Song Druid

MC Name: JMACKLES

Character's Name: Song Druid Arik

Character's Age: 800+

Character's Original Race (N/A if not applicable):

         Wood Elf

Transformed form:

         N/A

Creator's MC Name:

         Elder Elf

Creator's RP Name:

         Song Druid Arik

Briefly explain the lore behind this construct or creature:

I am being required (again) to provide a description of the lore to be accepted (again).  So, once more I will explain my knowledge of this lore which I not only wrote but also helped push for the most updated iteration of it. 

Updated Soul tree lore makes it possible to unattune via the husk or tree, which then makes the former Druid respawn at the CT, and can’t be reattuned for 3 months.  Can’t be done via sapling.  Character must be online and informed.  Characters return to the CT the age they were when they first got their Soul Tree. Yadda yadda.

Link to accepted MA 

Do you have a magic(s) you are dropping due to this app? If so, link it:

         No

Do you agree to keep the MT updated on the status of your magic app by using the Magic List Errors topic?:

         Sure

Are you aware that if this creature's lore is undergoing an activity trial and that trial fails, you will no longer be able to play this creature and will be forced to either revert the character back to its normal form (if it was a transformative type) or stop playing the character entirely (if it is an entirely new creature)?:

         Yes

Do you consent to accepting what may happen to this character?:

         Yes

Have you applied for this creature on this character before, and had it denied? If so, link the app:

         No

Howdy folks!  I was trying to find some old screenshots and thought it'd be fun to start a thread where we shared memories of many years past.  It's hard to believe it's been 7 years for some of us.  Can you think of anything worse to waste your time on?  Anyways, post your memories, and feel free to caption them!

We'll start off with a few shitposts I have stored in my google drive.

We had a glorious time in Aegis/Asulon where some of our artists would recreate memes with prominent members, let's not forget this gem -

I don't remember the exact context of this meme, but I remember I laughed pretty hard at it. Tehlulu, I love you hoe don't even come at me for this 6 year old shade.

You used to be able to lock your own threads.  Fun!

Speaking of Tehlulu, we roleplayed beneath the forest of Elandriel.

The Druids reforming from the first ever circle split in the city of Solace, while some sort of robbery took place outside.

I can't remember who specifically played him but one of the GMs would mobdisguise as an enderman and called himself Constable Enderman.  We showed him around menocress.

This is more recent, I'm digging across multiple image hosting sites here, gimme a break!  It's The! Druids!

Shots of the Oasis Grove, one of my top 3 favorite groves.

Ethanriel, Mother Tree of Elandriel and wife of Arik.

Racingbrother, or Wilting Druid Giovonni, made wonderful caricatures of the Druids!

Arik fussing with his student Tippen.

One of the Elder Trees of Anthos.

Some images of the Druid's Grove in Anthos.

Finally, the last one I could find, the attunement of Vi, the serpent Druid.  The last attunement made in the Solace Grove.

Post your favorite memories!  I'd love to relive them with you! There are no guidelines!  Just do it!  If there's another thread like this out there, my damn bad but I did what I did.

3 hours ago, Veist said:

This sorta decapitates the controlled nature of the magic so I'm not too pleased. 

0

Upvote

I'll ask you what I've asked every other opponent of this change -- What benefit outside of being a secret is there to this magic staying secret?  Is there some inherent issue with multiple users learning shapeshifting? Or are you perhaps drawn to the original aspect of the lore for it being a secret for secret's sake?

Everyone knows my opinion on this.  I've seen no end of OOC conflict revolving around shifting.  Furthermore, since they removed our ability to use mobdisguise in the past there's no mechanical advantage from the magic.  I see no reason for it to be secret when more useful, powerful and easier to attain subsets of Druidism exist. 

I also hold hope that this can help heal some resentment among Druids.  

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.

Rain beats down upon the canopy overhead, pelting the leaves and branches with its intense pitter-patter.  With each splash there grows an ever larger wind, rustling the leaves opposite the downpour.  From within the hollow of the massive tree, in stark contrast to the dark night outside, an orange light glows, flickering, threatening to give with each passing moment.  A pitiful candle, barely upright on the holder contained therein, next to which sits a lanky and unkempt elf.  Loose green robes cling over his shoulders, caked with grass, mud and leaves, tatters fraying here and there.  Cross legged in stance, he smacks his lips in anticipation as he lifts a bowl of cold mushroom soup to his lips.  Eyes closed, he takes a long draught.  Swallowing hard, his eyes flicker open, narrowed as his brow knits together, and his breath draws in a short gasp.  Setting the bowl down he closes his eyes, working his mouth for several moments.  Finally, after several long minutes, he opens his eyes once more.  As the life of the candle flickers out, amidst the din of the falling rain, he utters a single syllable.  "Good."

