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DruidsOne of the NineUpon reaching the 12th level, a character receives the official title of druid, of which a circle never has more than nine. (Lower-level characters, though called "druids" by most, are technically "initiates.") A druid's role in the circle resembles that of a 7th- to 11th-level initiate, with some exceptions.At 12th level, a druid has gained access to the commune with nature spell and should use it along with other druidic resources to aggressively root out emergent threats to the wilderness within a domain. Druids attend the High Council of the Moot and always act based on the needs of the circle as a whole. The circle's great druid, at times, asks 12th-level druids for advice and sends them on missions for the good of the circle.But the life of a druid involves more than just adventuring--serving as a mentor takes up much of a druid's time, too. Selecting young people to train as druidic candidates constitutes a major responsibility of those who reach druid rank. Each year, druids (and other inner circle members) pick the single most worthy of their advanced students to initiate into the Order as 1st-level druids.

High-level DruidsOnly a limited number of druids in a given circle can reach the inner circle--nine of druid rank, three archdruids, and a single great druid. A character cannot replace one of these druids without having sufficient experience. In addition, a vacancy must open up, or the rising druid must defeat one of the current higher-level characters the druidic challenge to assume a new rank.Some tension exists between druids of the inner circle, since they remain constantly aware that a subordinate may be preparing a challenge. Unlike clerics, who normally settle down by this point, high-level druids continue adventuring as part of their duties and to stay in shape to fend off challengers.

InitiatesInitiates constitute the 1st- to 11th-level druids within a circle. Their experience level determines their role in the circle. A typical 1st- or 2nd-level initiate (an NPC) often works part-time as a Village Druid. This initiate keeps up a rural occupation (beekeeper, farmer, herder, etc.) while studying under a higher-level druid mentor.  The exceptions to this stereotype are rare individuals (PCs). An average person finds it tough to recognize beginning druids, since most seem just like other peasants. Initiates between the 3rd and 6th levels have achieved most of their granted powers, with the exception of shapechanging. The cornerstones of the druidic order, they frequently devote their full time to their faith. They normally live in stone, wood, or mud-brick cottages and act as the protectors of a small tract of wilderness--a wood or river valley-- or of a village or group of hamlets. Most druids of this status have the Village Druid or Guardian kit, and those who choose to protect a village usually become respected community leaders. Initiates between the 7th and 11th levels have received all their branch's granted powers.Such druids live simply but have widened their areas of influence, perhaps becoming the guardians of entire forests or mountains, or of all the villages in a barony. These druids often dwell near a sacred grove surrounded by a few acres of virgin wilderness, a sanctuary for rare and magical plants, animals, and supernatural creatures. This natural setting may be magically defended as well. Temporal rulers of the area respect (or fear) druids of such level.

Druid CirclesAll druids dwelling within the bounds of a domain are organized into a circle. Circles typically are named for the geographic area their domain occupies, but sometimes they bear other names, harking back to their founders or the gods the druids’ worship (if they worship deities rather than Nature itself). For instance, druids might have formed "The Dragon Isles Circle" or "The Circle of Danu." The members of a circle hold themselves responsible for the well-being of the wilderness and the continuation of the orderly cycles of Nature within their domain. This doesn't mean a circle remains unconcerned about what occurs in other domains—forming circles is just the druidic order's way of recognizing that those druids who live in a particular region can best serve to protect it and should therefore hold formal responsibility for the domain.Circles operate within a very loose structure. They use no large temples or abbeys, for rarely do more than a few druids live together. When they do, their dwelling places are usually less than ostentatious: small cottages or huts of the style of local hunters or farmers. All druids within the circle acknowledge a single great druid as their leader and recognize this figure's moral authority. The great druid gives the circle's members great freedom compared to most other religious leaders. The druids adhere to a rather informal hierarchical structure and require their initiates to hold true to the basic ethos of the druidic order and respect higher-ranking druids. A few traditions described in this chapter have grown up to govern the harmonious workings of a circle: initiations, the challenge, the ban, the moot, and the selection of acolytes. All druids, from the humblest initiate to the great druid, may freely follow their own interpretation of druidic beliefs and act however they believe best serves Nature.

See Lords of Neraka https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/neraka/429-ac-lords-of-nerka-ii-vol-i-story-two-playing-for-keeps/msg1222/#msg1222

