Hands of the Healer

The 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 the
Mmakani. The nation of Tantrak was founded as a Nmenrean colony in about S.A. 1800 as the most
southerly such colony on the continent of Endor proper. It was ruled by a Nmenrean royal governor for
1200 years, until the arrival of the "Magician" who became the governor's adviser in 3000 S.A. (He was
actually one of the Elven Lords of the Court of Ardor.) Forty years later the royal governor declared
independence for Tantrak and proclaimed himself its first king. Since that time the government of Tantrak
under the influence of the Magician has suffered a steady decline into corruption, while the spiritual
condition of the Nmenrean colonists, ever more intermingled with their Usakani subjects, has shifted
downwards from disdain to hatred and jealousy of the Elves and Kirani and an ever increasing embrace of the
Dark Religion.
Prior to the Nmenrean conquest, the Usakani were a primitive Mannish people closely related to the
Mmakani and of a similar nature and level of culture. Since the conquest, after which the Nmenreans
formed the upper classes of Tantrak, the two cultures and races have mingled considerably into one more or
less uniform Tantraki culture. This process was accelerated by the Nmenreans' aloofness and voluntary
relative isolation from the rest of the Mmakan subcontinent, although trade flourishes with many countries
near and far, including at times as far as Gondor.
The Tantraki follow the wide variety of professions common to most advanced countries, and the economy
is sufficiently diversified as to support many professionals. Practitioners of the healing arts are many and
varied, 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 the
Nmenrean estates of the nobility. A rivalry, usually friendly but sometimes not, has emerged between the
Houses 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 talented
youngsters to fill their apprentice needs.
Many Tantraki SU's or Semi-SU's have access to healing magics. But while these individuals and most
ordinary 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 unsanitary
conditions and even insects, they generally leave the rest to the professionals. The midwives and surgeons
build on that base, and Tantraki SU Healers and Lay Healers are truly sophisticated. Unfortunately, most
Tantraki SU's, particularly the Channelers, are devotees of the Dark Religion. Sample packages of relevant
skills:
Midwife (Professional, L5)
Animal Healing

Ranks
9

Surgeon (Professional, L5)

Animal Healing

Ranks
12

Cookery
Diagnostics
First Aid
Herb Lore
Hypnosis
Midwifery
Sanity Healing Lore
Second Aid
Surgery

9
12
12
9
6
18
12
6
3

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

6
15
15
6
6
6
15
15

Due to the isolationist tendencies of the Tantraki, it is quite difficult for outsiders (i.e. adventurers) to even
enter Tantrak in the first place, at least outside of the royally commissioned and established trading zones in
Sarl and a few other cities. Nevertheless, within those zones (or outside them with the proper written
permissions) 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 of
the realm, especially the south and east, is classic tropical rain forest, while the forests of the north and west
are somewhat cooler and therefore more mixed, including deciduous trees. Southeast of Sarl, the flora and
fauna 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 climate
codes h and m and terrain codes D, F, J, and O, with minor occurrences of B, U, and V. Healers of various
professions will almost certainly be very well supplied with native herbs and will have a good chance of
possessing herbs from other climates through widespread trade. One herb unique to Tantrak after its own
fashion is called athalthr or Tantrak athelas, a close relative of the athelas originally brought from the
cooler regions of Nmenor and now adapted to the tropics. It is potentially as effective as the Nmenrean or
northern variety, but this effectiveness has diminished with the dilution of the Nmenrean bloodlines and
knowledge. The following herbs, poisons, or raw materials may be found in the wild:
h-B Klandun

h-O

Abaas

m-D Cathaana Nolgurth (P)

h-D
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J
h-J

h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-O
h-V
m-D

Anserke
Baalak
Carcatu
Carneyar
Degiik
Fek
Hugar
Pentanoth (P)
Swuth
Tarfeg
Valanar
Grarig, Greater
Baranie

m-D
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-O
m-U
m-U

Kolandor
Curfalaka
Gort
Kakduram
Karfar (P)
Murnan or Murtan (P)
Rud-tekma
Tarnas
Umakilis (P)
Vulcurax
Wek-wek
Welwal
Witav

Grapeleaf
Ebur
Felmather
Jitsu (P)
Klynyk*
Sarnumen (P)
Tharm*
Ucason
Ul-ucason
Vessin*
Yavethalion
Jegga (P)
Jeggarukh (P)

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, where
they 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).
Editor's Note
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