severe, would require life-long care. Although the Order could forcibly make this assignment, the Healers who were currently acting as guardians resisted this as far as they could, knowing that an enforced assignment was far less likely to be a happy one. The only one who accepted of his own volition was a man named Verne, a younger druid at 28. A member of a Shielding regimen, he had never had personal responsibility for a child before, and Xen never plucked up the courage to ask what exactly had made him step forward. Verne and Xen, however, spent more time together than was usual. He would accompany them to their healing visits, although his maintained his other Shielding duties.
Xen was the one who first expressed their desire to also become a druid. It would allow them in their eyes to make something of their life, and play a role in society. Anything that they might otherwise like to do felt gated to them, limited by both their body and lack of social standing. Verne was the one to suggest healing. It was pragmatic - a combination of this magic and a healing factor would allow them to live a mostly normal life. Verne was always supportive as Xen struggled with and discovered their own identity. In their final years together, Xen saw him begin to struggle himself, with some aspects of druidic life, although did not fully understand why. In their correspondences during their study, he would sometimes urge them to seriously consider the path they were taking. However, as this was very much in line with the words of the Order itself, they didn’t feel it was a concern. Xen was not initially aware of the death of Verne's close friend Guysborne - although they had met in the past at events involving both realised and trainee druids. They knew he would occasionally become uncontactable for weeks or months, but this was not unusual as his duties regarding them had ended, and his other Shielding duties remained. By the time word of mouth reached them, it had been some time and Verne had begun to reply again.
Xen was never the brightest in the class, never the young prodigy. Their focus on study skills, and the diligent application of these, got them through but not without considerable, painful perseverance. They knuckled down to the work at the cost of all else. This was a strain, but never felt like a burden. After all, that was the life they were seeking to enter. What else was there? Their proposed specialization came to them during study. They never found it difficult to care for the patient, even when they didn’t care for themselves. It felt like a re-balancing, to bring new life into the world, when their own life had already required so much special care.
Verne went dark again during the last portion of their training, although they were too absorbed in their final studies to notice the extent of it. Nobody thought to inform them specifically. When Xen was fully realised, they travelled back to the place they knew Verne had been stationed, and heard the news that he had supposedly deserted. This rocked their world, and led them onto yet another path that would again both mirror and contrast that of their mentor.
Other:
Xen is a healer specialising in obstetrics. Their gift might seem inappropriate for a healer in their specialisation, something that both members of the order and patients are not shy to comment on. They have a variety of options for dealing with the thorns. The simplest is to simply unbutton the cuff at their elbow, and pull the pull length of their sleeve (which is pushed up) down over their arm. Secondly, they are able to clip and tend to the thorns, rendering the briar an ordinary vine. Thirdly, they can trim the vine itself, back to a smaller area around the back of one forearm. In addition, a healer’s magic means that they come into actual physical contact with the patient less often than a general doctor. Overall, it was a sweet but regrettable choice, but it doesn’t affect them too badly.
At some point after realising, they convinced another healing druid specialising in surgery to alter their appearance to be more comfortable to them. Combined with their nixed reproductive function, this was much more acceptable to their perception of themselves. This could possibly seem at odds with their specialisation - however, they don’t care to be drawn into pointless arguments about whether they find the ‘female’ body distasteful. They know what is right for them, and would encourage others to seek what is best for themselves. Their identity makes no difference to the care they provide.
Their animal form is more of a source of annoyance than their gift. Although they were already mindful of cleanliness given the potential of their illness to cause infection, they are now essentially a mysophobe. They scrub their skin a little harder than would be wise, and encourage the fragrant flowers on their gift to blossom. They worry about what this means for them, as a person.
Life after leaving the Lands Below:
secret for now ;)
