Ir'Ritha

Pack of Healing

### Before The Forgotten Times

Long ago, before the Furor began, grans flocked to the enormous lands of Fjalirian territory in search of healing from the mystical Rithans and protection from any horrors they may face in their life. It was a bustling community full of grans who just wanted to help others. When the Furor began, Fjalir was busier than ever. But then the humans found them… In order to protect the grans that lived there, Diarmuid himself came down and ushered them all away from the territory in the middle of the night. He noticed a young cub stand by his side, unafraid of the god, and bestowed upon her a gift. A gift of remembrance, so that she and her descendants may pass down all the knowledge from the pack to the future. He then had his helpers usher the young cub back to her mother as he remained in his mortal form, waiting for the humans to come. When they attacked, Diarmuid fought back. He waited for them to get close enough and within the borders enough before unleashing his fury upon them, which included a secret weapon. He called out to his chosen mate and almost instantly a volcano appeared behind him and Tempest also appeared. The crazy cimmathrax goddess charged and Diarmuid’s eyes burned bright as he erupted the volcano, the lava flowing as fast and as liquid as water around the area, burning the humans alive. He then quickly cooled it, causing where he and his mate stood to form a dome of igneous rock with a giant skylight in the center. He and Tempest loudly proclaimed this the home of Fjalir, the Shaman of Arilyan before being summoned home by Maia. The Veil was closing, but this was the pair’s last act they could perform before waiting for centuries. Little did anyone know that little cub had witnessed it all. She told the stories of the gods, namely the one she witnessed herself to everyone she met, trying to keep them alive in the minds of grans. She eventually passed on the stories to her cubs and grandcubs and great grand cubs, and they passed them on in turn. All the while bits and pieces of the stories were lost with time. Soon it was but a legend.

### The Veil Re-Opens

When the Veil re-opened, Diarmuid immediately set out to find the pack he once protected. Unable to find them, he looked to their descendants. Four came up on his radar, Duncan, Darian, and Rhaegor seeming to be the most willing to restart the ancient pack with a young cub named Guinevere being a possible contingency plan. Diarmuid appeared in the three older grans’ dreams, giving them a place to go and some basic guidelines to go off of. While they seemed to get started fairly quickly, as time went on, Diarmuid couldn’t help but notice that the pack was beginning to fade. With Al’Shifa having taken over the healing of Arilyan in the gods’ absence, Fjalir was but a place for grans to go to visit the volcano and soak in its’ hot springs. Maybe someday, the pack will be at it’s peak once more.

### The Beginnings of a Civil War

Life in Fjalir wasn’t as good as it seemed to be from the outside. Even most of the members thought life was good, but Rhaegor knew the issues that lie in wait to tear the pack apart. It was only a matter of time. At first it was a little bit of intrusion along the Southern borders, but it quickly became large chunks of Fjalir’s territory began disappearing. Rhaegor was furious. He kept asking, damn near begging his fellow Jarls to allow him to deal with this smaller pack before they got such a big head about them that they attack Fjalir and it’s members directly, but they refused. “Senseless violence” was what Duncan called it. When Rhaegor realized that his Defenders and Hunters were coming home with major injuries Rhaegor had had enough. He led his pack into battle, destroying the smaller pack and reclaiming the territory Fjalir lost. When he returned home though, there was no rejoicing. The other half of the pack had their backs bristling to them, defensive stances everywhere. And so, the war began.

### The Cleansing

Witnessing the destruction from within, Diarmuid called upon the one gran he left alone due to her age at the time. Fjalir was tearing itself apart and if she didn’t do something soon it would never be a thing again. He noticed, however, that by this time something was happening in Al’Shifa. A massive change in leadership was bringing a civil but conclusive end to the pack of healing, birthing the pack of magic now known as The Conclave. And what else did he see within this opportunity? Guinevere’s daughter and her mentor, Corvina. These two would be perfect since they already had healing knowledge. He went to them in their dreams, explaining the situation in Fjalir, and the history of the pack. It wasn’t long before they, along with other healing-specified grans from Al’Shifa, went to the front lines where Fjalir fought itself. This would prove to be Corvina’s short falling due to her shyness, which had been all but gone until then, and where Sita stood tall. She befriended the pack, explained the reason she was there, and told off the old leaders. She fought Darian and Duncan with her words and fought Rhaegor with his own heir, for Goliath saw her sense before his adopted father did. Sita and Corvina stepped forward, claiming that Diarmuid chose them to be the new leaders of the pack, so that they could get back on track of being the one and only pack of healing. While there were many who disapproved of this method of succession, most in Fjalir followed their current leaders lead in bowing to Sita and Corvina. Corvina stepped forward as the Teoiseach, naming Sita her heir, and together they began transforming Fjalir for the better, and even renaming it Ir'Ritha.

## About the Pack

Ir’Ritha is thriving and better than ever now that they have access to hot springs and fresh, fertile volcanic soil to grow all sorts of herbs that they once could not grow in the frozen North. They often use both the springs of fresh, hot water to soothe old and aching bones and joints as well as the ash and volcanic soil to heal and grow their herbs. Because of this they can perform and create decently advanced healing, though they can’t cut open a gran yet in order to heal them. Don’t be deceived by their kindness however, as half of Rithans who thrive in this pack are also trained by the Head Guardian to defend the pack’s territory as well as the grans they help heal.

