Archdruid of the Isle of Dawn
by ZarcykHere's my thought on the druidic head on the IoD. I developed the basic information to best suit my own needs. I don't go far into stats details, as they belong to an experimental system. About the rest I wait for comments.
HOW THE ARCHDRUID HAS BECOME KNOWN
When my PCs arrived to the Isle of Dawn, they made a stop at
Kendach. It was late AC 998. Countess Julia Kendasius claimed as hers
the Kendach Escarpment, in the name of Thincol I of Thyatis. She was
trying to expand her dominion rights through the occupation of the area.
Her
project included the building of a chain of fortified towers all around
the border of the plateau, in order to protect "her" lands from the
Alphatians beyond.
The first tower, the nearest to town, was already under
construction. Half the perimeter of the escarpment border had been
explored and "cleaned". The internal part of the plateau was checked
only 40 km from the first tower.
Countess Kendasius, as the majority of the human population of
the IoD, knew nothing about those highlands. So she had to send
explorers to map the area and reporting its features. Most explorers
were from
the County Army, other were hired for that job. Among the latter were
the PCs.
Their task was to go straight toward the centre of the plateau,
reported to be the most dangerous and mysterious.
They went, and met the most important person they ever knew:
Kalmyshiye, Archdruid of the Isle of Dawn.
KENDACH ESCARPMENT BETWEEN "TURRIS PRIMA" (FIRST TOWER) AND THE
"HERMITAGE"
The first tower rises aside a small river falling from the
plateau border onto sheer cliffs. This river apparently comes from the
centre of the escarpment. The exploration starts from the tower and
directs upriver through a plain grassland.
After about 40 km, the clear waters become darker, the ground
becomes muddy and swampy: this is the "Palus Kendasia", or the "Kendach
Fen". The river separates in a labyrinthine net of rivulets, which
sometimes fade into uniform mud. The air becomes fetid and a thick mist
contributes to disorient. The vegetation includes twisted bushes and
gigantic fungus. The fauna includes many species of lowlife, insects and
arachnids, and many reptilians. Particularly dangerous are numerous
killer bees (with grey and yellow stripes), mosquitos swarms, giant
leeches and urticant scarabs. Other dangerous creatures are stirges,
troglodytes and hungry black alligators. The only intelligent presence
inhabiting the "Palus" is a population of "swamp nymphs" (in my campaign
I prefer to call nymphs what Expert rules call nixies). They had a
problem with a mummy (a Nithian remnant), but were saved by my PCs. They
are friendly to elves and know the archdruid and his attendants.
Many stretches of the limit of the swamp are enveloped by black
widow webs, leaving reduced ways to safely pass.
Beyond the swamp the mist dissipates and the rivulets merge
again in a small river, crossing as plain a grassland as the one
previously seen. This plain is inhabited by sprites and "dawn panthers"
(light yellow fur with small grey and brown spots). In the distance you
can see a dark line, a sort of wood.
Some 10 km from the swamp, you meet the "Wood Ring". It is a
wood shaped roughly circular, about 20 km diameter. Few dangers inside
it: some vipers and little more.
Closed by the Ring is a vast glade, placid and idyllic, crossed
by the river, now somewhat smaller. At the centre of the inner glade,
some km from the inner border of the Wood Ring, another small wood is
visible, a thin line of smoke rising from its core.
Inside the inner wood lives Oluindomul, a gentle treant. It is
even younger than Kalmyshiye and strongly tied with him. In fact, once
when he was in Norwold, Kalmyshiye saved young Oluindomul from an arson
caused by an enraged red dragon, whose breath destroyed the native wood
of the treant.
At the centre of the wood, the rivulet comes from a small lake.
A small raft can be useful to lead you to the small island rising from
amidst the calm waters. There live the major druids of the IoD.
Their house are little more than humble huts: this help them
live closely to nature.
KALMYSHIYE
He is an elf from the Shiye clan of Alphatia. His grand-parents
participated in the abandon of Mealiden Starwatcher migration. His
father was among the first Shiye elves born on the continent of
Alphatia. He himself was an elf-kid when he saw the Alphatian coming
down from the sky.
His appearance comes from his extraordinary age: he himself lost
the count of the springs he saw (you understand, he's very old), but he
clearly remembers the Alphatian-Thyatian wars preceding the crowning
of Zendrolion I! He was already a young adult elf, an initiate in the
druidic hierarchy. Surely he's more than 2000 years old! (It is a
mystery how this could be possible)
PERSONALITY: Kalmyshiye is not a born leader. He keeps his
charge out of sense of duty, but he's not interested in rise through
druidic hierarchy. He is more philosopher than adventurer. All this
explains his relatively low level in spite of his long age.
