This small craftguild traces its origin back to the Ancestor Goddess Valaya. It spans all aspects of the healing arts, and counts herbalists, physicians, pharmacists, and surgeons among its membership. Each chapter operates an infirmary within its Dwarfhold; these are spotlessly clean, efficiently run, and boast a surgical success rate that Humans can only dream of. On more than one occasion, Human rulers have sent embassies to the Healers' Guild requesting a Dwarf surgeon to attend them, rather than placing themselves in the hands of Human sawbones.[1a]
Healers also travel widely between the small settlements and mines, and accompany Dwarf armies in the field. Those who live permanently in the smaller settlements are mostly pharmacists and herbalists.[1a]
Dwarf medical theory looks upon the body as a machine, which operates according to a plan, breaks down in certain predictable ways, and can be repaired by using appropriate techniques. This is somewhat at odds with modern Human theories of humours, astrological aspects and alchemical balances, but since there is little formal communication between Dwarf and Human healers this has not been widely debated.[1a]