Ir'Ritha may start out in their Northern home, but many Rithans left in order to bring their healing knowledge to other parts of Arilyan. They live in small colonies and provide their help to the surrounding areas of Arilyan so that those who can’t travel as far North as the primary pack of Rithans lives can still get treatment. These colonies are simply called outlying communes, and there are four total communes: North-Eastern (between Sunrock and Blossombreeze meadows), Central (between Willow Springs and the The Highlands), South-Western (near Windsong Mountains), and South-Eastern (near Arboles Mountains). These Communes all report back to the primary home of Rithans with messengers, typically any flying species of Arilyan.

Humans that have been chosen by Maia to understand Arilyan's creatures are more than welcome within the main areas of Ir'Ritha. That being said, once Sita took over the pack, she decreed a few areas sacred to the grans that call Braeeburrow Valley home to be off-limits to these two-legged beings. She also declared that humans are welcome to stay as long as they need to finish their business, but they cannot linger without a reason. It is not uncommon to find temporary tents just outside the two main entrances to Ir'Ritha that change weekly. In exchange for herbal and spiritual knowledge as well as physical protection, Maia's Blessed offer their own arts of healing, cave paintings, and even structural pieces. Humans helped build magnificent gates at each of the two major entrances to the pack center, as well as a large gate that enters into the Spirit Gate Tunnels, one of the aforementioned no-human-allowed zones. They also helped the Ir'Rithans to construct a large pillar in the center of the large ring of entrances and exits, even teaching the creatures that call Ir'Ritha home how to mix paints and depict major events in Arilyan's history based around the major gods on each side. Ir'Rithans then took this knowledge and painted just inside the Spirit Gate Tunnel, as well as all over the new Western and Southern gates. Humans also helped to create and teach Ir'Rithans how to make stone bird statues in respect to Diarmuid, the patron god of the pack.

## Common Herbs & Treatments

Borage Leaves

* Leaves are chewed and eaten
* Helps with dehydration
* Calms seizures
* Helps with Kidney issues
* Can be used as a sedative

Burdock Root

* Digestive aid
* Helps with dehydration
* Reduces inflammation
* Removes toxins from blood
* Increases blood circulation
* Aphrodisiac
* Antibacterial

Ginger

* Relieves nausea
* Helps treat arthritis
* Helps inflammation
* Reduces gas
* Helps digestion
* Prevents or relieves constipation
* Relieves pain
* Prevents high blood pressure
* Prevents heart disease

Cobwebs/Cotton

* Helps to stop bleeding
* Can act as a bandage when none are available

Coltsfoot

* Chewed into a pulp and eaten
* Helps shortness of breath

Oleander

* Poisonous plant
* Can cause death
* Typically used to alleviate the pain from grans who are un-savable and would otherwise die a slow painful death
* Clots blood and stops the heart

Activated Charcoal

* Charcoal that’s been heated within Diarmuid’s Volcano
* Cures poisonings
* Charcoal made from burning wood in fires started by the volcano

Feverfew

* Leaves are eaten
* Cures Fever or Chills

Honey

* Soothes sore throats
* Helps coughing
* Hot Springs
* Help to alleviate pain in sore joins

Volcanic Ash

* Mix with slaked lime and let dry to make barriers/walls
* Fine dust can be used to clean teeth/claws with water (DO NOT SWOLLOW)

## Areas of Study

There are many areas of study a Rithan can learn. many of them take little time to learn and be proficient at but a few take many years to master.

Herbalist

* Can be combined with any other role.
* These grans have gotten so good at picking out different herbs that they are cultivating gardens within the borders of Ir'Ritha
* It takes anywhere from 2-4 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft as young as 6 months old.

Potion Master

* Can be combined with Healer, or Shaman.
* These grans are the experts of the experts in Herbalism.
* They are the ones who craft potions and elixirs that some may even call magical.
* It takes upwards of 10 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft once they master Herbalism

Healer

* Can be combined with any other role.
* These grans are skilled in the art of healing wounds and broken bones.
* It takes anywhere from 2-4 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft as young as 1 year old.

Trauma Medic

* Can be combined with Herbalist, or Shaman.
* These grans are experienced in handling the critically sick or injured.
* They are incredibly skilled and some may call them magic for their ability to treat wounds and deal with so much blood loss and truama.
* It takes anywhere from 8-12 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft once they master the Medic role.

Shaman

* Can be combined with any other role except Defender or Gladiator.
* These grans are the spiritual healers of the pack.
* They deal with mental illnesses and help those who want to get back in the gods' good graces do so.
* It takes anywhere from 6-12 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft as young as 1 year old.

Priest/Priestess

* Can be combined with Herbalist, or Healer.
* These grans deal with the majorly unstable and destructive mental patience.
* They are the psychiatrists of the gran world.
* It takes anywhere from 12-15 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft once they master the Shaman role.