Please do not take anything I say personally - it can come off as crass and rude and I would simply say that I am passionate about Druid lore, and am therefore incredibly critical of it. 

Alright.  This is a negative from me.

As far as endgames go, I don't care one way or the other.  I love ideas for this sort of thing and the concept itself I think is super interesting and not far off from what Ouity was thinking a year or two ago.  But I take issue with several parts of this lore and its direction.

In no particular order:

3 hours ago, GaiaLoTC said:

Above all else, Guardian Spirits must not stray from their path, or they risk losing sight of their mission on Æos. They must be pillars of the druidic faith, spreading it amongst the descendants, guiding others in pursuit of attaining true balance. Should they fail in this mission, or stray from the path, the aspects themselves recall the spirits to the Domain of the Fae, to learn more and be returned to the path. They are not allowed to return to the realm of the living.

The Aspects could care less what goes on in the mortal world between people.  The Aspects were never designed to interact with players directly in any way.  This is less of a jab at this lore, but previous precedents missed the mark in that regard.  We hear from the Aspects about as much as we hear from God in the real world.

To suggest that a person would be denied re-entry because of actions on the earthly plane is to fundamentally not understand the nature of the Aspects (no pun intended).

3 hours ago, GaiaLoTC said:

These Spirits are considered demigods in the realm of the fae, and their power and influence are known to all creatures, big and small. These are wise men, oracles. Powerful spirits that are the chosen of the aspects. Their potential is limitless in the realm of the Fae, where they and the aspects reign supreme. They are keepers of the balance, and stalwart guardians of nature and the fae.

   It only follows that some of that power travels with them to the mortal plane. In life, they had such druidic abilities as communion, to control the very way life grew around them. Some had the ability to shift into fauna of the land, of their spirit. Others could imbue herbs and plants with druidic energy, to bring out their inner potential. They retain this all in the afterlife, to the full extent they could use it in life, in order to aid in their mission of guiding the descendents toward a better understanding of the balance, and life as they know it.

   With the mortal coils that once bound druii to flesh gone, their potential is unlocked in the realm of the mortals, allowing them abilities beyond the scope of any normal druidic abilities. By ascending in death, new paths of druidism are unlocked in the mind, fueled by the pure fae energies that make up these spirits, in order to help aid the soulbound servants in their endless quest to serve the aspects and protect the balance of life and death. This ancient, and powerful technique was used by old spirits in the time before the ritual was lost in order to aid Druids in fighting off the forces of the dark, to assist against threats too great for normal druii to fight against. In addition to this new power, Guardian Spirits are able to access a few new lesser abilities, learned through their close attunement with the aspects.

I hate this.  I'm sorry.  I love the idea, an ancient Druidic Spirit bestowing powers to a lesser Druid as a boon, that's ******* awesome.  But these powers for one thing I think are paltry and silly in many regards, and wholly unnecessary.  Furthermore these abilities aren't in line with the Druid's own strengths either.  I get that you want to add more abilities, but instead of doing that I would suggest allowing them to go beyond tier 5 in abilities, and bestow that strength to other druids, or even remove certain red lines from existing abilities in these heightened states.  No need to continue re-inventing the wheel.

3 hours ago, GaiaLoTC said:

But above all, a great weakness lies in their own kind. Guardian Spirits are still capable of being unattuned by their fellow druii. This act banishes the guardian spirit entirely and permanently ends their soul.With no realm to go to and no body to return to, they simply fade into nothingness.

As I said earlier, unattunement after everything you have established with this lore would most definitely be impossible.  Some have argued with me that because their soul is still attuned it can still be severed.  But to that I say that at that point it would be far beyond the power of the Druids to sever such a connection.  It would simply be too strong for their own abilities to touch.  Furthermore I think it would take a very large amount of powerful Druids to permanently banish the spirit.  

Perhaps a few druids could banish the spirit back to the fae, and then if enough tier 5 Druids gathered they could permanently do it if at the original guardian circle?

