In Truth, a Letter to All Druids

[Song Druid 1486]

 

A large roll of parchment hangs and is upon several Druid’s desks and boards, covered in a flowing script.

 

“My Bretheren. I am heartbroken.  Long has it been since I have wept for anything, perhaps upon the demise of my dear Aren’iril, and now more than ever do the tears readily flow.  I know many of you have little care for what I have to say, and maybe rightly so. Even by my race’s standards I am old. I have for quite a while engaged in various wanderings about the world, upon occasion returning to visit and live upon my Druii family.

 

I have long garnered a reputation for causing disruptions, and for good reason.  The Order must remain vigilant lest it fall to weak leadership and crumbling values.  Our values cannot be changed. We are above all servants of nature and the Aspects. We cannot pick and choose when our duty can be performed.  It must be done indiscriminately.

 

This has not been the case for many years.  While it is easy to vilify myself as the supreme meddler, the truth of the matter is that very little involvement on my part has caused some of the worst, and most toxic conflict I have ever seen within the Order.

 

When observing and watching, giving input over many years, a pattern becomes noticeable.  A pattern of failing leadership. It is this failing in leadership that caused such outrage where Toren’s unattunement was concerned.  Indeed, many Druid’s confirmed that there was a need to remove him of his gifts after many chances, but took issue with how it was performed.

 

Anger, outrage and scorn is thrown at those who performed this task but the fundamental question continues to go unanswered.  “Why was this necessary?” The simple answer is, such acts of “vigilanteism” would be the only way a just punishment would be issued.  Because we have fallen to supporting family over the sanctity of our ways, our traditions and most importantly the will of the Aspects to preserve the balance of nature.

 

People often believe that with such harsh words I deny all fault.  I am not blameless in the state of the Order. But we are called to act, and so I act.  It is regrettable that I must find enemies with my honesty so often. But I am not duplicitous in my ways.  My agenda has always been to better the order. And every generation of elder sees me vindicated in my words as they come to understand my attempts at guidance.  And yet, I feel that I write too much on what I have done good. I have also impacted the order in severely negative ways.

 

What is the purpose of this notice?

 

I wish to dispel the lies.  The duplicity that the one known as Renn would engage in to achieve her means and those of her kin.  The blatant favoritism and self-servitude, self-congratulatory antics that are utterly unbefitting for one of her age and experience.

 

Lies.  These are the power she carries over me.  And they are powerful indeed. A Druid who has convinced many that I act quickly without knowing that which I speak, but still has the audacity to make strong accusations towards members of the Naelurir circle, without letting this circle investigate and offer punishment.  Allowing Elswyen to avoid her punishment decided at her trial, of which she refused to acknowledge the dangers she posed until nearly every Druid present had to shout her down. A Druid who knew she could not within our traditions eject and punish the Wolf Druid from Archdruidship, and so when the challenge issued by an objective Elder was made that would result in an unfavorable outcome broke tradition and unlawfully removed an Archdruid from his station.

 

But the duplicity goes deeper, and does not stop there.  Several Druii brought in connection with the Azalea Druid’s unattunement had their memory wiped before questioning.  Several Druids that I hold in high regard and respect are connected and I weep for this.

 

Why all the secrecy?  Why all the lies? If the Azalea Druid were worthy of unattunement, then stand up for your actions!  Why is it this way?

 

And I realize the hypocrisy, my hypocrisy.  This Order has long kept secrets, and I have held many for the Order in my long lifetime.

 

The time comes now that I see that if the Order is to heal, if it is to grow, even at the expense of my own life and the trust of my friends, I must divulge the secrets of the Order.  Let there be no secret from this day forth.

 

As many suspect, it is all true.  The Shadow Circle has existed since Aegis, and many prominent Druii have lead it at one point or another.  The Wayward Druid, the Dusk Druid, the Dragon Druid, the Dawn Druid, The Wolf Druid and Myself have all taken part in it.  Its tenets were designed to continue the balance by performing tasks for the third Aspect, Nemiisae. Unlike the perverted Shadow Druid Victivus this circle was intended to undermine progress that could harm nature in ways most Druids were not capable of doing.

 

If you doubt the existence of three Aspects you need only look to the Aspect stones, of which there are three.  One for each.

 

When a Druid reaches a point of esteem and honor, they can be presented with an option to prove their loyalty to the Aspects.  By growing a seed through their body with all of their energy at once, the Druid kills their earthly body, but their spirit remains trapped within the tree if the Aspects deem them worthy.  From that point on as long as that tree lives the Druid cannot die, by blade, disease or age.

