| The Lorethew
Mentor Society Empath Guild Guide |
| VI. ADVANCED
HEALING While many Empaths are perfectly content to sit in one location and heal the wounded that pass by, some Empaths feel this is too confining for their tastes, and they prefer to heal and adventure in the various hunting grounds in Elanthia. These are what we call "Field Empaths", because they heal in the hunting fields. While this practice is mostly associated with older Empaths, with the Battle Empath title, this aspect of our profession is not limited to any specific circle. However, if you are considering this type of lifestyle, you should keep a few things in mind. First, you need to decide if you want to engage in combat with any creatures in the fields, or if you prefer to stand back and let the hunters do what they do best. Asking to be guarded in the field is perfectly acceptable; however, if you are in an area where creatures outnumber hunters, it can be difficult to be guarded constantly. Either way, be sure to equip yourself with armor, and possibly a shield and a weapon, prior to heading out to the fields. There is always a chance the critter will injure you, and when you are trying to save another's life, there is no need to jeopardize your own. If you are the type who wants to wrangle with critters, armor is highly recommended. Most Empaths like leather armor because it is light and easy to maneuver in, but armor should be a personal choice. Having a shield or a parrying weapon handy helps as well, but be careful that you don't use the weapon incorrectly (i.e. jabbing at the creature!). Parrying with the weapon, however, will help you maintain your balance. Also, a vital skill to learn if you plan to heal or fight in the field is evasion. This will aid in your ability to dodge attacks if you are engaged with a creature. These skills can be learned by listening to classes taught by more experienced persons, or by actively using the skill in a combat situation. One relatively new aspect of field healing is the ability to brawl with creatures. If you decide to brawl, you should keep a few things in mind. There are two ways to brawl: using "commands" and using "maneuvers". Commands, which include kick, punch, knee and bite, will cause empathic shock if you decide to use them. Maneuvers, such as weave, circle, grapple, shove, are the type of brawling that Empaths can do without risking shock, because they are relatively harmless to the creature. When you brawl, set your attack stance to 100%, to increase your ability to brawl. While in the hunting fields, brawling, like parry and evasion, is learned when a critter is facing you at melee. Be aware that this also increases the probability, if you accidentally take a swing at your opponent, that you will successfully hit and incur empathic shock. Brawling is generally more effective with a weapon in hand, again demonstrating the importance of knowing what commands you can and cannot do. Also, a safety catch for Empaths in brawling is that the Empath must specify which creature they are engaged with. Otherwise, you will feel sick to your stomach, which is never a good idea when you're facing possible doom. If you are out healing in the fields, try to be in an area with decent life mana, or at least make sure you are not too injured. Injuries hinder your ability to evade attacks, and sometimes even a slight wound can result in bleeding when an angry creature hits the area. It is a good idea to practice your Power Perception skill so that you can use the magic in the room to your advantage, as well as decipher if you can dash into a nearby room to cast your spells more effectively. To see the mana in each room and better your Power Perception skill, simply Concentrate in each room you are in. Those fighting in the fields welcome Field Empaths. It is a genuine service to the hunters of Elanthia, particularly those that wish to avoid entering cities and towns. Going directly to those that need assistance enables hunters to continue hunting with little interruption. You will find, should you choose this path of the profession, that the emotional and financial rewards to field healing are addictive. |