Finally I can't help but think this simply is an echo of Soul Trees that add extra powers.  I mean here are TL;DR versions of both Soul trees and Guardian Spirits in their most simplistic forms:
 

• Old Druids sacrifice their life to transfer their soul
• If killed, cannot return for some time
• Druid is immortal now unless unattuned
• etc

All that said, I like the concept, and I also really enjoy the writing! You did a good job writing the lore, but to me I don't think it's something overall that is not suited for the Druids.  With a direction rework it would be a great boon though.  

And since you can't complain without offering solutions, here are my own suggestions here.

• Rework the Unattunement portion
• Undo most of the abilities to interact with the world physically.  Let the sacrifice of body mean something.  Let them manifest in spirit form, let them even use their powers but limit their activities.  That would give the ability to grant power to other Druids even more significance.
• On the subject of powers, don't kill yourself trying to come up with new powers.  Let it enhance past tier 5, and even remove certain red lines for a temporary span of time.
• Remove the bit about the Aspects barring them from re-entering for engaging in political stuff.  I apologize for the disrespect, but that's really dumb.
• Expand on the corruption section, a villain spirit would be most interesting.  Don't make the corrupted spirit die after a certain period of time, it undermines how devastating a corrupted spirit has the potential to be.  Make it so they must be banished back to the Fae in order to be restored or something.
• EDIT: Spirit manifestation - I really don't see any reason to allow them to manifest as whatever they want.  It should be as they left the world, my own personal opinion.

Is there a tl;dr version of this?  Also, the format makes the text a little too small for me to read, personally.  Since it's so long I was wondering if you could do something about that so I can peruse it.

As someone said before though, No me gusta on unattuning one (regardless of what else I think).  If the idea is getting rid of one, consider a "banishment" or something similar that would remove the spirit.  It is simply impossible to unattune something that is essentially a coalescence of Druidic energy.  If they were a living body, yeah I get it.  But at that point the Druid would have transcended the need for the body, and effectively "unattuned" their entire souls from their body and then we get back around to it simply isn't possible.

Came here for the ad.  I'm ready for my job back

2 hours ago, Sky said:

can i atleast watch

I can set it up on Twitch but only if u donate

1 minute ago, Sky said:

why did you ban me from your private webcam show?

There's too much sexual tension between us, I have a BF now and I don't want to expose myself to temptation

3 hours ago, The Squirrel said:

Several questions for my fav Elder Druid:

1. Was Veren your fav archdruid who was also a squirrel?
2. If you had a second chance, would you be a Druid or a Necro?
3. do you still sing like a ******* angel?

One question per post please.

My favorite Squirrel related Arch Druid would have to be little known Arch Druid Chips, Druid of Gathering.

2 hours ago, Destroyer_Bravo said:

why do u still care

Because the cancer lingers.

23 minutes ago, Balthasar said:

drewds

no

53 minutes ago, Space said:

thoughts?

Man it fucked up

38 minutes ago, Blad said:

have you gotten bored of lotc yet?

Years ago

30 minutes ago, dsdevil said:

I feel terrible for anyone who gets sucked into this shithole

same

11 minutes ago, Sky said:

when will i be free from the torment of life?

Pm me I have the secret

Please, no questions about The! Druids, they are not available for comment

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

same

Accepted.

No need to thank me MAT!

Accepted.

No need to thank me MAT!

Fair enough on the crowns, I withdraw my assertion on that.

And I am 100% in understanding of the argument as far as how you're not technically bypassing the blacklist, but if you look at the purpose of a blacklist it's hard to interpret leaving the server up as anything else-I don't think Mojang intended for the blacklist to be something you can easily work around, but it just ended up being that way.

So yeah technically other people are going around it of their own free will, but at this point I'm kindof questioning the whole point of issuing a blacklist if they aren't trying to keep the server down.  Minor inconvenience?? 

Someone was kind enough to provide me with this, which gives a little more clarity into the situation.  If we have assurances from Mojang that the server remaining up and accessible throughout the blacklist then I concede my arguments (but not the insults, **** you kowman next time just answer the questions).

But it does beg the question why even bother blacklisting us if we can just keep the server up on another IP anyway?  ???????

5 minutes ago, Teegah said:

you cant exchange crowns

Like I said I concede the crown exchange part - though, what are crowns used for exactly?  I admit I am unfamiliar with this.  If it is a hard currency that stands to reason it is used to buy things, yes?  So that would mean they could easily be used to buy something cheap but in high demand and then that thing be sold for easy minas, thus liquidating the purchased hard currency.  Thank you for addressing me with an answer and not dodging, Teegah. Respect

31 minutes ago, Kowaman said:

You can not exchange crowns for minas. This is false information and I am unsure where you are getting it from.