 

Likewise, when a Druid has reached a point that they are an esteemed elder they can undergo trials to learn to take the form of an animal of their choosing. If successful in their trials a Druid may transform themselves at will for a certain amount of time.  This is the secret that Toren betrayed. He betrayed the identities of those who can take shapes. And those people were hunted and nearly killed as a result of his spite.

 

Many of you may regard me further with disgust, your suspicions of me confirmed.  No matter. I have never concerned myself with the public opinion of me. I seek now to grow a circle that will adhere to the tenets of balance and servitude, and sacrificing the self.

 

Renn, I have reflected upon my anger.  I am outraged and heartbroken, but I will not challenge you.  I will not and have not ever challenged another Druid. I will move forward with no ill intent and hope that you one day see what I see.  Perhaps I will see what you see as well.  Should you forgive my transgressions I shall forgive yours. To you and all the Druids, may we grow to be close as brothers and sisters once more.

 

In truth,

Song

A note is pinned beneath:

 

Soon, I will be approaching each head of the 2 circles with one of each of the trials required to learn to change shape.  Druids will be required to cooperate together in order to achieve this gift.

[Sky 0]

"Okay false-druid Song." says the Golden Boy.

[Zarsies 6795]

A frail hand twitches.

[The Media Wizard 2958]

Azoth - being well versed in the secrets of the Order - reads the letter very much like so:

[DarkSoundwave 70]

Somewhere deep within his hiding spot, Riv screeches as all the secrets are now spoiled.

[someome 2053]

Hareven just simply reads the letter with a soft sigh, before returning to teaching new druids and simply tending to his Grove.

[Dromui 755]

A certain corrupt and certainly chaotic evil Archdruid would sit within his home, scanning the letter.

 

"******* yikes."

[Jygg 330]

A Kharajyr Druid has aneurysm after aneurysm as he reads each part of the notice.

[JuniperSelkie 241]

"....well, Song has snapped. Too bad I already knew all of this." A sharply dressed 'aheral shrugs.

[Delmodan 855]

The druidess remains silent as she sits within the corner of her bed, enjoying the company of the others there yet only just. Eventually however she slowly drifted off to sleep...

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

A open letter is penned in reply.

 

"In light of recent events, let me make this very clear to everyone.

 

I don't care who you are. Aegis druid. Song Druid. Wolf Druid. Respiren himself. Naelurir are beholden only to Naelurir archdruids and the Dominion Crown. We will resist whatever beings, druid or not, outside our circle, who wish to impede on our jurisdiction. Elders and hierophants of the mother circle have had no role in our growth, no connection to our culture, and no respect for our purpose. They have never been part of us, or contributed to us. They will have no say in our doings.

 

Anyone who justifies unattunement done outside of the authority of the official Archdruidic body of a circle will have no trust placed in you will be treated with caution and suspicion by all of the Priesthood. We Naelurir have been the subject of too many conspiracies, schemes and even outright attacks by Druids who then turn around and claim we should be their BROTHERS. Sister Azalea was and is Naelurir. The attack on her was nothing short of an unprovoked declaration of war on an independent, autonomous circle that is not beholden to you or what you think is right for the druidic order.

 

The druidic order has grown too large and divergent for any one group, no matter how elderly and revered this group is, to determine what is and is not acceptable when it comes to serving the Aspects. I find many mother circle practices to be absurd, hedonistic and deplorable yet I make no attempt to lecture them on how they choose to run their own affairs within their own grove, and I expect that to be paid in turn with non-Naelurir druids abstaining from trying to tell us Priests how to do our jobs, and what is and is not right.

 

Yes. If a druid breaches their duty, then judgement must be laid upon them only by the leadership of the circle they belong to. ONLY them. Mother Circle and Naelurir values are too different for the two to interlope with one another in matters like these. The only reason you would not allow for a druid to be judged by his own circle and by people who understand the culture and code he is bound to, is if you believe that YOUR judgement and what YOU believe Druidism should be applies to ALL druids, regardless of duty, circle and purpose. Many Elders and Hierophants think this way. This is their main delusion and main folly. YOU DO NOT INHERENTLY KNOW BETTER.

 

I don't care that you revealed the art of form shifting, I don't care about the shadow circle. I only care that these elders learn to understand that they do not inherently know better than the rest of us. And that what makes for a good druid, and what constitutes a bad one, no longer has one singular definition. I can tell you this for a fact. The Naelurir will not be intimidated, guided, or governed by anyone but ourselves. We forge our own way.