STATS: elven D20*; hp 50; St 13, De 11, Co 10, In 16, Wi 18, Ch
15; (he should have weapon mastery with staff and short bow).
APPEARANCE: He's hardly recognizable as an elf, because he's
short and bowed (he hardly reach 1.20 m), with white hair and beard,
both very long (similar in this to Mealidan Mealidil of Alfheim), and a
myriad of wrinkles upon his face. He usually wears druidic tunics in
black and
green.
MAGIC ITEMS: He always wear a pair of "boots of travel and
jump", and carries a druidic knotty "staff of healing". Other items
includes a "wood armour +3", an enchanted short bow named "Showerain"
(short bow +2 of extinguishing), a "magical rope", a set of "panic
drums", a "hydroelemental amphor" and a "training muzzle".
DM NOTES: Due to his long life, he has stored an extraordinary
amount of knowledge, in particular related to "his dominion", the Isle
of Dawn. He knows all animal and vegetal life forms of the island, he
personally knows the heads of all packs, of all herds, of all flocks and
of all swarms on his territory, and he's guardian of all the natural
inhabitants of the land under his feet.
Moreover, he can tell about ANY historical event happened on the
IoD from AC 0 to present day. His charge requires him to constantly
monitor human (and non-human) activities in order to prevent any major
natural disaster.
Nevertheless he's not known by virtually any civilized being, as
he always adopts subtle methods to act. Maybe one or two of the eldest
men on the IoD knows of him, simply naming him the "Wise One of the
Escarpment".
Kalmyshiye fights only if strictly necessary.
KURNOS
He's the fighting attendant of the archdruid, he who pursues
wrongdoers (in the eyes of nature) and who plans and coordinates the
actions commanded by his superior. Kurnos was born in AC 970 in Redstone
to a family native to Julinius. He soon showed a special love for pets.
Then he was fascinated by horses, as to go around trying to free all of
them. Lastly he met a druid who told him the "right way". He adventured
and grew until he took the place held before by his teacher: attendant
to
the archdruid.
PERSONALITY: Kurnos hates the use of animals as slaves. He
literally goes mad when he sees a whip risen upon a humble mule charged
with great loads. He's in charge of coordinating the actions towards
(and against) civilians. He's a little Machiavellian, but he remains
loyal to
Kalmyshiye.
STATS: human D10*; hp 30; St 16, De 12, Co 14, In 11, Wi 12, Ch
15; (he should have weapon mastery with mace and whip).
APPEARANCE: Thyatian stock, 28 years old, tall 1.90 m, muscular;
totally bald, brown short beard, blue eyes, aquiline nose, well drawn
lips. His voice is commanding and thunderous, very impressive on male
characters. He wears comfortable clothes in neutral colours (from light
to darker browns), and a pair of soft boots made from alligator hide. He
always wears his armour, his weapons, and a medium sized wood-and-leather
shield.
MAGIC ITEMS: Bone armour +1 (elm got from a big deer skull), mace
+1 (the head is a fossil dinosaur skull), black leather whip +1.
TAPHNIRI
Taphniri was born in Edairo, second daughter to a goat herder.
One day, while attending her father's flock, she met Kalmyshiye.
Fascinated by that elderly figure, she instantly followed him, and no
one ever heard of her among the civilized men. She was taught the
druidic philosophy and rapidly grew studying plants' virtues. Now she's
the closest attendant to the archdruid, and nurtures her master out of
affection and respect.
PERSONALITY: Peaceful and comprehensive. She incarnates the
motherly aspect of nature.
STATS: human D10*; hp 30; St 10, De 10, Co 13, In 12, Wi 12, Ch
16; (she should have weapon mastery with dagger and short bow).
APPEARANCE: Thothian stock, 27 years old, 1.54 m tall, regular
built; hazel eyes; black hair; thin lips. She wears comfortable
linen-clothes, undyed, and a pair of sandals. She seldom speaks, but
when she does, her voice is hypnotic to male ears.
MAGIC ITEMS: Leather armour +1, staff +1 (engraved with flower
patterns), 6 bone daggers +1 (wolf fur hilt).
DM NOTES: She never adventures unless told to by her master.
She'll take care of him until the end of his (or her?) days.
