The Helpful Handout of How to Become a Healer

Criteria established by Mercedes Lackey

Based on the Heralds of Valdemar and Darian's Tale trilogies

Distributed by:

Queen's Own
The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

Basic Requirements

I. Gifts

All Healers have Healing and Empathy. Determine the nature of each Gift by rolling a six-sided die. Healer's honor applies; what you roll is what you get.

1 = low strength Gift
2 - 5 = normal strength Gift
6 = very strong Gift

II. Develop a Character

Develop a character (your persona--Who would you be if you could daydream yourself into Valdemar or somewhere else on Velgarth? Be the "real" you or as different as you please.) and write about him/her. Prepare a minimum of 3 pages.

This is a biography. Describe your persona's physical and emotional characteristics, likes and dislikes, whatever makes you uniquely you. You may use first or third person.

Remember, to write about your persona before his/her Gifts manifest. A Healer must learn to cope with his/her Gifts, not have his/her life built around one skill. Most Gifts manifest themselves late in life; they are not evident at birth. (10 points)

III. Develop One or More Friend or Relative Characters

You needn't be quite so detailed in your descriptions of these other characters. But remember, you are writing about people you know well. Describe what your family and/or friends look like, their own character traits, etc. Again, a minimum of 3 pages. (5 points)

IV. Extra Point Requirements (5 points each)

Choose and complete the requirements for two (minimum) of the following:

  1. Learn and certify in CPR.
  2. Learn First Aid.
  3. Volunteer for 10 hours of service in a health-related field (Blood drive, candy striper, . . . ).
  4. Create a list of medical products and their uses (herbs, poultices, etc.).
  5. Write a procedure for a specific treatment (trauma, burns., etc.).
  6. Draw a map.
  7. Become a regular blood donor (Make a commitment to give at least 3x a year).
  8. Draw a picture of your or your "other" character(s).
  9. Write a story of more than three pages.
  10. Illustrate your story.
  11. Design a costume.
  12. Create a costume.
  13. Create an authentic recipe.
  14. Start a local chapter of Queen's Own.
  15. Edit a fanzine/newsletter.
  16. Send a story, poem, or art to one of our zines.

After you have acquired 25 points, you may earn your Greens!

Exception: If you work in the health care field you may automatically claim full Healer status. However, please develop your Velgarth persona so others may interact with you in character.

Special Notes for Healers

If you have additional questions, check out the Healers and Healing FAQ.

Advanced Rank

There are several ways to go up in rank as a Healer.

Specialties

You can earn a specialty by creating an approved Healer persona, and then

  1. Write a 20-page paper on one of the following topics:

    • Herbs and their medicinal uses.
    • Medieval medicine.
    • Modern Healthcare in the United States.

  2. After you have written your paper, roll on the appropriate chart below.

    • Low Strength Healing Specialties

      If you have a Low Strength Healing Gift, roll on this chart:

      Roll Specialty
      1 Herbwitch (Herb-wizard; serves in a remote area; actually ranks below true Healer in the books)
      2-3 Animal Healer
      4-5 Herbalist (Herbsman/Herbswoman; Low-Level Healer; identifies and knows the use of herbs and other healing plants)
      6 Midwife

    • Normal and High Strength Healing Specialties

      If you have a Normal or High Strength Healing Gift, roll on this chart:

      Roll Specialty
      1 Healer Herbalist
      2-3 Surgery
      4-5 Trauma Healing
      6 Mind Healing

Formal Training

Your Healer is at Apprentice level until you enter Formal Training. To attain higher ranks, follow the instructions below.

Journeyman Healer

To become a Journeyman Healer, you must have an approved Healer persona, then

Master Healer

To become a Master Healer, you must have an approved Journeyman Healer persona, then

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