White Hand of Morwyn
Long ago, one of the Supreme Matriarchs determined the Morwynites could do great good if they educated others in the arts of healing, charging them with the spreading of those arts. Called the White Hands, these healers were formed into a third holy order of the healing halls, and given a formal education in the ways of healing—and of Morwyn. Across the lands, the White Hands of Morwyn are revered for their amazing powers of healing. Skilled in healing disease, madness, and other afflictions of the body and soul, the white hands are not ceremonial clergy but dedicated healers who serve in all walks of life. Some are attached to large military groups; others have shops in great cities where they offer their healing for a mere pittance.
They are trained and educated by the Morwynites for the express purpose of spreading healing and comfort throughout the land. Most of them are not religious zealots, but highly skilled individuals with a desire to help.
Over the years, the Morwynites stressed Morwyn’s teachings less and less in the education of the White Hands. To spread healing, the healing halls now embrace the White Hands as an almost secular order, existing more for healing than spreading faith. Because of this, the order has boomed in size and its numbers now outstrip the rest of the church’s.
Their education is superb and nearly free, and members of the order are considered part of the healing halls.
White Hands are usually people with other responsibilities.
They might be soldiers, nobles, officials, or even barmaids. All of them are driven to learn the ways of healing for any number of reasons, and because the education is readily available and inexpensive, it is widespread—
at least in the lower circles. Upper-circle White Hands are rarer and are usually serene, dedicated practitioners, kind and gentle. Either way, it is not particularly common for them to travel in groups, or even to perform specific duties for their order. They go about their lives, helping people whenever they can.
Joining the White Hands
A character must be proficient in medicine to join the White Hands and take the Healer feat at the first opportunity. As the skills of the White Hands are so useful among those who often find themselves in battle, many fighters (especially those who choose the Hospitaler martial archetype), rangers, and monks become White Hands so they can better tend the wounds of their fallen brethren. Anyone desiring to become a White Hand must swear the following oath:I am the White Hand against the Red Wound,Within the confines of the oath, White Hands can ask to be remunerated for their aid, but cannot demand it. Few patients take unfair advantage of this, but some do cheat the healers. The “enemy of goodness” portion of the oath allows White Hands not to heal evil cultists, but soldiers in wars with other mortal soldiers must tend to their enemies’ wounds if it is within their power to do so. Triage and the care of prisoners beyond just healing them are matters left to White Hand’s discretion, but must follow the Morwynite ethos. If a White Hand violates her oath, her palms turn blood red until she atones for her violation. The greatest among the White Hands are former matriarchs who dedicate themselves to teaching of others, though one need not have been a matriarch to become a member of this order, and it is open to men and women. The heads of the order reside in the The Tower of the White Hands. These women (for the heads of the order are all former matriarchs) are powerful healers, able to repair the damage done to armies. Their students are perhaps less formidable, but are great healers too, sought for the excellent addition they make to expeditionary forces and other groups. The education of the White Hands is an eight-step process. As one progresses, one moves on to greater circles of healing until certified in the eighth and final circle. A White Hand tells people her circle whenever she introduces herself—“I am Idri, a White Hand of the fourth circle,” for instance—but gains no other honorifics. In formal introductions, their circle of learning is added to whatever other titles they might hold in the format, “a White Hand of the (individual’s) circle.” It is important to let people know how competent a healer the White Hand is, so they do not expect results she is not capable of delivering. A White Hand moves up a circle by being educated and trained by a White Hand at least one circle above her. To become a white hand of the eighth circle, she must travel to the Tower of the White Hands and meet with the heads of the order. They will administer a test that takes several days, making sure she knows every nuance of the healing art. Once she passes, the White Hand is admitted to the eighth and final circle.
I am the hope for the hopeless, the help for the helpless.
I swear to provide healing to any child of the tree in need,
If it is within my power to do so and if that person is not an enemy of goodness.
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Parent Organization
Location
Related Myths
