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SaMoCon
Senior Scribe
USA
403 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Mar 2015 : 10:41:11
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So, in a way, there is an emulation of the pecking order and domination conflicts seen in social animals that is married to the goal driven agendas of reasoned intellect. This is more fascinating especially since it is not human-centric reasoning as the driving force. The description you give, Bladewind, makes me think of the pack and tribe motifs from White Wolf's Werewolf the Apocalypse. Only a druid that proves himself stronger than the current leading druid can change how the circle goes about its primary business. Until then, the "alpha" druid leads and all those below him follow. All actions of the circle great and small are the equivalent of holy writ and only a successful challenge proves that the god(s)/will of nature endorses the changes to be made.
Now this is more exciting stuff! The reason to join a circle is more like a call to arms against those forces destroying the balance of nature and a belief that the circle leader is right in his efforts to pursue those ends. The reason to challenge is to right a perceived wrong and the motivations are more than just displaying physical prowess but to prove religious zeal. But in this is also the reason for a PC druid to be able to wander willy-nilly - not having a ring to join because there isn't a leader he can follow or a temporary ousting for not being traditional (read "strong") enough.
Frankly, this is far better for druids than the perception of hippie nature-lovers and flower children that seems to be imposed upon them or the wise-old-man-of-the-woods and truth-speaker-for-the-world roles as which druid NPCs are often typecast. Vibrant, blooded, devoted, and wary - how often has a druid been depicted with any of those adjectives or played as a wild animal barely containing himself? The druid circle's description seems to promote the more aggressive and savage personalities over those who enjoy tea parties and believe in peace at all costs. I like this untamed version very much.
It would also stand to reason that druid circles are as much placed to oppose a vector of destruction as they are placed to safe-guard an area of importance, depending upon the doctrine of the current Grand Druid (GD). An aggressive GD would organize new rings or even move existing ones into areas to deal with the greatest sources of threats while a passive one may do the opposite by ordering rings out of areas of conflict to protect places of importance instead. The emphasis on forests may only be due to the prevailing "alphas" and current run of GDs having that ecosystem as common ties instead of any inherent politics and pride. I'm not suggesting that there isn't any politics and pride at play but that these have far less influence in a "might makes right" hierarchy. |
Make the best use of the system that's there, then modify the mechanics that don't allow you to have the fun you are looking for. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6351 Posts |
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SaMoCon
Senior Scribe
USA
403 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2015 : 08:41:06
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Likewise, Dazzlerdal, I find it hard to believe that druid circles are mostly filled with non-druids. Communication within druid society was aided by the use of a secret language common to all druid circles, Druidic, which is not allowed to be taught to non-druids. That is in the core rules as well as the canon of the Forgotten Realms. I even think that civilized races would be in the minority of the total druid population considering that giants, monstrous humanoids, magical beasts, fey, and savage humanoids all have druids among their numbers. Now I don't have proof to back this up, but the verbiage tended to paint the druids as exclusionary which I also took to mean that the default druid circle is closed to those not ordained into their mysteries.
Then there is also the idea of where druid circles would be. How many of them would be in crop fields, on major roads, or located in towns? The ones we can agree are statically placed are in areas of importance to the wilderness, most likely virgin territory or areas where civilization has been ruined and overtaken by the wild. Druid circles in other places let's just remove from the argument for now. These remote circles are inaccessible to those who cannot fend for themselves in nature which eliminates commoners whom have neither Knowledge Nature nor Survival as class skills. Without the class skill or divine magic to heal then even minor injuries and illnesses could kill people so woefully inadequate to the challenges of surviving in the wilderness. Only the Expert has the access to the skills and the skill points necessary to pull off living on the frontier but how many of those would relegate themselves to being subsistence hunter-gatherers living as a permanent underclass to the druids? If they had the religious zeal to do so then would they not become druids?