 

By the way, I already have the capacity to teach the shape shifting art. I will choose my own candidates from my circle I deem worthy. One of you I already have chosen.

 

Regards,

Artimec."

 

 

 

 

[_Elrith_ 4525]

"Adding another log to the fire?" An Aheral asks.

[TheIchorDruid 1986]

After long hours of sitting at her desk, and multiple screwed notes later. The Azelea's anger finally inks a note in response to the Song's missive, albeit knowing some truth lay in his words - a lingering rage lay very much apparent.

 

The aforementioned note reads:

 

"Arik, Song. Whatever you wish to call yourself, honestly I care not.

 

Shall we review, where have you been whilst our circles have been at a time of their dire need? You state you have such a concern and 'heart break' over the turn out of recent affairs yet you do little to involve yourself in ceasing them. You are simply an old man running from their duty, not even an elder at that. As I told at our earlier conversation, you are simply a child whom throws their tantrums - you are unable to control your druidic gifts and caused destruction of the Sparrow Grove. You harmed the balance.

 

Not only that, you spit and spite at the fact that Toren abused the trust of many shifters yet can I please have a list of whom he told? Of whom were the untrusted that could possibly use this against us? If we are all true druii, this 'secret' should not have been hidden in the first place. For it is a gift given to us by our aspects, to share among our brothers and sister in aims to preserve our balance. Yet you called Toren a traitor, yet here your very ink lays, doing exactly what Bull did. You hypocrite.

 

You state you weep for the acts that were done to me, the rogue unattunement and the loss of my gifts. But cease your wining you pig, for I can shed my own tears, I can bawl my own first and I can spit my own anger. I do not want your childish rage or pity, for it simply embarrasses me. If I wished it, I would go after my own abductors, but I am The Azalea. I am the essence of our faith and uphold our tennants. Faith and Family. 

 

For I forgive, my anger may perhaps be a raging fire and my wrath like a thousand stings but I do not throw fits like you, you want to help the circles? For one start doing your damned job, use your gifts for their purpose instead of abusing them in your temper. Revoke your pedastol that you have situated yourself on and be one of us. Elders are not offered any prestige or crowns, you are no different from any of us. Old or newly attuned. We are all guardians. All kin, you scald our circles for falling to ill intent and yes I am very disappointed in the recent atrocities. The murder of my very fiance, that left my newborn fatherless. 

 

But I have cease my retaliation, I have found better grounding and I have used my anger to fight for a better future for aspect kind. Yet you fall to do the very thing you speak against, you write these petty letters and spout all the things that were already said. You are just picking at old wounds this point. 

 

If you wish to truly make a change in these circles, bird me for there is much you must learn and hear.

 

The Azalea Druid.

Quillian Caerme'onn

 

 

[MickMeist 175]

22 minutes ago, Elrith said:

"Adding another log to the fire?" An Aheral asks.

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A friendly arsonist chuckles.

[Gone 869]

Cheza laughs as she slips away with her own copy of the letter, finding it while wandering about the various groves and quickly writing down what it said. "Oh this is delightful. I knew most of this already, bless Toren's trust of me, but this fills in the few gaps that still remained! A Shadow Circle... Should have suspected something during that one incident with the Halfling I suppose. Ah, I could hug Song if I didn't think he'd hit me for it!" The 'demon' woman relaxes once behind the thick door of her room and looks to the two toddlers now awake in their crib. The pair staring at their mother in confusion before starting to fuss for her attention.

 

As she lifts her sons up and lets them move about on the floor she continues to speak. Partially to herself and partially to the two much too young to understand. "I've seen with my own eyes that he speaks truth. Disgraceful how Renn refused to focus upon the fact that a Druid had tried to murder a Brother, the prime suspect of attacking a Sister... Instead she merely wanted to discredit and focus upon the 'wrongdoings' she saw within the witnesses. Elswyen complained about Hareven's trial yet outright walked out of her own and despite being found guilty I doubt she has been punished at all. Just need to find her and see if she still has both her eyes. It is disgusting, really. That sort of laziness and corruption was why I left the Clerical Order so long ago and why I left the Druidic Order after... So few of them actually deserve any form of respect anymore."

 

- - -

 

Elsewhere a young Kha holds her head in confusion and lays beneath a tree. Uncertain after the things she has heard of what she should believe. Her duufles keeping her company as she turns her gaze skyward to stare at the moon.