War to Retake Qualinestivol. IStory Two: The Third AttemptChapter Two: The enemy of your enemy is your friend  Western Ansalon Near QualinestiOnyx Hall  Winter winds blow across the plains in the north and come south, right into the forest. The trees creek, and the wind howls.  The wind rattles against the windows of the hall. Inside, the fireplace is crackling and blazing, bringing warmth to the hall. Candles and lamps on the tables, along with the fireplaces, provide the illumination in the black hall. Lord Egil Liveskill leads the Knight of the Lilly faction from the Onyx Hall, as he is the Lord of the Onyx Order, made up of Knights of the Lily whose primary goal is to eliminate any foreign enemies for the Knighthood. They are extremely dutiful to the code and ever watchful of the other Knight of Neraka factions. He has just been given a message from a patrol from the north. It would seem that his patrols are being picked off, and overseers are turning up dead in Qualinesti.  He calls for his scribe and has an angrily forthright letter taken and sent to the Supreme Goblin General Azog, inquiring about who is killing his knights in the north. Meanwhile, in the north and all over, The Windriders have ruled the night these last weeks. There is no doubt that opportunistic Green Dragons might have moved in while they have been away, but so far, their dominance of the Northern skies has been kept to times as coordinated by the command structure. The Windriders are flying at different times and have been gathering information and targeting different areas. They have zeroed in on a particular area because it has shown signs indicative of possibly being the Goblin Leadership. It is unassuming and not some palace. Simple hovels that have a lot of foot traffic to and from. They have not ruled out the possibility that the Goblins might have begun digging tunnel systems. A Windrider, Qualinesti Tamerlan Stormwalker, and her Griffon, Wingdancer, observe movement and stay out of sight, and follow from a distance. They follow the courier hand off to the hobgoblin sentry, and a worg rider and take the message to a small grouping of hovels that have stack openings to allow the outflow of smoke.    Inside, Azog is around the fire at his hovel, covered up around his shoulders with blankets. He considers this message for a good while, and he begins to smile. He has been thinking about this old human expression, rolling it around in his head, since he first came by the information that the Elves have returned. They are being, what is the word, surgical. Goblins have not been getting killed, but some knights are. Someone has made a decision to limit Gobin's deaths, perhaps, and go after Dark Knights only. Maybe as an indication they might be willing to make a side deal, and so the expression has been coming back to him The enemy of your enemy is your friend. He calls for his scribe to write precisely what he tells him. The answer back to Lord Knight Egil Liveskill: Wild Elves rose and threatened to become a problem, but they were eliminated and put down." He looks over the human words, reads, adds some of his own flourishes, and signs it. It is salted, and the scribe rolls it up, and they melt wax, and Azog affixes his signet and forms the seal, and places it into the messenger's Scrollcase, and it is handed off to the rider to return the message.        Windrider Tamerlan Stormwalker and her Griffon, Wingdancer, watch the process and return to base.

A Druid's Tale: The Story of Talidaarvol. II The World of ManChapter Seven: Between Life and Death The Great Forest of Zhan The AfterlifeTalidaar opens his eyes and picks himself up from the ground, and finds himself naked in the most lush and greatest forest ever created. Talidaar is humbled but confused. He hears birds and sees insects like dragonflies and butterflies. It is the grandest place he has ever laid eyes on.  He finds himself contemplating the trees and the life he comes across his Grandfather, who seems proud of him, but also distraught that Talidaar is here and that he gave his life. The Grandfather tells Talidaar he is proud of him, but he must live. Suddenly, there is a great wind that blows forth. Leaves and debris begin flying past starts to move Talidaar back. Talidaar hears a voice in the wind says, “Witness me and know, you have been judged, remember the dream you have been gifted with, follow it, now Go Back, it is not your time. He is blown backwards into nothingness with a great sadness; he could not stay with the voice and the Forest. Abanasinia Darken WoodTalidaar hears talking but cannot lift his eyelids, but some light is coming through. The light might be moving; it might be alive. He thinks he is with Kira for a moment, then he thinks he is with the Chieftain's Daughter... Talidaar feels wet and tries with all of his might to open his eyelids that just feel so heavy. She thinks he sees and hears girls laughing as Talidaar feels he is being cleaned. He feels an abundance of hands upon him, cleaning, everywhere. He is too out of it to feel embarrassed, but he does wonder where all of these girls came from and why he feels so soothed and calm. He only vaguely sees their skin and what they are; his mind almost puts together the thought of Dryads. His eyelids drop, and he is out.    Talidaar thinks he is awake because he thinks he can hear Kel talking to him, but those thoughts drift away.Talidaar awakens under the darkness of the night, the stars above. He finds it difficult to move. He sees her in the white moonlight, a silver Unicorn, unlike anything he has ever seen. He marvels at her elegant beauty. A deep, gentle voice comes from her, she says, “sleep.”    …And Talidaar nods off.

Information for the Lords of Nerka Dark Knights Who's WhoDonovan Malakar, The Protector of the Lilly, Jelek CommanderHis XOThe MedicusMystic HealersKnights of Neraka Jelek GarrisonKnights of the LillyForward Recon TeamTeam Leader Night Warrior Malack 9th levelForward Recon TeamNight Acolyte Faelora Blackwinter 8th levelNovice of Night Lucan: 7th levelWarrior. Sgt Jharel 6th levelWarrior Lierina 5th levelBeliever Grevell Whitefall 4th levelFollower Ekrin Orestagg 3rd levelPlus, fifteen more Knights of the Lilly Warriors, 5th level and below, Believers and FollowersWarrior Lierin is a part of a small scouting group that is far ahead of the main group