Turn the situation on its head and you will see that even a 1st level druid is superior to all other classes, PC & NPC, for surviving in the wild. They quickly gain the abilities to be unhindered by all terrain that would slow or stop all but higher level rangers and are untraceable to even these peerless trackers. Once a druid can wild shape they have no need of the things civilization offers (food, shelter, safety in numbers). What other people would want to live for weeks, months, and years surviving on whatever food maybe hunted or foraged, with no access to spices or refined cloth, and without stuctures to house bedding or hold their stuff? And all this while being on the precipice of starvation and death when civilization has solved those problems just on the other side of the frontier? Maybe those commoners, experts, and adepts might be in whatever community the druid or druids in question deign to visit, advise, rule, or terrorize but I don't see them as members of a default setting druid circle in the wilderness like the druids.
Bladewind said his source was 2nd Ed.
quote:
Continuing my thoughts on the politicing amongst druids after perusing 2nd editions complete druid's handbook.
But you are correct that there is not one Grand Druid, as Faraer related back in 2004.
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Faiths & Avatars:quote:
All faiths that include druids among their clergy maintain their own separate druid hierarchies. That is, each religion has its own druids, archdruids, great, and grand druids. Great and grand druids of a particular faith are singular beings, and each directs activities for druids of his or her faith within a 500-mile-radius of his or her home. Each is entrusted with the organization and protection of the circles and other druidic shrines within that domain. Interfaith relations between different druidic religions in the Realms are fairly cordial. Conflicts between the faiths are settled through negotiation or, failing that, ritual or personal combat.
The precise borders of a great druid's domain are nebulous at best, but there are five known major regions within Faerūn. The first and eldest is on the southern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars, and includes the Gulthmere Forest and the Chondalwood. The second is located in the scattered remains of ancient Cormanthor, ranging from Cormyr to the Moonsea, and includes the ancient territories of the Elven Court. The third is located in the North. It is based in the High Forest but includes all other forests and woods in the area. The fourth includes all the Moonshaes, and the fifth encompasses the Forest of Lethyr and the Rawlinswood, the forests surrounding the Great Dale. Other such regions undoubtedly exist.
Vilhon Reach refers to the 'Grand Druid of Toril'. If we make that Faerūn, then there are grand druids of Chauntea, Eldath, and Silvanus (Mielikkian druids haven't yet developed a full hierarchy). Earlier sources that give us, for instance, a single great druid of Cormanthor and nine druids (including Mourntarn) under him/her don't mention the multiple hierarchies which give me, at least, a sense of overcrowding, which isn't too druidic. But it's hard to see how senior druids of multiple gods would coexist otherwise.
None of the PHBR or DMGR series are or were officially Realmslore, though the Realms has followed them in a few cases.
In fact, the thread was called The Druid Order(s) in Faerun |
Make the best use of the system that's there, then modify the mechanics that don't allow you to have the fun you are looking for. |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2015 : 22:54:21
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I found some more groves I added to the list. Namely the grove-keep grown over Dun Tharos and built by the Circle of Leth in the Narfelli demonhaunted Rawlinswood of the Great Dale.
Kinda hard to miss but definately not a natural grove, this living fortress-grove once showed the magical might and power of the local circle, led by a Nentyarch (Archdruid of the Great Dale) who proved his magic could contain terrible evils, even demonic infestation. It got besieged by Blightlords of Talona and is demon-infested once more. |
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Druidic Groves
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2015 : 23:54:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
As of 1374 DR I'd give the (Active or Disbanded) groves the following status/powers. Its defenders (if any) will on average be of medium to high level.
Your list is useful.
Thanks for putting it together.  |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2015 : 12:40:47
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No problem, I still haven't gotten the big picture of druidic politics down to my liking, but with help I'll get there.
I'm gonna include the five major regions (Gulthmere Forest/Chondalwood; the Elven Woods/Cormanthor; the High Forest; Moonshaes; the Rawlinswood & Forest of Lethyr) Faraer listed in 2004 into the list, and perhaps see if we can guestimate the strength of the druidic presence within those regions by looking at the amount and activity of its groves.
