Many of you may not know or even imagine it, but I used to roam the land
as a little priestess, in hope of spreading the good words and giving
aid to the hungry and the poor. Only later on did I turn to the serpents
to learn about the arts of using venoms in combat and healing.

This give me a unique perspective on the healing hands of the priests
and priestesses. The gift of healing hands is a divine one, not to be
abused but to be well used. Surely, it is natural for a healer to come
to a comrade's need in battles. The intent of healing is good -- to heal
the wounded.

However, a true healer does not know the difference between an ally and
an enemy. All you see is the wounded one, the dying one. You don't care
who is winning or losing the battle. All you care about is to heal the
wounded.

Once you take sides in a battle, you are not performing the duties of a
healer anymore. You are aiding your own allies. Is this not the same as
when a druid chooses to supply herbs and elixirs to your enemies? That
is where all the logic for a herb ban comes from. A strong stance is
being taken, when a herb ban is executed, when a healing hand is applied
to one side only. Not neutral anymore, not a peaceful path anymore.

As well, the same malpractice can be seen in resurrecting your enemies
only to deliver more deaths to them. An act that is meant for all the
good intent in the world can easily become a mere weapon in the wrong
hands.

As Shylmysten has pointed out, by grace of gods, some healers have
chosen to give aid to their own allies in battles, without risking the
wrath from the enemies under the divine gift protection. Is this truly a
path to peace? I say not.

Enjoy. This is one of my rarest moments speaking from the heart of a
little priestess I once was.

Mistral

Penned by my hand on the 18th of Ero, in the year 293 AF.