Defender

* Can be combined with any other role except Potion Master, Trauma Medic, Shaman, or Priest.
* These grans are the brute strength of the pack.
* They help in all areas securing patients that are thrashing about, whether by their own choice or not, as well as make sure the surrounding pack-lands are secure and safe.
* It takes anywhere from 1-2 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft as young as 6 months old.

Gladiator

* Can be combined with any other role except Potion Master, Trauma Medic, Shaman, or Priest.
* The strongest of the strong, these grans are the defenders of the inner pack.
* They are the last defense against any potentially invading grans as well as the strongest.
* These grans normally stay within the heart of the pack and can even be considered the Taoseach's Guard.
* It takes anywhere from 4-5 years to master this craft.
* Grans can start learning this craft once they master the Defender role.

## Pack Hierarchy

Taoiseach - (Pronounced: Tee-shock)

* Leader of the pack
* Deals with the public on a regular basis
* Typically only heals the worst injuries or diseases due to how busy they are
* Makes sure the pack is safe, healthy, and well-fed
* Typically has extensive knowledge in all aspects of the pack but specializes in one craft

Heir

* The heir to the pack
* Will take over when the Taoiseach steps down or passes on
* Typically has extensive knowledge in all aspects of the pack but specializes in one craft

Head Guardian

* Military Leader
* Makes sure the pack is safe from all threats
* Reports to Taoiseach
* Will only ever be a Gladiator

Head Shaman

* Medical Leader
* Makes sure all patients are cared for effectively and quickly
* Reports to Taoiseach
* Will always be a Priest/ess, a Trauma Medic, or a Potion Master
* Must be a master Herbalist, Healer, and Shaman as well

Guardian

* The defenders of the pack
* They keep the pack safe from all threats
* They typically hunt for the pack as well
* Most grans in the pack are a Guardian in some capacity
* Must be a Defender or Gladiator
* Can dabble in Herbalism, Healing, and Shamanry

Rithan

* The healers of the pack
* They tend to the wounded and sick of Arilyan
* Some travel to heal those who can’t come to them
* They are the lifeblood of Fjalir, without them, there is no Fjalir
* Must be a Herbalist, Healer, or Shaman
* Can be a Priest/ess, a Trauma Medic, or a Potion Master
* Can dabble as a Defender

Forger

* They forge jewelry within the volcanos
* Typically Dwarax who know the ancient art
* Must be a Defender or Gladiator

Messenger

* They relay messages between the Outlying Communes and the primary pack in the North-West, as well as delivering messages to other packs.
* Typically any species that can fly.
* Can be any craft

Young Ones

* Those that are either in training to be a Guardian/Shaman or are too young to begin training
* Sometimes also used as a reference to outsiders requesting to learn
* Doesn't have to have a craft but the older they are the more likely they are to know what they want to do

Banished

* They took their knowledge of healing and used it to intentionally make grans sick(er) or worse yet, kill them
* These monsters are not welcome in Ir'Ritha
* If someone who is banished needs healing, Rithans will still help, but they will go to that gran, not the other way around
* Can be any craft

## Members

Taoiseach (1/1)

* Sita | Priestess, Herbalist, Healer

Heir (1/1)

* N/A

Head Guardian (1/1)

* Kru'Zii'Krel | Gladiator

Head Rithan (0/1)

* N/A

Guardians (unlimited)

* Avalanche | Defender
* Belial | Gladiator
* Ceros | Defender, Healer
* Chak'Sabat | Gladiator
* Galen | Gladiator
* Goliath | Defender
* Kirito | Defender
* Obyron | Defender
* Ransom | Gladiator
* Silva | Gladiator
* Sinargo | Gladiator
* Valhalla | Gladiator, Herbalist
* Wicasa | Defender

Rithans (unlimited)

* Aja | Shaman
* Bahravi | Shaman
* Brooklyn | Herbalist
* Daemond | Herbalist, Healer
* Drafiik | Trauma Medic, Herbalist
* Duseik | Healer
* Freya | Herbalist
* Horemheb | Priest, Herbalist
* Iris | Shaman
* Iset | Trauma Medic, Herbalist
* Isetnofret | Potion Master
* Jangwani | Shaman
* Juniper | Herbalist
* Kimchi | Trauma Medic
* Moarji | Potion Master, Healer
* Pavani | Healer, Herbalist, Shaman
* Wosret | Priestess
* Zale | Potion Master, Healer
* Zazu | Trauma Medic
* Zielle | Healer

Forgers (unlimited)

* Hades | Gladiator
* Alyeska | Gladiator

Messengers (unlimited)

* Yuvon'Lung | N/A

Young Ones (unlimited)

* Tynan

Banished (unlimited)

* N/A

### Joining

Anybody can become a Rithan. Many joined during the dissipation of Al'Shifa and came from the old Shifas that remained, or they came from the remaining Fjalir members that drifted around where the old pack once called home. Some were born here, others joined at seemingly random points throughout their lives. It's up to you to decide how your gran joined the pack.

* Name: \*here\*
* Player's Name: \*here\*
* Age: \*cub | adult | elder\*
* Rank Wanted: \*here\*
* Area(s) of Study: \*here\*
* How Did They Join: \*here\*
* image below