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Druidic Groves
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Gurgle Gobblespit
Acolyte
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2015 : 17:50:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always thought that battling to the death was an odd way to become top druid. Plenty of animals battle for dominance, without fighting to the death. You'd think that intelligent nature lovers would have a better method than throwing down Highlander-style.
It could be a very odd way of emulating Darwinian selection, which if course is "natural". In order to preserve the authority and sense of order at the top, there must only be 1 living top Druid at any given time. Allowing the defeated rival to survive could allow him to become a troublesome rebel or subversive later on, which would really mess up the order of things.
In the animal kingdom, sometimes animals will kill or even eat weaker rivals, supposedly helps to keep the species strong and coherent. Although I never really understood the logic as to why the female black widows had to eat the males after sex.
Hmmm, neat idea. I think I will introduce some small odd shamanist society in a corner of my D&D campaign world where the Top Shaman has to consume the body of the defeated rival.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2015 : 20:41:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Gurgle Gobblespit
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always thought that battling to the death was an odd way to become top druid. Plenty of animals battle for dominance, without fighting to the death. You'd think that intelligent nature lovers would have a better method than throwing down Highlander-style.
It could be a very odd way of emulating Darwinian selection, which if course is "natural". In order to preserve the authority and sense of order at the top, there must only be 1 living top Druid at any given time. Allowing the defeated rival to survive could allow him to become a troublesome rebel or subversive later on, which would really mess up the order of things.
In the animal kingdom, sometimes animals will kill or even eat weaker rivals, supposedly helps to keep the species strong and coherent.
But even in the animal world, battles for dominance -- even leadership of the pack/herd -- don't necessarily end in death. Sometimes one backs down and stays part of the pack in a lesser position, sometimes the loser is driven off but left alive...
And those conflicts are often over mating rights, anyway.
It just seems weird for defenders of nature to pull the "this town ain't big enough for the both of us" routine -- it doesn't matter if the challenger wins or loses, that's one less defender of nature. And because they were battling for the top spot, that's one less flippin' powerful defender of nature.
And with that much power, there's pretty good odds of collateral damage.
So two folks that are formidable guardians of nature come together in a purely (demi-)human conflict, possibly cause collateral damage to the very lands they're sworn to protect, and the outcome is that there is one less powerful guardian of nature, thus making it more likely that nature will come to harm.
And this is why this has bugged me since I first saw it in the then-new 2E PHB. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 28 Sep 2015 20:43:03 |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2015 : 01:51:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Gurgle Gobblespit
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always thought that battling to the death was an odd way to become top druid. Plenty of animals battle for dominance, without fighting to the death. You'd think that intelligent nature lovers would have a better method than throwing down Highlander-style.
It could be a very odd way of emulating Darwinian selection, which if course is "natural". In order to preserve the authority and sense of order at the top, there must only be 1 living top Druid at any given time. Allowing the defeated rival to survive could allow him to become a troublesome rebel or subversive later on, which would really mess up the order of things.
In the animal kingdom, sometimes animals will kill or even eat weaker rivals, supposedly helps to keep the species strong and coherent.
But even in the animal world, battles for dominance -- even leadership of the pack/herd -- don't necessarily end in death. Sometimes one backs down and stays part of the pack in a lesser position, sometimes the loser is driven off but left alive...
And those conflicts are often over mating rights, anyway.
It just seems weird for defenders of nature to pull the "this town ain't big enough for the both of us" routine -- it doesn't matter if the challenger wins or loses, that's one less defender of nature. And because they were battling for the top spot, that's one less flippin' powerful defender of nature.
And with that much power, there's pretty good odds of collateral damage.
So two folks that are formidable guardians of nature come together in a purely (demi-)human conflict, possibly cause collateral damage to the very lands they're sworn to protect, and the outcome is that there is one less powerful guardian of nature, thus making it more likely that nature will come to harm.
And this is why this has bugged me since I first saw it in the then-new 2E PHB.
I'll first point out that it's stated personal combat is a last resort after all other methods fail. It also doesn't specify 'to the death' in all the sources.
