*The History Of Elanthian Druidry by Frijthof Schoun [#q1929627]

The First Step: The history of druidry in Elanthia reaches back to the pre-history of sentient peoples, when the first ragged and uncivilized mortals cowered under the trees as the terrible shapes of the great Drakes and their servants passed overhead, and when titanic battles erupted between these and creatures of equal might, though dark and horrifying. Thus men learned of forces greater than themselves, and they were frightened. When the rumors of conflict abated, and the terrible shapes came no more, men began to think beyond bare survival, beyond hiding and avoiding death. They began to wonder at those forces that they had seen in those shapes, and still saw whenever the sun rose, or a thunderstorm broke, or a flower opened or a child was born. They gave names to these things, thinking they were beings like themselves, only greater. Thus, the First Step of druidic knowledge was taken, that of organization and identification of natural powers.~

At first, superstition rather than reason and understanding ruled. Those early druids thought that the forces they had seen had to be kept happy, like haughty masters or willful children. These notions were reinforced by rumors and sightings of the great spirits that became known as the Arkati, who ever favored the elves over men with their early attentions and thus remained to men objects distantly comprehended and feared. They walked the land in mortal, or at times animal form, and aided or subjugated, according to their nature. Thus, early druidic ritual centered on appeasement and coercion. It was thought that if the great forces were made happy, they would not cause harm, and if they were given offerings of value, they would give aid in return or grant a request. Rituals developed, and, sorry to say, sacrifices, both animal and human, were made to appease Nature in its many forms.~

The Second Step: Then, understanding began. It was recognized that Nature was a single Force that flowed through all things and manifested itself in many ways. Still, it was thought that this force could be controlled externally, persuaded if you will, to act in certain ways. Thus the Second Step of druidic knowledge was taken, that of magic. Ways were sought out to bend and shape the Flow, called mana by some, as one would divert a stream of water, or work pliable metal. But this was not complete understanding, as man still thought of himself as apart from Nature, operating upon it. Nonetheless, great wisdom and power was gained, and considerable ability to perform feats of what is commonly known as magic today.~

The Third Step: Then the Third Step was taken, that of unification. It was realized that the mana did not flow through all things, but rather was all things, the fundamental substance of the universe. Druidic magic became a question of becoming one with the Flow, and moving it and its manifestations as one would move one's own arm, or expel one's own breath. This at one and the same time greatly expanded and greatly curtailed the scope of druidic power. On the one hand, it became possible in theory to influence, even create, anything and everything in the World. On the other hand, the newfound unity with the Flow lead to an acute awareness of the need for restraint, and Balance, in all actions. As one would not willingly cut off one's own hand, or destroy one's own home, so were all actions and uses of the Flow circumscribed. An act harming Nature became an act harming oneself, an act harming another living creature became an attack upon oneself. The greater the force of the act, the greater the disruption to the Balance. The goal of the druid became the passage through ever-increasing levels of understanding and unification with the Flow. In theory, one could achieve total Unity, surpassing in power even the Drakes (though one would hardly feel the need to use such power, once it was attained). In this sense, the path of the druid is like the Way of the Dhe'nar, who believe that by ever-increasing discipline and purification of bloodline, one can achieve the power and stature of the Arkati, or even the Drakes. The Dhe'nar belief, however, is founded on a philosophy of separation, of closure, while the druid achieves perfection through unification and opening.~

Of the Arkati: Once the Third Step had been taken, it became clear that the Drakes and the Arkati were beings that had, in fact, achieved greater Unity, and thus power, than the lesser beings. Or perhaps they had maintained a lesser degree of separation than mortal beings after Creation. They were seen for the first time as part of the continuity of Being that ran all of Nature. Yet, the Arkati are as much patrons of the druids as they are of other peoples, though their lessons were received and built upon in a different way. They represent the achievement of a high degree of Unity and are honored as elders, teachers and protectors, for they show the way that can be followed to perfect Unity, and by their beckoning presence and example, make the road easier for those that follow behind.~

Many of the Arkati are held in high reverence among druids as particularly embodying perfection, harking back to the early ages before the Third Step, or even yet the Second Step, were taken, to a time when the forces of Nature were personified, and held in worshipful awe. Chief among these is Lug of the Dextrous Hand (once known as Nuad of the Silver Arm), called Eonak in the Common Tongue. In the ages before the Third Step was taken, the skill of the artisan was held in the highest esteem, be he a shaper of metal or a shaper of manna. Thus was Lug placed first in esteem (if not in power) by the druids. Also revered are Taranis, of great might, who made the skies thunder and the wind roar, and Teutates, the warmaker, and Belenos, the sun. Their names are well-known in the Common Tongue: Koar, Kai and Phoen. Revered they are, but also feared for their power, and hence placed after Lug the artificer in the eyes of the druids. But most beloved are Brigit, goddess of healing, commonly called Imaera, Grannos, also a healer, called Kuon in the Common Tongue, from whose very footsteps spring flowers and who taught mortals the lore of healing herbs, and finally Cernunnos, who presides over ritual and ceremony, a spirit of the forest and protector of animals, of whom there is little knowledge outside the druidic communities.~

