Fiction:Mendel Pact/Draoithe

Draiiud are the priests and scholars of the Mendel Clans, holding multiple roles across their society, both to help keep it functioning, and to improve upon it. It is they who interrupt the teachings of the gods, teach the young, lead prayers before battle or in mass, and offer their skills as doctors to those who need it. Their talents include many other things, such as lawyers, or as leaders for their Clans. Draiiud do not yield absolute authority, but nor does the Clan Lord or Lady in charge, rather, the two work together, the Lord making decisions, with the help of his Draiiudic advisers, and the Draiiud carrying out his/her words and enforcing his ruling across the Clan.

Draiiud, as priests among a warlike people, are used to having to fight on the frontlines to protect their people. As they are ordered never to draw firstblood in battle, Draiiud may not be on the first fighting line, but instead stay behind their troops, chanting in their ancient tongue and calling upon the gods to protect their warriors, destroy their enemies and bless their people. Their style of dress, their way of speaking, and various other habits unnerve, frighten and intimidate their foes, leaving many of their enemies to target the Draiiud, in hopes of breaking their morale.

This does little by annoy and enrage the Mendel, who love and adore their tribal leaders, seeing them as the voice of the Gods, and go out of their way to protect them and keep them from harm. When they have to fight, Draiiud are still fearsome people to fight. They are Mendel, after all, and their skill with the Blade and blaster is still without equal.

Mendel are oddly tightlipped about the practices of their priests, and so whatever information their allies and outsiders know about is largely through eyewitness accounts.

Early History
The Draiiud have existed for much of the Mendel history, playing a major role in it's society and structure. It is said the first Priests and shamans of the Mendel came to be aware of Zaraturai and the Gods when she appeared to them on a pillar of light, giving them texts that would detail many events in the future, and how they should structure their lives. Each priest decided to follow a certain god. The First created a sect dedicated to Zaraturai, teaching love and tolerance for all, no matter sexuality or person, and teaching the land was theirs, so long as they took care of it and protected it. The Priest who followed Hoorangiir taught strength and evolution, that the Mendel people must evolve to adapt to certain changes and to always seek out challenges and glory wherever they appeared, be it in battle or in other walks of life. The priest who followed Ciecogoarch, created the First Bards, a separate group of priests dedicated to making life enjoyable, creating fun, and creating alcohol for their people.

These various sects, each dedicated to the various Gods, worked together to teach the Mendel people the culture and standards they would need to survive and function. They also developed other practices, developing the first written language for the Mendel, creating a law system for their tribes and Clans, and helped elect the first kings and chieftains that would command the Mendel people throughout their existence.