I totally agree with your reasoning. Let me just play advocate here.
I personally LOVE the duels to the death for Arch Druid/Grand Druid.
It adds an incredible twist to a class that is often seen as sort of fluffy, and even pacifist.
While you're mostly right about intra-pack hierarchy, what you say only holds true for certain species...and it only holds true for animals (more or less).
Your reasoning is sound, under the assumption that animals and humans are equivalent.
I do not ascribe to that, for these reasons:
- Druids by and large are solitary. They do not often live in close proximity or in groups of more than 1-3, except maybe in really big groves. Therefore, the survival of a given individual druid is much less dependent on the strength of the rest of the Circle. Only in times of great crisis would they be that reliant on each other (Moonshae trilogy comes to mind).
- Humans and animals are very different. While many animals are content to accept a new (and lesser) social status (and usually have no choice), humans more than likely would not. While a wolf pack may drive off, kill or even accept a member that loses a fight for dominance, humans have the propensity to plot revenge, undermine authority, and in general do things that may endanger the overall security and strength of the Circle for years to come (even possibly turning evil). Humiliation in front of ones peers for example.
- Many mammals do all kinds of heinous acts to improve their social status, remove potential rivals, etc. One example I can think of is where male bears will kill and eat the offspring of a female bear (even if they are his own), in order to bring her back into estrous so he can in turn mate with her.
I can see the reasoning why a duel to the death may be necessary to preserve the integrity of the circle. Otherwise, you would eventually have a circle with several members who have been found wanting, have been demonstrated as not strong enough to lead, may even be questioning their faith, harboring massive resentment, plotting revenge etc until they die since Circle membership is for life no?
This would also serve to eliminate repeated challenges of the Grand Druids authority. You better be DAMN SURE you can win. If there is a lack of consequences for challenging the top druid, infighting could be constant and drain the circles strength, weakening it and allowing threats both internal and external opportunities to strike.
Just another perspective. I use the duel to the death in my games. |
Edited by - Cards77 on 29 Sep 2015 02:00:48 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2015 : 05:09:52
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Well, another difference betwixt humans and animals that must be noted: humans are much better suited to simply going someplace new to live. I would expect that finding a new place in need of a druid would be preferable to removing a druid from a place for something as artificial as ranking in a hierarchy.
To each his own, of course. I'd personally ignore or make very rare the duels to the death for rank. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 29 Sep 2015 14:10:38 |
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Duneth Despana
Learned Scribe
Belgium
273 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2015 : 12:49:30
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| You can add the Circle of the Stag and the Gray druids of the Undermoor to your list. |
« There is no overriding « epic » in the Realms, but rather a large number of stories, adventures, and encounters going on all the time. [...]. Each creative mind adds to the base, creating, defining, and making their contribution to the rich diversity of the Realms. [...]. But Ed built the stage upon which all the plays are presented. Thanks Ed. » -FR Comic no.1
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2015 : 00:54:35
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It might be preliminary but I'm beginning to think I see some the struggles unfolding in the regions activities of the major druidic areas.
The Elven Forests are being staunchly defended within Cormyrs borders with the druids abandoning some major groves in Cormanthor. The North has consolidated its druid activity in the High Forest, with powerful groves active to the south of the Star Mounts while Silverymoons circles are battered by Malarite lycantropes. The Moonshaes has a large amount of (waning) groves and are its druidic circles are struggling with evil forces bent on fouling their waters, only Gwynneth remains largely untainted. The Broken Cirlce of Leth has lost a major grove, meant to contain demonic threats, to blightlords of Talona while some of the more powerful Silvanite druids hold somber moots at the Lyons Oak, contemplating how to reverse the fates of so many circles in their dwindling war-torn region. Tethyr has been largely under a Ban, with only the Old Oak Dell holding some of the longest standing groves of Faerun, defended trough an intricate web of talking menhir stones. Most of the Sword Coast & Amn might be under a Ban as well, as druidic activity is minimal. Their groves are smaller, more scattered and often encroached by in hostile territories on all sides. |
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Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2015 : 14:00:18
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Kryptgarden Forest is interesting in that it is largely dominated and corrupted by Claugiyliamatar or Old Gnawbones (pg 19, Dragons of Faerūn), an ancient crone of a green dragon-druid. Her cavernous valley part of the forest is stalked by hobgoblins of the Zartruss Clan, dark fey and worgs in her employ. Its also rumored that a tribe of advanced thri-kreen protect the deepest parts of this labyrinthine maze of duskwood and oaken trees.
