One of my prospective players in a Pathfinder game tryout I plan for this fall (using Falcon´s Hollow) asked if he could play a dwarf druid. I ok´ed that, and am now starting to wonder: Just what exactly might a dwarf druid be? What is his role?
The companion about dwarves does not have many words on that, even if one of the example characters is a druid, but from Osirion. One spell for druids and rangers gives an idea that these classes serve the dwarven communities to protect them from hazards in the deepest recesses of their tunnels, so they seem to be more in tune with their community than other druids are.
So, the player had the idea that druids have a special role in judging new excavations, as they predict if that will go well or if dangers lie ahead. I like that idea, and we delevoped the background story that he had an elderly druid mentor who predicted something bad about the latest endeavour, but died before he could tell anybody besides his youngest pupil - the PC. Now, the PC, being a little pert, wanted to stand in the limelight and recounted that prophesy, but was instead set back into his proper place and got scolded for being too bold in face of the elders. He lost his face, and was quite upset by this turn of events and left his home (presumably somewhere within the Five Kings Mountains).
Now, with Droskar´s Crag and the old monastery right next to Falcons Hollow, it is not too far a stretch that he might wind up there, I think.
Still, what faith fits a dwarf druid? The dwarven gods don´t seem to have a deity that would make a good patron. The generic green faith does not appeal too much to me.
Any ideas welcome!
Stefan
Remember that stone is an aspect of nature, and you can even have druids who take the Earth domain instead of having an animal companion. Torag (the main dwarf god) has Earth as a domain, so there's no reason this druid can't worship Torag.
Cool character concept, BTW,
Remember that stone is an aspect of nature, and you can even have druids who take the Earth domain instead of having an animal companion. Torag (the main dwarf god) has Earth as a domain, so there's no reason this druid can't worship Torag.
Yeah, this is probably the direction it will go. Another poster (known as Wormys Queue) had the additional idea that this protective element of these druids hearkens back to the oldest times, even before the Quest for the Sky, and before the dwarves developed more formalized religions, so these druids - few and far between - are the original keepers of the dwarven traditions and lore, in a somewhat more primeval state. Torag needs a little re-definition to be fitting as a druidic deity, but as he is the creator, he easily encompasses all other aspects needed.
Cool character concept, BTW,
Thanks. Coming from you, this is quite a compliment.
I am now starting to think just how I could change the druid class to make it more "dwarfish" with this rough concept behind it. As a first, I think they will definitely get the mountain stride ability from the campaign setting book. Perhaps the wildshape ability will get something else as well - creatures made from stone or something like that.
Stefan
I might just give him the option out of the 3.5 Complete Mage, where the animal companion feature is replaced with an elemental companion (most probably earth, of course). This sounds fitting for a dwarf druid.
Stefan
I might just give him the option out of the 3.5 Complete Mage, where the animal companion feature is replaced with an elemental companion (most probably earth, of course). This sounds fitting for a dwarf druid.
Stefan
I've been playing a dwarf druid in Society Play... and he's been a blast. Badger Companion. Low Charisma. Scottish accent... profession : Courtesan??!!?!?!? Indeed, Berek Ufflegoaf is a much beloved by his varied chelish clientelle, and don't you know it they sure do love him back...
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Dwarven organized religion is just that, organized by dwarves. A dwarven druid recognizes the greater mystery that the very earth is what gave them life.
Before the dwarves recognized the deities they knew rock, lava, gems and metals. The earth spoke to them and if you listened it would tell you it's story (Mountain Stride and the abilities that dwarves receive regarding stone work).
I would modify the companion list to make the critters more rocklike - I wouldn't necessarily add an outsider template though. They are natural critters that have a closer bond to the earth.
I'd almost make them outsiders in the dwarven community. Their focus would be more focused on nature than on the continuation of dwarven society.
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Dwarves don't eat rocks, that's for sure. Someone has to milk the goats and harvest the barley and *brew the beer!*
If I were gonna make a Dwarven Druid, he'd be all about the beer.
Let the blacksmiths worry about the ore and the mines and the cave dust. They all come to me for the beer, at the end of the day.
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Oh yeah! That's one of the logistical things that I've always wanted to try out as a homebrewer.
Some form of fermentable carbohydrate is necessary for alcohol production. Lichens tend to have secondary compounds that are toxic. If lichens were used perhaps this is the reason why dwarven brews always send humans for a loop.
As far as dwarven druidic rituals surrounding beer/brewing -
The keeper of the sacremental yeast
The blessing of the bock
Heck just go with it and instead of the classic misletoe component go with hops!
Dwarves don't eat rocks, that's for sure. Someone has to milk the goats and harvest the barley and *brew the beer!*
If I were gonna make a Dwarven Druid, he'd be all about the beer.
Let the blacksmiths worry about the ore and the mines and the cave dust. They all come to me for the beer, at the end of the day.
