Druids of Ansalon - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Druids of Ansalon

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 08, 2003 18:17:31 I had a thought for a new Order or Organisation of Krynn. Dragonlance is a world of balance, as Hickman wrote in the annotated Chronicles. And as such we see the balanced Orders of High Sorcery and the balance of Solamnic Knights, The Legionnaires and the Dark-Knights. I was also thinking that because druids were previously considered 'heathens' and from different worlds on Krynn (ToTL) and are now all considered specialty priest of the three nature gods, then perhaps they too may establish and Order amongst themselves. Considering that they are now a vibrant part of the DL tapestry.

All three gods represent nature: Habbakuk (good), Chislev (neutral) & Zebboim (evil) but I think they all must work in some form of unison to protect their particular interests in Nature. Especially with the recent twisting and corruption of their land by the Dragon Overlords, I think that these gods may have a unified interest in restoring Krynn.

To that end, I wonder what a unified Druidic Order would be like, and invite ideas and suggestions for the Order.

Arandur
#2
rosisha
Sep 08, 2003 21:06:22 Hmm, i've always seen Druids as loners, rather then with any specific organization. At most you'd have druids of the same God keep in touch only on major holy days, and maybe once in a while to exchange students, or to work together for some important cause, like the druids who were helping the Dragonarmy in the War of the Lance.

I don't know though. It sounds interesting, how would you go about building it? if done right I think this could make a very cool organizational thingy for the world, but to be honest I'm not sure how to go about it. I don't know much about Druids

Rosisha
#3
zombiegleemax
Sep 08, 2003 21:31:16 I like the idea, but I have always thought the Druids "faith" to have been more respect based than prayer based. But it isn't beyond reasoning that for a grand cause their respective Deities would call a gathering to help aid the world.

If you get something down on paper i'd appreciate it if you could send it to me, my e-mail address is:
[email]pountang2000@hotmail.com[/email]
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 08, 2003 23:45:53 Please correct me if I'm wrong but Druids are considered a specialty priest of one of the three nature deities of Krynn and as such gain their divine abilities through their chosen God's grace. I think that they differ from the generic PHB druid in this respect and Krynnish druids act along the same lines as a Wizard of Krynn (not a Sorceror).

As far as 'respect' for nature, I think that goes hand in hand with the tennants of druidic faith just as a Wizard 'respects' magic or a Priest of Mishakal 'respects' all life. It is in essence, a physical representation of their deity.

While the Druid may seem a loner in the 3rd edition rules, it has always been part of a Druidic order in the 1st and 2nd editions (you had to challenge and defeat a higher-ranking druid to advance which leads me to assume some sort of organisational heirarchy). I guess this is much the same as the celtic druidic tradition was more of a religious organisation than a collection of individuals. I think the idea of a Druidic organisation lends itself to the DL setting pretty well. While I don't see the numbers or the highly evolved organisation of The Wizards of High Sorcery or the Knights, I can see the Druidic faith governed by a council of wise druids representing each aspect of nature through their differing gods.

Anyone else have any thoughts or a differing outlook??

Oh and can anyone let me know of trees specific to Krynn that could be used in a Druidic Order title? I was thinking perhaps of Seasonal titles but something more 'leafy' probably sounds better

Arandur
#5
zombiegleemax
Sep 09, 2003 8:23:50
Originally posted by Arandur
While the Druid may seem a loner in the 3rd edition rules, it has always been part of a Druidic order in the 1st and 2nd editions

This is true. So we could easily tweak the old druid organization for Krynn, using alignment instead of geography as the breakdown point. So we'd have one Archdruid of each alignment under the Great Druid (who would probably be neutral).

Or we could have Archdruids of various alignments overseeing various areas, answering to a Great Druid of each alignment with a Grand Druid overseeing the whole shebang.

Old (1st ed.) titles for druids below Archdruid rank, if anyone is interested, were Aspirant, Ovate, Initiate of the 1st Circle, Intiate of the 2nd Circle (and so on up to 9th Circle), then simply Druid, Archdruid, Great Druid. Grand Druids were introduced later, along with Heirophants (former Grand Druids who had now retired from the Druidic Organization to advance in direct service to nature).
#6
zombiegleemax
Sep 09, 2003 16:13:10 I like this idea. If you're wanting to use the names of trees for titles I would suggest that you use the same names for trees on Earth. Just add vallenwood to the titles, and any other form of tree specific to DL that I may have forgotten.

