Ra'Aman

Name: Ra'Aman (formerly Keeper of the Grove)
Title(s): Great Druid
Location: Druid's Glade
Birthplace: Unknown
Age: Unknown (Very Old)
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Deity: Silvanus
Alignment: True Neutral
Classes: Druid

Summary: Ra'Aman is a man far into his gray headed years. His skin is tanned by the sun and his flesh wrinkled with age. Though he numbers well over one hundred years, they say his balanced mind stays him as long as he is needed. He wears a large beard and long hair. He is seen as the wisdom of nature itself, as he is said to have the sight of Silvanus himself. Ra'Aman is both peace and love itself as well as fury and strength. This has earned him the respect of all those who walk with nature around him.

Due to his age, many feel it will not be long before the council must choose a successor. This will be a hardship for the Wardens but is seen as a part of the circle of life.

History:

(1) Coming to Sundren Ra'Aman and his daughter Nes'Anah came to Sundren with four other druids after the Sundering to see the newly-opened wilds, and in hope of tempering the influence of the colonization to take place there. With the coming of Mundus and the colonists, it became obvious that much of the wilds would disappear, and that the balance within the remaining areas such as the Mossdale and the Viridale would be greatly threatened after Mundus' successful attempts to confine the humanoids of Sundren within them (see here). Sundren was ever a land with a tenuous balance within the wilds (many feuding tribes of Orcs, Gnolls and Goblins create a precarious balance), but these new developments threatened to be disastrous.

(2) The Formation of the Grove After the founding of the city-state of Sundren in 1230, the Keeper and his companions offered up prayers to Silvanus and the other Deities of nature, asking their blessings for aid in trying to preserve the wilds of Sundren. Silvanus answered their call, impressed by the wisdom of the group, and particularly the relationship between the Keeper and his daughter Nes'Anah (which mirrors the relationship between Silvanus and his own daughter Eldath). Silvanus offered them the power to form the grove, though sacrifices were required on their part. Ra'Aman and his companions voluntarily bound themselves to the grove, receiving the blessings of Silvanus (this is when he became 'The Keeper'). He is now bound to the grove, and through it the wilds of Sundren; he is less the person he was before, and more part of a greater whole (the grove and the forest) along with his companions (thus why he goes by no name other than simply The Keeper).

(3) The Time Since The nature of the balance developing in Sundren after the founding contained much tension and conflict. A twisted form of balance arose within the Viridale before, with the humanoids fighting each other and keeping the numbers of each in check by doing so. While the keeper has no love of the city dwellers, and is not fond of the metal noose they have placed around the forest (the border forts), he sees the wisdom in maintaining it (at least for now) given what already transpired (the founding of Sundren and the trapping of the humanoids in the forest). It seemed better to have a dangerous balance contained within the forest than have an open conflict between the Sundarians and the humanoids which might destroy all the wild places of Sundren. Ra'Aman presided over all this uneasily, exerting his influence to try and keep the conflict within the forest at a level which was never too destructive, but also striving to keep it going so that the humanoids would not multiply and consume the forest itself.

(4) The Situation Now The recent formation of the Mossclaw alliance means that this precarious balance may now be broken. The industry of the alliance (and their increasing numbers) may consume the forest in its attempts to break free. Instead of a tense balance within the forest, circumscribed by the forts of the militia, the keeper now fears a conflict between those without and within which will destroy the forest itself.

As civilization has crept further and further into the wilds, the binding of he and his companions to the forest has been unraveling. Only Ra'Aman has had the will and strength to endure the loss of the land. The aspects sacrificed their lives to strengthen his bond with the land. He lives on, but the affects are visible. He has regained a more "conscious state" than he had when the binding was strong. Many wonder how long he will last, with his age and the loss of the woods.

The expansion of Colibrus's undead into the Viridale has left the Wardens fighting two fronts: Colibrus and the expansion of Sundren itself. The land is losing.

The loss and corruption of this sacred land has weakened the binding of Ra'Aman and the Aspects. Ra'Aman occasionally drifts back to consciousness. He remembers his name now and his identity. He sometimes has wants and needs and speaks using "I" instead of "we." The Aspects flicker between human and animal form. The binding ritual is fading, and so is their power.

In a desperate attempt to save the bind, the weaker Aspects have sacrificed themselves to consolidate their powers. Joy, Grace, and Temper have given themselves back to Silvanus. In a strange ritual, they passed their powers to Ra'Aman, Strength, and Alertness. The power of the circle is preserved--for now.

Significant Relationships:

Nes'Anah, Peace of the Grove, is his daughter.
The Strength of the Grove
The Temper of the Grove (deceased)
The Alertness of the Grove
The Grace of the Grove (deceased)
The Joy of the Grove (deceased)