ZEFRAM
Zefram was the fifth child of a farmer family from the
countryside of Hillvale lands. One day he lost in a wood, where he met
the druid who was his teacher. Similarly to Kurnos, he took the charge
of attendant as legacy from his mentor.
PERSONALITY: Curious and substantially peaceful.
STATS: human D10*; hp 30; St 13, De 13, Co 11, In 12, Wi 14, Ch
15; (he should have weapon mastery with staff and dagger).
APPEARANCE: common Alphatian stock; 30 years old; 1.90 m tall,
lean but built like an athlete; golden and almond shaped eyes; long
blonde hair, worn loose; small mouth, thin lips. He wears comfortable
scanty clothes (in mimetic colours ranging from yellow to reddish brown)
under his magic armour, goes barefoot.
MAGIC ITEMS: dawn panther skin (fur armour) +1, staff +1 (twin to
that owned by Taphniri), bone dagger +1 (wolf fur hilt, similar to
Taphniri's, but unrelated to them).
DM NOTES: His task is that of looking at human action toward
wild nature and report to Kalmyshiye. Often he takes animal form (dawn
panther is his favourite) to test human behaviour: in case of attack he
flees, to come back later (in human form) at the head of a great pack of
wild beast, in order to hinder the attacker's plans, whatever they are.
* A NOTE ON RULES. When the PCs were playing this campaign, I was extensively experimenting new rules and game mechanics, some by my own, some found in the web. In particular I stumbled upon the 20 levels druidic class description of AD&D_2E, and tried to span it over my 36 levels system. So I estimated "archdruid level" to be around 20 level in my system. I used (and will keep on using) AD&D model for druids, as the OD&D official version never fitted in my perspective of that class. Now I'm thinking upon coming back someway toward the OD&D rules, though maintaining some corrections and adding some new. If I ever come to a pseudo-final version, I'll share its features.
RELATIONS BETWEEN DRUIDS AND KENDACH
Kalmyshiye never wanted to overtly act, in order to let [almost]
nobody suspect druidic presence on the island. His idea is to find
subtle ways to preserve nature's beings, thus preventing direct actions
by possible enemies. His method consists in slightly manipulate flora
and fauna configurations where this could discourage human settlements,
thus
cutting away stretches of land from human influence and actually
limiting it to reduced areas. His attendants work as lieutenants,
commanding and instructing lesser level druids and managing minor forces
of nature.
This method has proved successful for a millennium (thus
partially justifying the relatively low population density on the
island), but Kalmyshiye himself doesn't know how long it could be so.
This is why he accepted to be addressed by representative of the
human dominion which is closest to his hermitage. He intends to come to a
secret and personal alliance with one dominion ruler who could be an
intermediator between druids and civilians. This can be the pact:
Countess Kendasius keeps silent about druidic existence and promotes a
nature protecting policy (similar to Machetos' or Vyalia's), at least
under her jurisdiction; the druids agree on informing her about human
movements all over the IoD and to help her in case of natural disaster.
ABOUT KALMYSHIYE'S LONGEVITY
Kalmyshiye's age appears to be absurdly long even to elven eyes.
There may be several theories about that:
- Kalmyshiye conducts a particularly healthy way of life. This could grant some extra years of life, maybe beyond racial limits; but 1000 extra years perhaps are too many indeed.
- Kalmyshiye has discovered a way to prolong lifespan. This could be some kind of herbal-druidic mixture producing effects analogous to "potions of longevity". In that case he'll probably teach this knowledge to Taphniri, and keep on taking that drug until he feels his time has come.
- Kalmyshiye is actually 1000 years old. He tells to be older in order to inspire a sense of reverence in those who listen. What he knows of older history he was told by someone else, adding details spawned by his mind. He keeps on being an extremely old elf, and a very joking one.
- Kalmyshiye was bestowed Exalted status by a druidic Immortal (think about Eiryndul, Djaea or someone else) he has done a major favour to. This way he is virtually immortal and can live many millennia longer. If this solution seems too strong, you could replace "Exalted status" with "longer (but finite) lifespan".
- Kalmyshiye is actually an Immortal in mortal form. This could mean he is a new Immortal at Initiate rank, keeping on pretending to be Mortal until he finds a suitable successor. Alternatively he could be a senior druidic Immortal (see above) who wants to look at the IoD by a close point of view (or has some other plot in course). This last theory could justify his noted predilection for covert action, this coming out of habit.
I won't tell you what's the truth. You are free to choose what best
fits your ideas, or even add some new.