Oh, here's an idea. Perhaps they have to meet on specific days of the year. They don't have to go to a specific grove, but perhaps the closest one. Also, an idea I believe was from a James O'Rance site... Perhaps local chapters of druids would be headed by three alignments: good, neutral, and evil, to represent balance in the world.
#7
zombiegleemax
Sep 09, 2003 18:00:05 I like the sound of three Archdruids (one from each alignment & representing each of the three nature deities) ruling under the Great Druid. Perhaps the Great Druid is not human, like the Forest Master or (I know this sounds weird) the first tree created by the Gods on Ansalon and has some form of sentience (like a Great immovable Ent).

I was thinking of breaking the Order into three distinctions, each gaining 'Wisdoms' similar to the 'Secrets' gained by the Wizards of High Sorcery. Still working on the abilities and the like but I came up with the following Order titles (which I have begun to call circles):

Circle of Spring Dawning (Habbakuk)
Circle of Autumn Twilight (Chislev)
Circle of Winters Night (Zebboim)

OK not the greatest of titles but will do as working titles for the moment.

Would appreciate it if anyone had any other suggestions for order titles or abilities. We have some pretty talented and imaginative folks on the board...

Arandur
#8
zombiegleemax
Sep 09, 2003 20:52:20 This druidic order could be similar to the Wizards of High Sorcery. However each of the three orders are characterised by a hair colour:

Circle of the Spring Dawn (Pale Blue Hair) for Habbakuk
Circle of the Winter Night (Purple hair) for Zebboim
Circle of the Autumn Twilight (Orange Hair) for Chislev

Arandur, I do like the idea of the great ruling druid. Perhaps the Forest Master received a promotion during the fifth age. He is now the Forest 'Lord'. ;)

Faeyrl
#9
zombiegleemax
Sep 09, 2003 21:02:42 Hmmm, rather than (just) hair colouring traits, perhaps the druids gain 'nature' traits the higher they climb the Druidic order (blessings of nature from their chosen deity). Slight cosmetic changes such as eye colour, skin colour and the like to represent the seasons they are linked to? Interesting idea...

