Candlekeep Forum - 3.5E Organization Writeup: The Green Brotherhood

Candlekeep Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Forgotten Realms Journals

Running the Realms

3.5E Organization Writeup: The Green Brotherhood

New Topic

New Poll

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

TobyKikami
Learned Scribe

USA
113 Posts

Posted - 18 Oct 2012 : 07:58:18

Hi, I’m getting back into Forgotten Realms after a long hiatus. I do more writing than roleplaying, so here’s an idea that struck me particularly hard recently. It’s “set” in 3.5E, about halfway through the Lady Penitent trilogy. I hope some of you enjoy, or at least get a good laugh out of it.

The Green Brotherhood

1376 DR: In the wake of Eilistraee’s debut as the Masked Lady, many Vhaeraunites were left at loose ends, reluctant to bow to the goddess who had subsumed their god. Ally-hopping to fallbacks like Mask and Shar promised power, luxury, and larceny, but some had served the Masked Lord in search of more than that and doubted Eilistraee’s ability to provide it. Seryzz Vrammyr, a former Darkmask who had converted to the worship of Erevan Ilesere some decades previous, saw an opportunity.

With the help of his far-flung contacts, Seryzz began to send invitations to Vhaeraunite cells, targeting those who had particular priorities with regard to upholding the tenets of their faith. These priorities were varied; they included advocates of pan-elven alliance, those who focused on liberating the oppressed of the Underdark (well, the oppressed drow), those who took the dogma about males and females being equal seriously, and those who were more "softhearted" than the average but had still rejected Eilistraee for one reason or another. Once they seemed to be listening, he presented them with another viable option, namely his own god.

He would then wait for the exclamations to die down before explaining his reasoning. Erevan Ilesere was male (which was quite important to some), and his existing clergy was both gender-integrated and egalitarian. He was firmly established as a member of the Seldarine (Seryzz would tactfully neglect to mention that he was also Eilistraee’s closest ally in the Seldarine), but if he wasn’t rejected out of hand on this basis his status was actually a benefit – they would get a more stable foothold on the surface, harder to ignore than the Eilistraeens, firmly demonstrating to the surface elves that they were not about to go away. He was a neutral god of rogues, more familiar and less difficultly moral than Eilistraee’s perpetual dance – but nevertheless, he had a habit of defending the underdog, and those oppressed under the arachnid feet of the Spider Queen would certainly qualify. True (he would say to theologically-inclined skeptics), he was as fickle as Lolth, but no one ever died of it. And why was he that way? Because he also oversaw change, real change, something Lolth’s hidebound cities were in definite need of (and some of those sneering surface elves could do with a dose, too…). With such arguments, Seryzz enjoyed modest success in his overtures. Their numbers were increased further by subsequent sporadic defections from disaffected followers of the Masked Lady.

The formal name for this organization is the Green-Eyed Brotherhood, but this is often shortened because, to be honest, it doesn’t make very much sense if you’re not in on the ex-Vhaeraunite in-joke about their late god’s avatar (a proposal to bestow all members with literal green eyes was shot down as ludicrously impractical). An alternate name, coined by those in on the joke, is the Brotherhood of Curiosity. Whatever its name, the Brotherhood currently numbers about a hundred, with several dozen combatants. Most of the clerics are still novices in their new faith; some particularly ruthless ones have yet to be granted spells at all, but the ones who haven’t left in frustration are trying their best. The Brotherhood is overwhelmingly male, but there are enough females to render the name inaccurate. Along with its drow members it contains a sizable contingent of half-drow, plus a handful of Erevan-worshipping elven liaisons.

Members of the Brotherhood tend to spend a great deal of time in disguise – as surface races when on the surface to avoid zealous adventurers and authorities, and as orthodox Lolthians when infiltrating Underdark settlements. Goals in the Underdark include espionage, sabotage, undercover missionary work, and rescue. On the surface, the main aims are to organize and defend further surface settlement as well as to build and maintain a reputation at least as good as other followers of Erevan – which, given that reputation isn’t so spotless, is not as tall an order as it might be. Some of the more mischievous and impetuous members frequently practice a particular "enlightening" prank: in disguise, they perform random acts of kindness like healing a child or fixing a wagon. As they wave goodbye to the grateful subject they lower their hood, drop the illusion, et cetera (transportation magics are generally prepared beforehand in case expeditious retreat is required). They also participate in pursuits in which thievery is not scorned but commonplace – nay, applauded! –nobody much minds when a red dragon or a Banite blackguard is robbed blind except, of course, for the robbed.

"Leaders" of the Brotherhood would certainly include Seryzz (CN drow Rogue 2/Cleric 13), and his close friend and fellow-convert Istorvir Tekend (CN drow Rogue 15). When undisguised, Seryzz can be recognized by the green nova star tattooed on the back of his left hand. The two most powerful elven liaisons at this point are Dalennthe Starbrook (CN moon elf Wizard 16), who's also become Istorvir's lover in their years of acquaintance, and Seryzz’s old mentor Rhennael Winterbloom (AKA “Rhen Greeneyes” for unrelated reasons, though some like to speculate)(CN moon elf Cleric 18).

Edited by - TobyKikami on 18 Oct 2012 13:03:20

Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3286 Posts

Posted - 18 Oct 2012 : 15:48:25

Looks interesting.

Welcome back.

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep