Jarod was born to a noble house. His father was in line to have a seat on the council. His mother was a sweet young woman. Despite her beauty she was frail and prone to sickness. Jarod’s first four years were simple ones. His mother doted on him, and his father planned his son’s political future. On his fourth birthday Jarod was asleep, his head in his mother’s lap. She was approached by a man clothed in a white robe. There was a blue stole with several silver stars pinned to each end. He was at the head of the order of healers.
Jarod was unaware at the time, but his soul had been wandering. The old man had felt a strong pulse of energy upon passing by the house. This was how wizards, mages, witches, magicians, healers, and warlocks were chosen by the university. A child would unknowingly send out a piece of his or her soul. Jarod was conscripted to the university on his birthday.
Jarod grew up at the University. Despite his father’s connections, at the time a University was allowed to Conscript anyone with magical talent. Once they are brought within the fold who they were before was gone. Once Jarod could understand his talent he was taken in by a specialized instructor. He began to heal ailments of the mind, and soul. He would use the power of his own soul to wash over another’s. It’s warmth would bathe the other in pure energy. During this exchange Jarod takes upon himself their pain and suffering. At the end they are left with a pure soul and clean mind. There must be physical contact for Jarod to perform this.
Jarod began this training curing small emotional problems at first, before moving onto increasingly strong issues of the mind and soul. The more emotional trauma, the more of his soul he has to use to heal theirs, and the longer he must rest afterwards. As his soul replenishes he is able to fight off the strain of the alien emotion and stress.
Young Jarod had learned his real father had become a corrupt political figure and was glad he had been taken from home. He pushed into his studies harder than ever.
Jarod found that actually healing physical wounds with his soul took an even greater toll on his strength. He decided that he would find more practical ways to treat those injuries. The university instructors looked down on every attempt he made to learn these ways. Jarod heard rumors of a hermit in the local wood. He spent a year searching for the teacher. At first the long walks into the forest were hard on Jarod. He often would return to the university dormitories leaning heavily on the rod he always carried. Jarod found, not a man, but an elf.The elf had a long gray beard. As it turns out, this half elven man lived a solitary life on the outskirts of civilization. The elf refused to teach him at first.
Jarod had the feeling he shouldn’t give up on the old man. He would continue walking out to the old mans hut and wait for him to come out. He would watch the old man look at him as he sat outside waiting. Several months of this passed by. The walks into the forest began to grow easier for Jarod. In the university the instructors do only nurture the mind, letting the strengthening of the body fall behind in priorities. Jarod didn’t know this, but the journey back and forth into the forest was increasing his body’s stamina. Finally after the walk into the forest did not leave Jarod breathless, the elf came out to him. He placed his hand on Jarod’s chest. Jarod felt a warth emenate from the man’s hand. He felt the man touch his soul, the same way he would touch someone else’s.
Jarod’s heart was pure, and that is the reason the elf man decided to teach him. Later on, Jarod would say that the walking through the forest had been the easy part of his training with the elf. He was made to pick herbs for hours. He picked up a great deal of elvish during his lessons with the half elf. Everything was learned in both tongues. While it was hard for Jarod to speak the language fluently he could listen and make out what the elf was saying after a long time. He learned how to set bones, and stitch wounds back together.
He was made to copy notes into a plain white leather-bound tome. He learned about the anatomy of humans, and similarities they have to elves. Finally he was taught the basics of alchemy. He learned to make salves, and potions. Drafts that eased coughs.
One thing that Jarod noticed was a small marble figurine. It was one of the only items he had seen that wasn’t crafted from the forest. After much persuasion he was taught of Asclepius, the god in which the likeness was carved. Jarod begged Elwe, his new teacher for practical healing, for stories of the god, and after many lessons and stories, Jarod pledged himself to Asclepius. He began to pray silently to the god before each new soul healing lesson, as well as before he set a broken bone in the lower town. He always asked for Asclepius to guide his hand and heart as he healed the sick. With the help of Elwe, he carved himself a replica of the statue’s stave. He found a rod of Elderwood near the Hermit’s home and they carved the likeness of the snake twirling around the wooden staff. It was long and sturdy.
In a dream Jarod asked Asclepius to imbue the staff. Because Jarod’s faith was so great Asclepius sent down a blue adder. In his dream the adder took the place of the wooden carved snake. Instead of remaining still the snake would slither around the wood and over his hand. It felt warm and comforting to Jarod. With the rod in his hand he felt his soul recovering it’s lost strength a little faster than normal. When Jarod awoke he was stunned to find that the snake on the staff, while unmoving was slightly tinted blue, and the feeling of rejuvenation was still there.
As the time neared for Jarod to don the white robe of the Initiate he finished his training with the old hermit. At age twenty-two He had learned everything he needed to know to become an Initiate Physician. This meant that while he was at the very bottom of the ladder in terms of power and knowledge, he could treat patients of his own. By now he could run the whole way to the halfelven’s hut without breathing hard. After he took upon himself the white robes he made the journey to Elwe’s home. It was empty. No trace of the elf was left for Jarod.
Originally Posted by Guru
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