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Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2383 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2016 : 12:44:28
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There's an old article with extra lore about druids. For example:
quote:
Each of the various nature faiths, including the churches of Chauntea, Eldath, Silvanus, and Mielikki, have their own druidic hierarchies, including Circles, Initiates, Druids, Archdruids, Great Druids, Grand Druids, and Hierophant Druids. Thus, for example, there are four Great Druids of the North at any given time, each of which venerates one of the aforementioned powers.
- Mintiper's Chapbook - Part 7: Gildenfire by Eric L. Boyd
Which is also one more reason why the Emerald Enclave is not a proper circle by any standards. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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moonbeast
Senior Scribe
USA
522 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2016 : 14:32:06
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
There's an old article with extra lore about druids. For example:
quote:
Each of the various nature faiths, including the churches of Chauntea, Eldath, Silvanus, and Mielikki, have their own druidic hierarchies, including Circles, Initiates, Druids, Archdruids, Great Druids, Grand Druids, and Hierophant Druids. Thus, for example, there are four Great Druids of the North at any given time, each of which venerates one of the aforementioned powers.
- Mintiper's Chapbook - Part 7: Gildenfire by Eric L. Boyd
Which is also one more reason why the Emerald Enclave is not a proper circle by any standards.
I'm reading my 5th Edition PHB as well as the Adventurers League rules regarding the Five Factions
and indeed the Emerald Enclave was never described (in 5e at least) as being a druidic circle. It clearly states that the Emerald Enclave is also a network that includes Rangers, Barbarians, nature-lovers, and other non-Druids. |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2016 : 17:54:12
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Nice find TB!
Regarding the Emerald Enclaves changes, I agree that they have reached beyond being a druidic circle only. But I think the 'inner circle' on the 'isle-once-more' of Ilighon still remains run by its three Grand Druid rulers.
I can understand their urgancy and the need for 'pragmatic' measures when given that their isle had been smack dab in the middle of large geographic changes due to the lowering of the water tables of the Inner Seas. Ilighon reconnected to the mainlands of Turmish and Chondath during a large part of the 15th century, extremely upsetting ecologies and weather patterns.
After the spellplague there was a large period were the grand druids of several faiths turned to quite extreme measures as well (such as declaring crusades on the plaguechanged lands and pilgrimages), with some of them spectacularly failing their goals and dooming smaller circles to abandonment as a consquence. Gonna have to come back when I found the source... |
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Edited by - Bladewind on 23 Feb 2016 17:57:31 |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2016 : 18:09:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
Kryptgarden Forest is interesting in that it is largely dominated and corrupted by Claugiyliamatar or Old Gnawbones (pg 19, Dragons of Faerūn), an ancient crone of a green dragon-druid. Her cavernous valley part of the forest is stalked by hobgoblins of the Zartruss Clan, dark fey and worgs in her employ. Its also rumored that a tribe of advanced thri-kreen protect the deepest parts of this labyrinthine maze of duskwood and oaken trees.
How exactly is it corrupted? WHere is the source for the thri-kreen? |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2016 : 15:56:21
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For the thri-kreen I mainly took liberties with the lore bits found in Lost Empires of Faerun and Dwarves Deep that mention a rumor of the advanced erect insects being spotted in a citadel deep within the Kryptgarden by a raving madman. He claimed the insect-men hurled spears and magic at him from 500 paces away, and possessed means of camouflage and misdirection (probably magical). They could very well be spell-weavers if you prefer that to a tribe of advanced kreen.
