The Druids and their Slumber
Well Met Travelers,
Welcome to another worldbuilding session.
The Last time I dabbled in magic, I went on a whole overview of magic in my world. Now, I have a new goal.
So this is a concept that I have been toying with for a very long time, and only recently have I figured it out.
In many works of fantasy, Druids enter a deep slumber. This slumber does a variety of things, for example, in the Warcraft franchise, the druids sleep to enter the Emerald Dream (or feywilde in D&D terms) to commune with the Demi-gods of nature. In the Shannara Franchise, the druids enter a Druid Sleep to restore their life energies and live for another age.
Now, before I delve into what the Druid Sleep is in my world, I need to explain the Druids and their relationship with the Spirits of the world. These spirits are the source of power for both druids and Shaman.
Now, the reason that I mention this is because some people who read this blog mentioned that they didn't understand the difference between shaman and Druids.
THE main difference is that Shaman are divine casters who worship the spirits and in turn the spirits bestow power upon the Shaman. Druids are Natural casters who learned their arts from the Spirits and may at times call upon the spirits for aid, but the spirits do NOT give the Druids power.
In the World of Antediluvian, there are many spirits. There are the elemental spirits that dwell in the elemental planes, there are the spirits of ancestors, the spirits of the Fallen Titans, and the Spirits of the Land.
While magic itself was taught to the titans and devolved into the three forms of magic that we know today, the Magic learned by Druids was changed by the spirits. After the Titans fell, the Spirits felt a kinship with the new druids and taught them the Old Way. With this unique skill set, the druids and other natural casters did not just utilize nature, they became forces of nature. This is why the Spirits will come to the aid of druids, for while druids have limited natural power, the Druids are one with the spirits.
Now to explain the Druid Sleep. The Spirits of Nature often do not have physical forms that can communicate with mortals. These spirits often dwell within the most prominent feature of the Terrain, IE the tallest mountain in the range, the oldest tree in the forest, the largest vein of ore in the chasm, etc.
While some of these spirits can communicate, such as the ones that embody trees and become Elder Treants, others cannot. This is why druids developed the sleep.
The Druid Sleep is a state of suspended animation where the druid lays down in a natural setting (a cave, sacred grove, or some other natural and holy place) and allows nature to over take them. This may take the form of vines and moss overtaking the body, water washing over him. Once in this state, the spirit leaves the body and enters the Nexus, a weave of all life forces that connects every part of the Natural world to each other.
Once the Soul has entered the Nexus, it may commune with all of the other spirits of the Natural world. It is important to note that the Nexus is not a place, nor is it a plane of existence; It is a state of being in which all of life and nature are connected to the soul of a Druid.
This tool can be used by most druids and is often used by the Arch-Druids to gain the most ancient knowledge of the Druids. This is one way in which druids can train each other across vast distances, and it permits the most powerful druids to learn from the long-dead.
One note about the sleep that stops some druids from using it is that when one enters the Druid sleep for the first time, their soul becomes entangled with the World Soul, the summation of all life forces on Antediluvian (including the Nature Spirits themselves). This means that once a druid has used the druid sleep, they may never move on to the afterlife. Upon Death, the Druid's soul will enter the Nexus where it may remain forever, or it may be reincarnated into a Nature Spirit to continue to protect the wilds of the land it once roamed in life.
I think that is all for this week. If you enjoyed, feel free to click the follow button in the sidebar.
Until Next Time,
Farewell and Safe Journeys, Travelers.
Welcome to another worldbuilding session.
The Last time I dabbled in magic, I went on a whole overview of magic in my world. Now, I have a new goal.
So this is a concept that I have been toying with for a very long time, and only recently have I figured it out.
In many works of fantasy, Druids enter a deep slumber. This slumber does a variety of things, for example, in the Warcraft franchise, the druids sleep to enter the Emerald Dream (or feywilde in D&D terms) to commune with the Demi-gods of nature. In the Shannara Franchise, the druids enter a Druid Sleep to restore their life energies and live for another age.
 |
| https://pre00.deviantart.net/54c7/th/pre/i/2013/126/8/5/druid_concept_by_peterprime-d64aybd.png |
Now, the reason that I mention this is because some people who read this blog mentioned that they didn't understand the difference between shaman and Druids.
THE main difference is that Shaman are divine casters who worship the spirits and in turn the spirits bestow power upon the Shaman. Druids are Natural casters who learned their arts from the Spirits and may at times call upon the spirits for aid, but the spirits do NOT give the Druids power.
 |
| https://img00.deviantart.net/210a/i/2016/164/f/b/shaman_by_tavenerscholar-d6ezkzv.jpg |
While magic itself was taught to the titans and devolved into the three forms of magic that we know today, the Magic learned by Druids was changed by the spirits. After the Titans fell, the Spirits felt a kinship with the new druids and taught them the Old Way. With this unique skill set, the druids and other natural casters did not just utilize nature, they became forces of nature. This is why the Spirits will come to the aid of druids, for while druids have limited natural power, the Druids are one with the spirits.
 |
| https://img00.deviantart.net/1968/i/2013/209/b/5/druid_by_thiago_almeida-d6fmjuu.jpg |
While some of these spirits can communicate, such as the ones that embody trees and become Elder Treants, others cannot. This is why druids developed the sleep.
 |
| https://pre00.deviantart.net/10c9/th/pre/i/2010/289/8/9/ancient_of_lore_by_unidcolor-d30w5iz.jpg |
The Druid Sleep is a state of suspended animation where the druid lays down in a natural setting (a cave, sacred grove, or some other natural and holy place) and allows nature to over take them. This may take the form of vines and moss overtaking the body, water washing over him. Once in this state, the spirit leaves the body and enters the Nexus, a weave of all life forces that connects every part of the Natural world to each other.
Once the Soul has entered the Nexus, it may commune with all of the other spirits of the Natural world. It is important to note that the Nexus is not a place, nor is it a plane of existence; It is a state of being in which all of life and nature are connected to the soul of a Druid.
 |
| https://www.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hero-3.5.jpg |
This tool can be used by most druids and is often used by the Arch-Druids to gain the most ancient knowledge of the Druids. This is one way in which druids can train each other across vast distances, and it permits the most powerful druids to learn from the long-dead.
One note about the sleep that stops some druids from using it is that when one enters the Druid sleep for the first time, their soul becomes entangled with the World Soul, the summation of all life forces on Antediluvian (including the Nature Spirits themselves). This means that once a druid has used the druid sleep, they may never move on to the afterlife. Upon Death, the Druid's soul will enter the Nexus where it may remain forever, or it may be reincarnated into a Nature Spirit to continue to protect the wilds of the land it once roamed in life.
I think that is all for this week. If you enjoyed, feel free to click the follow button in the sidebar.
Until Next Time,
Farewell and Safe Journeys, Travelers.
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