Circle of the Ancients

They are a druid circle focusing on spiritual and archaic magic, harnessing the connection of the material plane to the ancestral spirits. They hold high standards in the ability of their druids to be spiritually enlightened, as this allows them to use their powers to create, control, alter, and destroy things on a spiritual level. This discipline is followed strictly, and members of the circle who are too attached to the material plane are excommunicated; a prime example of this is Bandor, a previous member of the circle.

Their monastery is characterized by a large circular wall encompassing their structures. It is broken by a large stone archway, with a raised walkway leading up to it. Multiple structures can be found within the compound, most notably their spirit tower, where the Archdruid and his Council resides, their smiths and shops, and their stone huts, where the druids live.

The druids in this circle are of various races, mainly firbolgs, goliaths, and half-orcs, but the sheer number of the circle also allow for them to have humans, lizardfolk, and centaurs and cervitaurs in lesser volumes. They follow a self-sustaining lifestyle, raising their own crops and livestock, making their own gear, as an effort to be fully independent of the outside world. In their monastery, they also house large creatures, such as frogs and snails the size of houses, beetles the size of cars, and the occasional giant turtle. The druids use these large beings to aid them in tilling the soils of their farmlands, hauling around equipment and supplies, and as transportation. Aside from the occasional visitor, the circle rarely interacts with the outside world, exempt for when they go out on crusades to recruit more druids.

Heirarchy:

Archdruid – Head of the monastery, deals with all decision-making within the circle. Current archdruid: Xilmys

Hierophants – Advisers to the archdruid, heads of the major ministries such as Engineering and Farming. Known heirophants: Birog, Ba’yog

Supplicants – Acolytes, assigned to be in charge of specific areas.

Auspices (singular: Auspex) – Special team of druids constantly channeling the spiritual connection in a rift in the spirit tower.

Druids – The general population, occupants of the circle.

The Verifoss Mercenary Guild’s primary interaction with the circle was when the guild was searching for a method to remove a curse that was indirectly placed on one of their mercenaries by Bandor. Mejjir Ashenscale has advised the mercs about the circle, and they then went on to travel towards the Ivory Hold to seek their assistance. The circle then explained that Bandor was a member of the circle, but was shunted due to his unorthodox methods, and that they have the means to remove the curse, save for one component, the nectar of the Desert Dragon Lily, which they ask the mercs to retrieve from the grove. The druids successfully dispelled the curse on Sequoia, after her companions ascertained the nectar.