The D&DNext Adventurers League adventure 'Corruption in the Kryptgarden' details the corruption. Its mainly caused by the legendary green dragons mere presence (as described in the 5e MM) while the Darkfey/unseelie influence is caused by Old Gnawbones tenuous alliance with a newly arrived Unseelie Verdant Prince (MMIV), King Witchthorn. This results in thorny thickets (1d6 damage per square of difficult terrain traversed) growing within a mile near the Deeping Cave (Claugiyliamatar's moss-draped lair), causing the small animals and birds to act as scrying foci for the green dragon crone, and the (sometimes caustic) fogs drifting from her valley to induce fear. Certain fey tend to behave more unseelie like when nearly completly covered in the stringy strands of sickly green moss-creep that grows from the gulleys fed from the ancient green dragons lair or the damp fogs that it generates. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2383 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2016 : 15:57:11
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| But kreen are mostly desert species. They like it dry. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2016 : 15:04:28
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All the more mysterious that they seem to have been spotted in the Kryptgarden, no? Are they a refugee clan of crash landed xixchil, with the citadel being the only visible part of a antilan shardship deeply embedded in the soil of the 'Garden? Or a mountain/forest adapted offshoot of kreen, that uses its psionics mainly for camouflage? In my case I need to limit the CR so I choose to include them as an offshoot kreen race, that is in the start of an urbanisation phase thanks to their ruling elites burgeoning mastery of the Art.
The erect insect-men could be formorians (but I don't like them overly much as a FR monster race without thoroughly connecting them to Mechanus). The spellweaver option is also very tempting tough. They have been teased to appear in numerous places over the Realms. Perhaps they defend a Node of theirs in the Kryptgarden; or a precious Spellweaver artifact such as a Starry Mirror (a multi-connected portal entrance)?
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2017 : 16:52:37
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Was looking for info on 'Deeping Cave' and came across this thread...
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by Cards77
Hrm is that Berlinford even Canon? I can't find it on any map or anywhere except in that issue.
Ask Markus. What I can tell you is that it is an FR adventure. Not sure of the canoninity(?) of Dungeon adventures. I would be inclined to say yes, but what do I know?
My approach was always to treat the Dungeon adventures as canon, unless they can't be reconciled with other sources. (And most of the time, there's a way.)
Eric (of course) has the right of it, and I have placed Berlingford on at least two maps. Unfortunately, neither of those have been publicly posted (one was for the 'extended version' of the High Forest map I did for Eric, and the other is on my updated 'Western Heartlands' map, which I stopped updating (and didn't repost) simply because I've changed my style and will be redoing the whole of Faerūn eventually.
I've placed it between the two small forests known as 'The Night Trees' (its the best fit), which coincidentally merged with the Moonwood as of 4e and the whole things is now called 'The Glimmerwood'. One of those small forest was locally known as Laednon. Its also the site of a locally-famous 'Spring Faire'.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 17 Mar 2017 16:54:46 |
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KanzenAU
Senior Scribe
Australia
763 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2017 : 23:17:58
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I placed it on my map of the North too. Dungeon #103 places it in a small forest northeast of the Moonwood.
Trying to reconcile the 1e/2e era maps with the smushed 3e era map was difficult, but typically there are three forests running north to south in between the Moonwood and the Coldwood. The 3e Silver Marches map calls the north one the Druarwood, and says both the lower two are the Night Trees. I stuck with this definition going forwards, as there's been nothing to contradict it since.
As I didn't feel like Berlingford was in the Druarwood, the Night Trees, or the Coldwood, and I didn't want to draw a new forest, so I placed it in the northeastern section of the Moonwood. I imagine on a smaller scale map, you might be able to see the Laednon as sitting just slightly separate to the larger Moonwood, perhaps separated from a branch of the River Redrun.