Knights of NerkaLords of Nerka IIvol. IStory TwoThe Knights of Takhisis were created by Tracy HickmanThe Lords of Neraka Lord of the Night Baltasar Rennold (370 AC -) is an honorable and holy man who is, as of 433 AC, the current Lord of the Night of the Knights of Neraka. He rules over a splintered knighthood, led by factious warlords who are more interested in personal power than the knighthood itself. Mount: Kerrilastian Blue Dragon mount for Lord of the Night Baltasar RennoldLord Adjudicator can also be the Lord of the Skull, even though the positions are different. They are also the head of the Knights of the Skull and appointed to the position by the Lord of the Night. The Lord Adjudicator chooses new Adjudicators of the Code from the Skull Knight ranks.Lord Adjudicator Galen Nemedi, the Lord of the SkullMount Black Dragon is unavailable at the moment.  Lord of the Thorn TiberiusLord of the Thorn was the leader of the Knights of the Thorn and answered only to the Lord of the Night. Currently, he is aboard.

Knights of NerkaLords of Nerka IIvol. IStory Two: Dark CovenantChapter Two: The Missing Enemy Eastern Ansalon Taman BuskThe Nerakan Road (Between Neraka and Jelek)Twenty-three miles from Jelek The Forward Recon Team was sent out on the orders of Donovan Malakar, the Protector of the Lilly, Commanding Officer of Jelek Garrison. The recon group is made up of knights from the Jelek garrison.Knights of Neraka Jelek garrison.Knights of the Lilly Team Leader Night Warrior Malack 9th level Forward Recon Team competition Night Acolyte Faelora Blackwinter 8th level Novice of Night Lucan: 7th level Warrior. Sgt Jharel 6th level Warrior Lierina 5th levelBeliever Grevell Whitefall 4th level Follower Ekrin Orestagg 3rd level Plus, fifteen more Knights of the Lilly Warriors, 5th level and below, Believers and Followers Warrior Lierin is a part of a small scouting group that is far ahead of the main groupThe forward recon team is on the road to Neraka and has had no contact yet with the enemy. But they have found dead knights. Dead of dehydration.  They prepare a marker near the Carin that they built for them. The crows have already rendered their faces unrecognizable.      JelekThe Taman Massif looms to the northwest above Jelek At his own Manor in JelekThe Lord Adjudicator Galen Nemedi is supremely pleased with the developments. The blame rests on the Lord of Night’s failures and cowardice. He wonders what more he can do to weaken the Lord of Light politically further. He is not happy with the level of the state of discontent among the troops. They should be outraged, but they are looking at things in hindsight, and the men are becoming more loyal to him. The modicum of joy he was riding deflates as he learns all of his hopes and plans from last night are all for naught.    The Command Post at the Jelek Lord of the Night Baltasar Rennold is looking over the detailed physical map of the region that was intricately carved and made by contract with the accountant, the disgraced former Lord of Night Morham Targonne, when the Knighthood originally moved to Jelek during Targonne's reign. He looks down the area where the Forward Scouts are bound to be located.  Donovan Malakar, the Protector of the Lilly, enters the room and brings a dispatch from the forward Recon Team. The Lord of the Night reads the Protector’s face for anything he can glean before he reads the missive. The Protector’s face did not betray the import of the message’s contents.  Not finding what he was looking for, or rather, he did, he did not like what it implied. Baltasar reads the message:Have traveled twenty miles, going to travel a bit longer on the Nearakan Road.  Have down bodies of knights that fell on the forced march because they could not keep up. Animals have gotten to the fallen Knights. We buried them under a cairn of rocks that are marked. We have had no contact with enemy forces as of yet, but have found the first signs of evidence of barbarian ogre and hobgoblin spears and arrows. We have found footprints and signs that Ogres have come through both directions. We have found blood on rocks. We are camping tonight and moving out to Neraka tomorrow.    Baltasar looks to the Protector and asks, “Have any dragons returned from the Dragon Army in Khur?” The Protector answers, “Three Blues have been seen in the area flying around, no riders are seen on their backs. They have not landed yet.”  The Lord of Night tells the Protector to have them signaled down. “I would hear of their news about their mission.”The Protector nods and leaves the Command Post.The Blues finally come down, and the Lord of Night comes to meet them. He hears that his own Blue Dragon, Kerrilastian, got into a brutal physical fight during the Fight over Khur. He must be off licking his wounds, the Lord of Knight thinks. The Lord of Night hears that the Battle ended in no joy. The Elven Nation survives; they apparently stole the Eggs that were most precious to Vermomax the Red, the leader of the war effort. Negated… the Lord of Night thinks, wait, “Did you witness an Ogre Titan Army in Neraka?”The Dragons answer differently. They lost track when the battle began, but according to what he can glean, Neraka is clear, and the Ogre army has disappeared; the missing enemy has left the battlefield. They could be hiding in the mountains; that’s a remaining possibility... Continued failures... On his watch... Baltasar is not pleased.