Thanks Faeryl

Arandur

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2003 18:17:31	I had a thought for a new Order or Organisation of Krynn. Dragonlance is a world of balance, as Hickman wrote in the annotated Chronicles. And as such we see the balanced Orders of High Sorcery and the balance of Solamnic Knights, The Legionnaires and the Dark-Knights. I was also thinking that because druids were previously considered 'heathens' and from different worlds on Krynn (ToTL) and are now all considered specialty priest of the three nature gods, then perhaps they too may establish and Order amongst themselves. Considering that they are now a vibrant part of the DL tapestry. All three gods represent nature: Habbakuk (good), Chislev (neutral) & Zebboim (evil) but I think they all must work in some form of unison to protect their particular interests in Nature. Especially with the recent twisting and corruption of their land by the Dragon Overlords, I think that these gods may have a unified interest in restoring Krynn. To that end, I wonder what a unified Druidic Order would be like, and invite ideas and suggestions for the Order. Arandur
#2 rosisha Sep 08, 2003 21:06:22	Hmm, i've always seen Druids as loners, rather then with any specific organization. At most you'd have druids of the same God keep in touch only on major holy days, and maybe once in a while to exchange students, or to work together for some important cause, like the druids who were helping the Dragonarmy in the War of the Lance. I don't know though. It sounds interesting, how would you go about building it? if done right I think this could make a very cool organizational thingy for the world, but to be honest I'm not sure how to go about it. I don't know much about Druids Rosisha
#3 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2003 21:31:16	I like the idea, but I have always thought the Druids "faith" to have been more respect based than prayer based. But it isn't beyond reasoning that for a grand cause their respective Deities would call a gathering to help aid the world. If you get something down on paper i'd appreciate it if you could send it to me, my e-mail address is: [email]pountang2000@hotmail.com[/email]
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2003 23:45:53	Please correct me if I'm wrong but Druids are considered a specialty priest of one of the three nature deities of Krynn and as such gain their divine abilities through their chosen God's grace. I think that they differ from the generic PHB druid in this respect and Krynnish druids act along the same lines as a Wizard of Krynn (not a Sorceror). As far as 'respect' for nature, I think that goes hand in hand with the tennants of druidic faith just as a Wizard 'respects' magic or a Priest of Mishakal 'respects' all life. It is in essence, a physical representation of their deity. While the Druid may seem a loner in the 3rd edition rules, it has always been part of a Druidic order in the 1st and 2nd editions (you had to challenge and defeat a higher-ranking druid to advance which leads me to assume some sort of organisational heirarchy). I guess this is much the same as the celtic druidic tradition was more of a religious organisation than a collection of individuals. I think the idea of a Druidic organisation lends itself to the DL setting pretty well. While I don't see the numbers or the highly evolved organisation of The Wizards of High Sorcery or the Knights, I can see the Druidic faith governed by a council of wise druids representing each aspect of nature through their differing gods. Anyone else have any thoughts or a differing outlook?? Oh and can anyone let me know of trees specific to Krynn that could be used in a Druidic Order title? I was thinking perhaps of Seasonal titles but something more 'leafy' probably sounds better Arandur
#5 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2003 8:23:50	Originally posted by Arandur While the Druid may seem a loner in the 3rd edition rules, it has always been part of a Druidic order in the 1st and 2nd editions This is true. So we could easily tweak the old druid organization for Krynn, using alignment instead of geography as the breakdown point. So we'd have one Archdruid of each alignment under the Great Druid (who would probably be neutral). Or we could have Archdruids of various alignments overseeing various areas, answering to a Great Druid of each alignment with a Grand Druid overseeing the whole shebang. Old (1st ed.) titles for druids below Archdruid rank, if anyone is interested, were Aspirant, Ovate, Initiate of the 1st Circle, Intiate of the 2nd Circle (and so on up to 9th Circle), then simply Druid, Archdruid, Great Druid. Grand Druids were introduced later, along with Heirophants (former Grand Druids who had now retired from the Druidic Organization to advance in direct service to nature).
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2003 16:13:10	I like this idea. If you're wanting to use the names of trees for titles I would suggest that you use the same names for trees on Earth. Just add vallenwood to the titles, and any other form of tree specific to DL that I may have forgotten. Oh, here's an idea. Perhaps they have to meet on specific days of the year. They don't have to go to a specific grove, but perhaps the closest one. Also, an idea I believe was from a James O'Rance site... Perhaps local chapters of druids would be headed by three alignments: good, neutral, and evil, to represent balance in the world.
#7 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2003 18:00:05	I like the sound of three Archdruids (one from each alignment & representing each of the three nature deities) ruling under the Great Druid. Perhaps the Great Druid is not human, like the Forest Master or (I know this sounds weird) the first tree created by the Gods on Ansalon and has some form of sentience (like a Great immovable Ent). I was thinking of breaking the Order into three distinctions, each gaining 'Wisdoms' similar to the 'Secrets' gained by the Wizards of High Sorcery. Still working on the abilities and the like but I came up with the following Order titles (which I have begun to call circles): Circle of Spring Dawning (Habbakuk) Circle of Autumn Twilight (Chislev) Circle of Winters Night (Zebboim) OK not the greatest of titles but will do as working titles for the moment. Would appreciate it if anyone had any other suggestions for order titles or abilities. We have some pretty talented and imaginative folks on the board... Arandur
#8 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2003 20:52:20	This druidic order could be similar to the Wizards of High Sorcery. However each of the three orders are characterised by a hair colour: Circle of the Spring Dawn (Pale Blue Hair) for Habbakuk Circle of the Winter Night (Purple hair) for Zebboim Circle of the Autumn Twilight (Orange Hair) for Chislev Arandur, I do like the idea of the great ruling druid. Perhaps the Forest Master received a promotion during the fifth age. He is now the Forest 'Lord'. ;) Faeyrl
#9 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2003 21:02:42	Hmmm, rather than (just) hair colouring traits, perhaps the druids gain 'nature' traits the higher they climb the Druidic order (blessings of nature from their chosen deity). Slight cosmetic changes such as eye colour, skin colour and the like to represent the seasons they are linked to? Interesting idea... Thanks Faeryl Arandur