Edit: Your definition works fine too though. I imagine there's lots of small forests in the area that don't make it onto the larger maps. |
Regional maps for Waterdeep, Triboar, Ardeep Forest, and Cormyr on DM's Guild, plus a campaign sized map for the North |
Edited by - KanzenAU on 17 Mar 2017 23:22:52 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2017 : 00:55:41
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My assumption was that the 'Laednon' was one of the two 'Night Trees' - probably the one closer to the Moonwood (in which case, sticking Berlingford between that and the Moonwood would probably be best, since the map that came with the adventure shows Berlingford IN the Moonwood... which really doesn't work with the rest of it (leave one forest to travel to another forest?) Thus, the road Berlingford is on falls out between the two forests.
It doesn't really matter so much in 5e, now that all the forests are one.
The 'Night Trees' works well for forests with lycanthropes, name-wise. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 18 Mar 2017 00:56:25 |
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KanzenAU
Senior Scribe
Australia
763 Posts |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2017 : 00:53:42
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Silver Marches seems to imply something much more sinister.
In my campaign the Tree Slaker is actually the Wandering Seed of the Goddess Wilaundaun Braer, Patriarch of Chauntea.
After wandering into the Night Trees, he felt compelled to battle whatever evil lives below. He used the artifact the Glaratha to found a temple to Chauntea in the far north of the wood, where the corruption was weakest.
However, whatever corrupted the Night Trees, and/or the events of the Time of Troubles also corrupted Wilaundaun.
When Moander was destroyed in Shadowdale during the Time of Troubles, a portion of his corrupt essence escaped to the Elemental Plane of Earth. In turn, Moanders essence found a natural planar rift to return to the Prime Material Plane in the Night Trees, where he easily found natural rot and turned it to his own corrupted purposes.
Wilaundaun was purposefully infected by Moanders rot, which contained residual magic from the Plane of Elemental Earth.
Wilaundaun was corrupted and transformed into an earth gensai and the Tree Slaker, worshipping Grumbar. Creating the perfect cover for Moanders essence to hide within.
The Tree Slaker then used the powers of the Glaratha to augment, corrupt and create new nightmare plant creatures, and secure this territory for "Grumbar".
Sacrificing the blood of intruders feeds the nightmare vegetation, and a portion of any victims essence trickles into Grumbar's realm, slowly but incrementally increasing his power on the Prime Material.
The Glaratha remains with the Tree Slaker, and Moander works deep within his hidden cover to slowly twist and corrupt events to his eventual benefit...or has he struck a bargain with Grumbar?
That's where I'm at right now.
My wife's PC is on the way to find the Glarathra at this time though clues are hard to come by. |
Edited by - Cards77 on 23 Aug 2017 21:59:00 |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2017 : 17:02:46
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Scary stuff. Updated the first page, giving the corrupted center glade of the Night Trees area the powers of:
hungry trees (evil vampiric treants)
sickening grounds (exposure of longer than an hour can result in nausea)
and menhir guardians (corrupted into mud elementals)
There is a moonwell at the old temple to Chauntea present as well?
I assume the larger area is haunted, and perhaps Unseelie crossroads are opened through some of the moonwells and menhir arches at starry nights? |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2017 : 20:55:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
Scary stuff. Updated the first page, giving the corrupted center glade of the Night Trees area the powers of:
hungry trees (evil vampiric treants)
sickening grounds (exposure of longer than an hour can result in nausea)
and menhir guardians (corrupted into mud elementals)
There is a moonwell at the old temple to Chauntea present as well?
I assume the larger area is haunted, and perhaps Unseelie crossroads are opened through some of the moonwells and menhir arches at starry nights?
I had not thought about a moonwell.
My assumption based on the canon is: there are no moonwells on the mainland, only the Moonshaes.
The "corrupted moonwell" thing has already been done in the Moonshaes series, so I was trying to go a different direction.
I was thinking more of a natural planar rift which is allowing Grumbar to influence the area.
The Night Trees are indeed haunted with many undead plant creatures and the undead created from their victims. As well as some of the Tree Slakers followers (evil druids and rangers). |
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Faerunian Druidic Circles
