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A story emerges, a character comes forth. From collecting folklore around the Irish and Celtic druids, we create a character that holds reverence and homage for Irish druid folklore.
 

Irish druid folklore tells of the Sidhe (Shee) as quite spiritual and intellectual. They are seers and mystics, often as advisors to kings. In our own story, for Faction Packed, I see our druid as a wandering spirit, symbolised by her porcelain skin. A protector of her forest, "Shee" whom has become one with the forest and the knowledge of the trees. Levitation, Shapeshifting, Storm-breath, all accounts of stories that confirm that druids from Irish Mythology are fascinating!

The etymology comes from adapting two words in Old Irish, the words deru (oak) and weid (to see/know). This brings the druid to mean “Knower of the Oak”

Being the lorekeepers of their lands, they memorized vast amounts of oral tradition which made them ripe to become the teachers, historians, poets and likely, bards! In all regards, they were highly revered.

Early folklore that endows the druid tells of the origins of their power. The story of Finegas (Fin Ecas) and Fionn, master and pupil.

One sunny day, Finegas is fishing along the River Boyne. As if by no luck other than fate, Finegas hooks a Giant Salmon, soon securing the fish and preparing to roast over the spit. This very Salmon had eaten the Nut of Knowledge fallen from one of the many Trees of Knowledge. The story goes that Fionn, while cooking the Salmon on the spit, eagerly turning and turning, burns his thumb on the Salmon. Fionn instinctually sticks the pulsing thumb into his mouth and is imbued with a feverish wisdom! 

Fionn can now harness the power of tienm laida. By reciting an incantation and chewing on his thumb, the Thumb of Knowledge -- prophetic and hidden knowledge is revealed to him. 

In another version of the story, the knowledge is passed to his teeth which unfortunately has no ties to tooth faeries. The earliest precursor is perhaps in Norse tradition of tand-fé (tooth-fee), notably as Viking warriors believed that teeth brought good luck in battle. I digress! 

A strong reverence for druids had even stirred St. Patrick. He bans the magic power of teinm laida on his holy-day, arguing that knowledge through "divination" required offerings to demons. 

Used in Shakespearean plays, the act of biting one's thumb aimed at another person, was intended as a bid for ill will or generally offensive stance. Or, in the case of Irish druids, thumb biting was casting an incantation at your enemy.