Geomancer

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For the evoker ability, see [Geomancy].
Razorfen Geomancer in Hearthstone.

A geomancer practices a crude form of shamanism known as geomancy.[1] Geomancy is the earth elemental practice native to several humanoid races of Azeroth and Draenor, including the ogres, Broken, pandaren, kobolds, troggs, quilboar, the Grimtotem tauren, and various races among the ranks of the Earthen Ring and the Twilight's Hammer cult.

Practitioners of geomancy can be recognized by a number of titles including geolord[2] (or geo-lord),[3] geomaster,[4] geomagus,[5] geopriest,[6] and rockmagus.[7]

Background

This section is a lore stub.

Kobolds

Following the Cataclysm, the kobold geomancers of the Tunnel Rat group, a colony loyal to the Axis of Awful, managed to figure out some kind of parlor trick which allowed them to enslave a large amount of troggs. They were able to do this because the troggs are ultimately considered creatures of the earth.[8]

Ogres

The ogres of Draenor practiced geomancy on a large scale.[9] The ogre geomancers of the Bloodmaul clan notably prided themselves on harnessing the elements, but sometimes they overreached, as with Forgemaster Gog'duh and the slag elemental Magmolatus.[10] Some of them harnessed the elements in order to protect the mines, prevent a slave revolt,[11] or create a forge.[12]

Quilboar

According to The Old Wizard's Almanac, the few quilboar that remain in Kalimdor are known to practice geomancy, and some plagued quilboar practice this form of magic even in undeath. Quilboar society regards the reading of stones and crystals as the highest form of shamanism.[13] The shaman and geomancers of the quilboar tribes call upon the strength of the Ancient Guardian Agamaggan to help them in battle and in their rituals.[14]

As the leader of the Razorfen tribes, Charlga Razorflank's experimental and powerful geomancy practices were second to none.[15]

Known geomancers

Twilight Geomancer in Hearthstone.

Named

Unnamed

Items

In the RPG

Icon-RPG.png This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Pandaren geomancer artwork by Samwise Didier.

Geomancy is the practice of divination and elemental combat native to several humanoid races of Azeroth. Geomancy is shamanistic and teaches that the land is a reflection of the spirits, but that spirits are also a reflection of the land.[16] It is similar to shamanism in that disciples of geomancy wield the powers of the earth and encourage respect of earth's spirits. The main difference between a geomancer and a shaman is the method through which the trust of the elements is gained. A shaman speaks directly with the elemental spirits, whereas a geomancer uses rituals, songs, and sacrifices to appease and propitiate the spirits.[17]

Pandaren

Pandaren veil their beliefs in the trappings of a mystical and ancient method called geomancy. The spirits of the land are very real and sometimes very dangerous. The sacred duty of the pandaren geomancers is to understand the lay of the land, to study the natural terrain for clues as to the nature and disposition of the spirits within it. Yet the geomancers do more than simply examine the spirits of the lands; they also work to appease them. Through the use of rituals, songs, and sacrifices, the geomancers attempt to propitiate the spirits, lulling them into complacency with attention and honor.

Should this process fail, the geomancers are not above manipulating the very nature of the spirits. Geomancers teach that the land is a reflection of the spirits, but the spirits are also a reflection of the land. When the spirit changes, the land around it changes as well; but more importantly, when the land changes, the spirit may also. So, the geomancers guide their clans in reforming the land around them, remaking it into a suitable place not only to dwell, but to help make the spirit into a friendlier entity.

In combat, the normally peaceful geomancers can be fierce. The spirits of the land, beholden to the geomancers for their happiness, are only too willing to fight on their behalf. Those who run afoul of geomancers in battle find that the very land may rise up, taking the form of rock and stone elementals. The legends still speak of geomancers capable of calling up the earth to destroy the settlements of their enemies with devastating earthquakes.[17] A known pandaren geomancer is Raiden.

RPG notes

Warcraft III April Fools

The Pandaren April Fools was a 2002 April Fool joke that Blizzard posted on their site, with the pandaren as the so-called "5th race" for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. The following description was used to present their "geomancer class":

"Much like the night elf druids, the pandaren mystics developed an affinity for the spirits of the earth. These hearty mystics developed the practice of geomancy - and learned to wield the fury of the earth by appeasing the restless elemental spirits. Many geomancers have been known to summon various types of rock and stone elementals, and great geomancers have even caused catastrophic earthquakes to swallow enemy armies."[18]

Notes and trivia

Inspiration

Geomancy (from Old French geomancie < Late Latin geōmantia < Late Ancient Greek γεωμαντεία/geōmanteía < γῆ/gê, "earth" + μαντεία/manteía, "divination") from the eponymous ilm al-raml ("the science of sand"), is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground, or how handfuls of dirt land when someone tosses them. The Arabic tradition consists of sketching sixteen random lines of dots in sand.

In Africa, one traditional form of geomancy consists of throwing handfuls of dirt in the air and observing how the dirt falls. In West Africa, geomancy involves a mouse as the agent of the earth spirit.

In China, the diviner may enter a trance and make markings on the ground that are interpreted by an associate.

Gallery

See also

References

 
  1. ^ The Old Wizard's Almanac
  2. ^ Geolord Grek'og
  3. ^ Geo-Lord Garug
  4. ^ Strongbo in Pearl of Pandaria
  5. ^ Roogug
  6. ^ Geopriest Gukk'rok
  7. ^ Rockmagus Bargg
  8. ^ A [5-30] A Nasty Exploit
  9. ^ Forgemaster Gog'duh#Adventure Guide
  10. ^ Adventure Guide entry for Forgemaster Gog'duh
  11. ^ Roltall
  12. ^ Magmolatus
  13. ^ Adventure Guide entry for Roogug
  14. ^ H [20] Wisdom of Agamaggan
  15. ^ a b Adventure Guide entry for Charlga Razorflank
  16. ^ Dark Factions, pg. 16
  17. ^ a b Manual of Monsters, pg. 79
  18. ^ Pandaren (April Fools)
  19. ^ World of Warcraft: Illidan, chapter 14
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