Midwife (Professional, L5) RanksAnimal Healing 9

Surgeon (Professional, L5) RanksAnimal Healing 12

Hands of the HealerThe Tantraki Lowell R. Matthews

Version 2.0, May 27, 1997*

Version 2.1, prepared for The Guild Companion, July 1999

The Tantraki people of the land which bears their name are the proud (indeed, often over-proud)descendants of the mighty mariners of Nmenor and the indigenous Usakani, a people related to theMmakani. The nation of Tantrak was founded as a Nmenrean colony in about S.A. 1800 as the mostsoutherly such colony on the continent of Endor proper. It was ruled by a Nmenrean royal governor for1200 years, until the arrival of the "Magician" who became the governor's adviser in 3000 S.A. (He wasactually one of the Elven Lords of the Court of Ardor.) Forty years later the royal governor declaredindependence for Tantrak and proclaimed himself its first king. Since that time the government of Tantrakunder the influence of the Magician has suffered a steady decline into corruption, while the spiritualcondition of the Nmenrean colonists, ever more intermingled with their Usakani subjects, has shifteddownwards from disdain to hatred and jealousy of the Elves and Kirani and an ever increasing embrace of theDark Religion.

Prior to the Nmenrean conquest, the Usakani were a primitive Mannish people closely related to theMmakani and of a similar nature and level of culture. Since the conquest, after which the Nmenreansformed the upper classes of Tantrak, the two cultures and races have mingled considerably into one more orless uniform Tantraki culture. This process was accelerated by the Nmenreans' aloofness and voluntaryrelative isolation from the rest of the Mmakan subcontinent, although trade flourishes with many countriesnear and far, including at times as far as Gondor.

The Tantraki follow the wide variety of professions common to most advanced countries, and the economyis sufficiently diversified as to support many professionals. Practitioners of the healing arts are many andvaried, from simple village goodwives through skilled midwives and surgeons to powerful spell-users (SU's).Most of the latter are of course concentrated in the capital, Sarl, other large population centers, or theNmenrean estates of the nobility. A rivalry, usually friendly but sometimes not, has emerged between theHouses of Healing, whose members are typically midwives or SU Healers, and the College of Surgeons,whose members are typically surgeons or SU Lay Healers. Both guilds actively search for potentially talentedyoungsters to fill their apprentice needs.Many Tantraki SU's or Semi-SU's have access to healing magics. But while these individuals and mostordinary Tantraki know basic first aid for a wide variety of injuries and diseases (about one rank per level),a bit about diagnostics (about one rank per two levels), and know that diseases can be spread by unsanitaryconditions and even insects, they generally leave the rest to the professionals. The midwives and surgeonsbuild on that base, and Tantraki SU Healers and Lay Healers are truly sophisticated. Unfortunately, mostTantraki SU's, particularly the Channelers, are devotees of the Dark Religion. Sample packages of relevantskills:

Cookery 9Diagnostics 12First Aid 12Herb Lore 9Hypnosis 6Midwifery 18Sanity Healing Lore 12Second Aid 6Surgery 3

Cookery 6Diagnostics 15First Aid 15Herb Lore 6Midwifery 6Sanity Healing Lore 6Second Aid 15Surgery 15

h-B Klandunh-D Kolandorh-J Curfalakah-J Gorth-J Kakduramh-J Karfar (P)h-J Murnan or Murtan (P)h-J Rud-tekmah-J Tarnash-J Umakilis (P)h-J Vulcuraxh-J Wek-wekh-J Welwalh-J Witav

h-O Abaash-O Anserkeh-O Baalakh-O Carcatuh-O Carneyarh-O Degiikh-O Fekh-O Hugarh-O Pentanoth (P)h-O Swuthh-O Tarfegh-O Valanarh-V Grarig, Greaterm-D Baranie

m-D Cathaana Nolgurth (P)m-D Grapeleafm-O Eburm-O Felmatherm-O Jitsu (P)m-O Klynyk*m-O Sarnumen (P)m-O Tharm*m-O Ucasonm-O Ul-ucasonm-O Vessin*m-O Yavethalionm-U Jegga (P)m-U Jeggarukh (P)

Due to the isolationist tendencies of the Tantraki, it is quite difficult for outsiders (i.e. adventurers) to evenenter Tantrak in the first place, at least outside of the royally commissioned and established trading zones inSarl and a few other cities. Nevertheless, within those zones (or outside them with the proper writtenpermissions) travelers find healing in Tantrak as easily as anywhere else in Endor-for a price, of course.And is dealing with the Dark ever safe?

The land of Tantrak is a vast forest broken only by rivers and the clearings made by the Tantraki. Most ofthe realm, especially the south and east, is classic tropical rain forest, while the forests of the north and westare somewhat cooler and therefore more mixed, including deciduous trees. Southeast of Sarl, the flora andfauna are those typically found in climate code h and terrain codes F, J, and O, with minor occurrences of B,D, and V. The slightly cooler climate to the northwest has a great variety of flora and fauna from climatecodes h and m and terrain codes D, F, J, and O, with minor occurrences of B, U, and V. Healers of variousprofessions will almost certainly be very well supplied with native herbs and will have a good chance ofpossessing herbs from other climates through widespread trade. One herb unique to Tantrak after its ownfashion is called athalthr or Tantrak athelas, a close relative of the athelas originally brought from thecooler regions of Nmenor and now adapted to the tropics. It is potentially as effective as the Nmenrean ornorthern variety, but this effectiveness has diminished with the dilution of the Nmenrean bloodlines andknowledge. The following herbs, poisons, or raw materials may be found in the wild:

h-J Yuth m-D Cathaana (P)

A number of herbs which can be found wild in Tantrak are in actual practice imported from Hathor, wherethey are heavily cultivated; the best examples are klynyk, tharm, and vessin.

* Submission to Iron Crown Enterprises. Source: Terry K. Amthor, The Court of Ardor (Berkeley, CA: Tolkien Enterprises, 1983).

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