The Hiding of the Druids: The progression of druidic awareness took place gradually. The First Step was taken before even the Elven Empire was born. The Second, in the midst of the expansion of the Empire. The Third Step was taken in hiding. As the Elven Empire expanded, and the Arkati became revered as gods, there was indeed contact between the druidic peoples and the high elves of the Empire. But, as the cults of the pantheons of Lornan and Liabo coalesced, there was little room for alternative views of the Universe. Still, the old ways held on. While not the exclusive practice of humans, the druidic ways were most embraced by them, perhaps as a counterpoint to the restraints (and at times oppression) imposed on humankind under elven rule. The practice was strongest were human independence was strongest, and among some of the Empire became inseparable in mind from simple human rebellion. Among elvenkind, the sylphs, ever lovers of the forests, are the most receptive of druidic learning, and there are entire sylvankind communities that embrace druidism, be it openly or not.~

Whether it was the doing of the elves of the Empire, or some force of evil acting for itself, there came a time when suddenly the druids were viciously attacked, and systematically driven from their ancient holy places. Some places were merely abandoned, and still lie alone deep in the wilds of the forests of Elanthia. Others places were ... killed. There is no other word for it. These places were defiled, their power broken, cut off from the Flow to wither and die like flowers ripped from the ground. And the druids hid. Only the tortured spirits of the guardians of the sacred groves remained to forever haunt the places that they failed to protect.~

In secret valleys deep in the forests the druids made their new homes, far from other habitations and any road or trail. There the old ways were preserved, and the druidic communities lived peacefully. In these secluded communities the Third Step was taken, and once taken, there was even less reason for contact with the outside world. Why travel when you are connected to the whole of creation? Why look for new things when they are already a part of oneself? If ever someone from Outside found their way to the hidden places and the sacred groves, they were not permitted to leave. This was a law that was not lightly disobeyed, for though the druid seeks to live in harmony with Nature, and will not willingly harm any living thing, once the safety of the community or of the sacred groves is threatened, their anger is terrible and their power wielded with the speed of thought and the crushing finality of a falling mountain, for it is the power to wrench and reshape Life and matter itself. Here an interesting thing should be noted. The power of a druid lies in Unity, and thus in the community. When the community acts together, as when it is threatened, there is little that can stand against its power. Yet when removed from the community, the single druid's power might seem no more than that of a common conjurer or a mage, and they capable of no more than influencing the lesser flora and fauna immediately around them, or of simple manipulations of the elements.~

The Revealing: That seclusion is now being broken. A threat such as had not been seen since the dimly-remembered days of the Ur-Daemon wars has arrived to threatened the Balance. The presence of the Vvrael was felt by every druid as a great trembling in the Flow, as a draining weakness, as if from some terrible disease. Had the Vvrael succeeded, not even all the druids together in their hidden valleys would have been safe from the Un-Balance. And they realized just how close the Vvrael came to succeeding. Disunity was always the most effective weapon of the Vvrael. In unity, they were driven back. It was realized among the Elder Council that the time had come to assume again the role of teacher, of guide, to come out of hiding and bring greater Unity to the Lands, to bring back the druidic ways to whomever is willing to learn.~

*About the author [#d2c45f47]
Frijthof Schoun is a half-elf, born of human father and sylvankind mother in a small human village in the Lower Trollfang Forest. He was given as a boy to a community of druids to raise, in fulfilment of an oath sworn by his father, who owed the druids a debt of life. Thus, Frijthof was raised and trained as a druid until he reached manhood. Finding the seclusion and discipline of the community too restrictive, he left the hidden valley of the druids to seek out his family and see the world. In this he was partially successful, in that he learned the fates of his parents, and found a sister he did not know he had. As far as seeing the world, that is an undertaking that has barely begun. He is a member of House Jakarta, a willing servant of Voln, and a loyal follower of Kuon. He puts his druidic training to use as an herbal healer, and his curiosity to use as an amateur historian. He has recently resumed his druidic studies, and has been charged by the Elder Council with assessing the receptiveness of the Outside to the ancient teachings of the druids.

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