Servants of the Circle

Summary

The druid circle in the Viridale is a place of power with influence over the wilds of Sundren. The Servants of the Circle are the many druids and fey that adhere to the circle most closely. They may serve any number of gods, though most serve Silvanus and Chauntea.

The primal aspects of the grove (Strength, Temper, Alertness, Joy, and Grace) once acted as two way conduits between the wilds and the grove. Through his communion with the aspects, the Keeper can both perceive what is happening within the wilds, and act to influence it. Nes'Anah, the Peace of the Grove, exerts a calming influence over these proceedings so that conflict does not develop between the aspects, and so that the Keeper's fierce protectiveness of the wilds does not cause him to take extreme action.

Location: Viridale Forest

Typical Member Traits:

• Druids (mainly worship Silvanus and Chauntea)
  
• All manners of neutral alignments
  
• Custodians of the land
  

Origin/History

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. They are no longer people as such, but parts of the Grove and bound to it (though both The Keeper and Nes'Anah retain large parts of their consciousness in a recognizable form).

The Keeper and his companions voluntarily bound themselves to the grove, receiving the blessings of Silvanus. The Keeper became custodian, four other druids gave up their consciousnesses into the grove and became the aspects, and Nes'Anah ('the Peace) became the calming influence which allows the grove to function without descending into primal chaos. They are all parts of the grove now, rather than simply people who exist within it. None of them age while bound to the Grove.

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 now 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.

Districts:

Druid Glade
Druid Sanctuary

Government: The Grove is ruled by a patriarch (Ra'Aman) and five elder druids in his council. A well known and loved druidess, Annie Wiltenholm is a member of the the elder council. She and her two children live within the grove, protected by the Keeper and the other aspects.

Ranks

Initiate
Druid
Elder
Archdruid
Great Druid (NPC only)

Aspects

Summary: Aspects of the Grove

When the grove was formed, the druids who became the aspects had their consciousness fundamentally altered by their integration into it. Rather than maintaining what we would think of as intelligence and personality, their minds were dissolved (in a somewhat reversible fashion) into the grove and through it the wilds of Sundren. In this state they are effectively not people anymore in the conventional sense of the word, as their consciousness has become distributed and altered so they can perform the task of acting as aspects. The physical forms within the grove itself are only a small aspect of their being, and a sort of conduit between the grove and the land as they have become part of both (specifics vary, and relate to their powers... see below). The forms themselves may not seem intelligent in any meaningful way, but that is not their purpose. They are able to influence events, but do not encompass or control the wilds (sort of a butterfly effect). They are coordinated in their actions by The Keeper.

Strength:
The strength has become, in a limited sense, the raw power of nature (not in the sense of natural disasters or anything Talosian, but in terms of the power of creatures of the wilds, and the forest to alter things through 'force'). This is not simply the strength of creatures to cause damage, but is also the strength of root and limb within the trees and the ability of all these to alter the land through physical means. This relates to internal processes of the wilds, and their relationship to the civilization which lies beyond. The strength both reflects the state of the wilds' power, and acts a conduit to allow the grove to influence how it is used. The Strength may influence these forces, but is slow to anger or act of his own accord.

Alertness:

The Alertness reflects and influences that which is watchful within the wilds. Not simply the wariness of the individual animal to threats, but the wider awareness of the forest and wilds to what happens within and without.

Persons of Interest

Name: Loren Drycha
Title(s): The Summer Knight
Current Location: Druid’s Glade
Birthplace: unknown
Age: 180 ish
Race: Elf
Gender: Female
Deity: Silvanus
Alignment: N
Classes: Druid / Nature’s Warrior
Faction / Subfaction: Wrath of Nature

Quick Traits: Intelligent, wise, beautiful and quick to anger - but does not make rash decisions or act on emotional whims. Completely dedicated to the Keeper, those that serve Nature’s Wrath, and the Grove.

Summary: Drycha will gladly put Nature before her own life and the lives of those that serve her and Silvanus. Some say this has lead to some very heartless decisions, but she is working on balancing her love for nature, and her love for the beings that protect it. She does not hesitate to eradicate any threat to the forest, and see’s herself as the Great Mother’s Vengeance. She has a long memory, and holds grudges against those that seek to harm the forest or the Order. Her retaliation is swift and vindictive. Some say Drycha is a beautiful forest nymph, forever protecting the forests of Sundren. Others say she is an Elf who lost her soul to the beauty of nature. Whatever the case, Drycha dresses in plain leaf colored clothes, and when called to battle, will assume the many shapes of Nature to bring death to her enemies.

Significant Relationships: Completely dedicated to the Keeper and Grove. She will concede to his wisdom and decisions should The Keeper find Drycha’s own decisions impetuous and hateful - which, more often than not, they are.