 

We are complying with the terms of the blacklist. Send me a scan of your law school degree and we'll have a chat. Otherwise, please cease spreading alternative facts.

Hey, I can concede the part about exchanging crowns, I wonder though is it not possible to buy crowns, use those crowns to buy other plentiful IG item which you can turn around and readily sell for minas?  Like obviously they have a value if people spend money on them.  I doubt they would be difficult to liquidate into minas.  That said, it's still currency being exchanged.

Now, to follow up on your second part - you have the arrogant stench of Vaquixine, another stupid dev that had his way with the server and made decisions based on the money the server would bring in versus whatever was best for the server.  If the best you can say to me is "show me your law degree", then jesus christ we're in good hands.  Just like when people used to ask Vaq perfectly reasonable questions and he'd tell them they were stupid and ignore them.

So, you're complying with the terms of the blacklist - serious question, can you outline specifically what those terms are?  To my dumb and uneducated perspective, a blacklist is intended to stop people from logging onto the server and can only be interpreted as a temporary shutdown while the situation is resolved.  Are you telling me if Mojang had known about the several alternate IPs we happen to have for this server that they would have remained up?   The ultimate irony is that in my experience in LotC staff would never allow some snot-nosed kid to blatantly exploit an "unclear" rule to continue playing.  But then again, I wouldn't expect the dev team to be an example to the community - who wants productive, and cooperative leaders, amirite?

You can ignore my legitimate questions all you want, but they are still in the air and I know for a fact others on the Admin team have shared this sentiment but have either been shouted down by people like you or completely ignored.

So, if logically a blacklist is designed to shut a server down until the situation has been resolved, why would it be appropriate to allow players onto the server during that time?  Isn't there even the slightest chance that one of our many trolly members could notify Mojang and we could have even worse consequences for essentially dodging their order?

Answer my questions - if you want to throw little insults my way while you do so, that's fine, as you can see I am quite capable of both stating my argument and communicating the large amount of brain damage I experience from having to read the responses I've received thus far.  

We have replied indicating that Crowns are in-game hard-currency that can only be used to purchase VIP ranks, and that our in-game soft-currency, minas, can not be purchased. We also updated our store page to remove Mojang's logo.

Can't you turn around and exchange in game crowns for the soft currency?  Do you seriously think Mojang is going to be OK with you blatantly flaunting a continued violation with some technicality twist on it?  That's the type of bullshit GMs would ban someone for here - I guess it's ok when the devs do it though, right? : ^)

Also, as far as the server remaining up.  

14 hours ago, Kowaman said:

1. The server will be remaining up throughout the blacklist. We are currently complying with the restriction Mojang has put on us, and do not need to take further action to comply. This will not affect Mojang’s stance on our blacklist as far as we can tell from our research.

 

2. We will not be making any changes on our end to bypass the blacklist. You can however, on your own accord connect to the server (mc.lotc.co) using modded versions of Minecraft, such as the SquidHQ launcher.

 

I am trying painfully hard to come down to your level of logic here, but I'm having trouble how keeping the server up during an active Mojang blacklist is anything other than bypassing it.  It looks like everyone is so relieved to have an update that nobody is pointing out what a frightening job our devs have done to protect our server while this occurred (ie, keeping it shut down).  

Please explain to me, using small words, how keeping the server up during this blacklist and still offering paid currency is doing anything other than endangering our server?  

MC Name: JMACKLES

 
Character's Name: Song Druid Arik

 
Character's Age: 800+
 
Character's Race: Elf

 
What magic(s) will you be learning?: Soul Tree
 
Teacher's MC Name: Respiren
 
Teacher's RP Name: Wayward Druid Respiren
 
Do you have a magic(s) you are dropping due to this app?  None
 
Do you agree to keep the MT updated on the status of your magic app by using the Magic List Errors topic?: ????
 
Have you applied for this magic on this character before, and had it denied? If so, link the app: No

MC Name: JMACKLES
 
Character's Name: Song Druid Arik
 
Character's Age: Lost track. 800+.  Getting up there
 
Character's Race: Elf
 
What magic(s) will you be learning?: Unattunement
 
Teacher's MC Name: N/A
Teacher's RP Name: N/A
My character developed the ability and passed it down to the other Druids.

 
Do you have a magic(s) you are dropping due to this app? If so, link it: No

Do you agree to keep the MT updated on the status of your magic app by using the Magic List Errors topic?: ???????
 
Have you applied for this magic on this character before, and had it denied? If so, link the app: No