Circle
of The Raven
(A
Druidic Sect)
Minor
Power of Traldar (Grand Duchy of Karamiekos), N
PORTFOLIO: |
nature,
balance of nature, raven
|
ALIASES: |
|
DOMAIN
NAME: |
|
SUPERIOR: |
|
ALLIES: |
|
FOES: |
The
Wyrm (Tiamat) |
SYMBOL: |
none |
WOR.
ALIGN.: |
any
neutral |
The
Church
CLERGY |
Druids |
ALIGNMENT: |
LN,
NG, NE, N |
TURN
UNDEAD: |
C:
no, SP: no, R: no, M: no |
CMND
UNDEAD: |
C:
no, SP: no, R: no, M: no |
Long
ago in the untold past of Mystara there existed great forces battling
for their dominance within Mystara. These mighty forces caused great
destruction throughout the planet as the forces of the elements raged
their eternal war upon each other. Land masses changed, volcanoes
formed, oceans came to life, and the very air was mad with fury.
During
this time that several forces allied with the forces of nature. They
vowed to preserve the balance so that nature remains in harmony, and
never again allow the elements to ravage war in the Prime Material
plane. Nature is the harmony of all the elements, but the disruption
causes imbalance and destruction. It was these alliances that discovered
how to tap into the power of nature, and it was these alliances that
formed the first known druidic circle. These druids promised to perserve
the balance of nature with the forces on Mystara. They fight any threat
to nature in order to strive for balance and harmony. They will sometimes
assist people or defeat people based on the desire to enforce this
accord.
Very
high level druids rise to the level where they can see the balance
beyond mortal thinking. They see how the four elements war within
us all, and how they are causing turmoil within the world. They travel
the planes to help preserve the balance. They will defeat or assist
elemental gods, lords, and forces, which in turn has a direct or indirect
impact on the occurrences of events within Mystara.
The
splinter group found and excelled in the ability to commune with animals
and animal spirits. They learned how to speak with the animals and
animal spirits. They practice their religion in solitude of nature
of the wild lands in what is now Karameikos. During the first settlements
from Nithia, the druids assisted the settlers and taught them how
to cultivate the land without doing severe harm to nature. Many settlers
became devote members of the druidic faith and in time this religion
grew to become the most dominant religion of the land.
One
favored animal spirit was the Raven. The Raven warned of a growing
evil hidden in the mountain near the Lost Valley of Hutaaka. The Raven
also reported sightings of large gnollish war. The druids at this
time used the knowledge to prepare for war, and to seek out this hidden
evil. Later after the gnolls invaded and occupied Traldara, the druids
would use their powers of nature to assist the Traldar in defeating
the gnolls. The Raven assisted the druids in acting as a messenger.
With the help of the druids and the Raven, the druids were able help
the leaders mobilize the armies and coordinate attacks unbelievable
speed and organization. In recognition to the Raven's contributions,
the druidic circle became known as the Circle of the Raven.
The
druids are granted powers by the life energies of nature, rather than
any one particular god. They are granted powers by the animal spirits
and spiritual familiars as well, and the most popular spirit for this
circle is obviously the Raven.
They
also have the belief that nature is both ruthless and generous depending
on the acts of the creatures of Mystara. If any being defiles nature,
then nature will release her fury in revenge. The lust for revenge
must be satisfied for the defilers crimes. This sect satisfies this
hunger for revenge with sacrifices from animals to the enemies of
nature itself. Somewhere along the line, it was felt that Thyatians
were enemies of nature, so when defilers commit crimes, some Thyatians
might disappear. Over all their theory seems to be true. They get
bountiful seasons when they perform sacrifices, but when they don't
the crops are bad. They also receive druidic spells. So what they
are doing is correct, or is it? Are they being manipulated by another
evil force? Or is all this a coincident?
In
one story, it is said that one can achieve immortality as he is reincarnated
into a lifeless vessel, and the spirit watches over his soul. The
spirit prevents his soul from crossing the River of Styx, and bounds
his spirit to this plane of existence. This is only in legends, though
there are some true believers.
The
raven is never controlled by the druids. They simply cooperate as
it is their will. The druids then in turn assist them in their wishes.
The raven is just a force of nature (or god if you will) like other
animals. It is the life essences that incarnates the ravens of the
world. The collective spirits of all ravens, is "The Raven".
Specialty
Priests (Druids)
REQUIREMENTS: |
TBA |
PRIME
REQ.: |
TBA |
ALIGNMENT: |
TBA |
WEAPONS: |
TBA |
ARMOR: |
TBA |
MAJOR
SPHERES: |
TBA |
MINOR
SPHERES: |
TBA |
MAGICAL
ITEMS: |
TBA |
REQ.
PROFS: |
TBA |
BONUS
PROFS: |
TBA |