Teaser # 2: The Complete Guide... and The Coven

[Hellcow (Retired)]

The Depths of Norhaven: A Complete Guide, part I

By Alerdy Parlyle

A Brief Foreword by the Author

It is in this, the Three-Hundred and Fifty-Ninth year After the Discovery, that I finally complete my life’s work. This Ten-volume chronicle of the History and Geography of Norhaven, the Colonies and their inhabitants, I hereby dedicate to Thoran Proudshield, Warlord of Gauth, for his Three-Hundredth Birthday; for whom, I would like to thank in commissioning me on this most rewarding journey, and to whom I wish another forty years of Glorious Rule. May his Ancestors always walk beside him.

To the intrepid Scholar or Adventurer reading this Foreward, I would commend them for making an extremely Wise and Informed purchase. This Compendium is not merely an Historical treatise, but an entire exploration of the Subterranean Realms, and as much beyond their borders as is possible. It is my esteemed hope that this Document proves as much an informative and helpful addition to any collection as I believe it to be.

There are a great many matters of which I will deal with at length, but first I must – as any good Scholar should – start at the beginning with…

An excerpt from The Depths of Norhaven: A Complete Guide, Volume One – The History of Norhaven up to the Discovery, by Alerdy Parlyle…

.. thus the popular belief that one man, albeit a King, was personally responsible for rallying the survivors and leading them across an entire continent to comparative safety must be viewed with some suspicion.

Whilst our earliest records of this time remain incomplete at best, we must assume that the possible cross-continental journey must have been extremely difficult and arduous. I hesitate to think how many begun the journey, and how fewer finally arrived. Even more painful is to imagine oneself as just such a survivor, braving hazardous weather and even more hazardous predators on a journey with no guarantee of success within their lifetime.

What we do know is that these survivors were searching for the saplings of a Telling Tree that had been scattered across the continent when temperatures first started to plummet. They arrived in this part of the world some four hundred and fifty years ago and the first foundations of the City-Sanctuary of Norhaven were laid. Within twenty years our own illustrious Colony was founded (see Volume Two: Of Gauth and the Coming of Thoran Oakshield), the Long Cold began entering its heightened period, and the Tree was discovered.

Quite how the Discovery was made has long since been muddled in myth and legend – no doubt in part due to the actions of the Discoverer himself. It is no secret that the man was prone to fits of embellishment, and his story collected contradictions with each retelling. Likely the true account of Donovan Carver’s discovery will never be known. Suffice it to say, it is fortunately of little consequence. What is important is that the Telling Tree was found deep beneath Norhaven.

As any child could tell you, this was a very fortuitous discovery indeed. For, between the plummeting temperatures and the increased aggression of the Wyrm, the Surface became almost entirely uninhabitable. But the Tree offered a prospect of survival beneath the ground. So important was it, in fact, that it became the foundation for our new calendar (although what, precisely, the previous system ‘After Founding’ referred to - besides serving as a painful memory of a more pleasant time before the Long Cold - is unknown). A small community sprung up around it which we know today as Darkthorn Den, and the predecessors of today’s Coven began tending to the Tree’s ministrations. Other, smaller communities and villages were founded throughout the vast cavern network spiralling off from Gauth and the Tree

Norhaven itself remained  occupied – although in increasingly small numbers – for the next century, until its final demise at the Wyrm Queen’s hands (the same event which, keen observers will remember, brought our own Warlord Proudshield to prominence – see Volume Two). At this point, the ruins of the City-Sanctuary were completely abandoned, with the final survivors flooding underground.

The people forget the sun for the better part of the next three-centuries…





The Coven


Introduction

In the time of flight, when the first brave survivors came at last to the Haven in the North, we found only stone and barren hillsides, whipped by chill winds and barely a stunted growth of grain to nourish us. Through snow and ice, more desperate souls sought refuge within the high walls of Norhaven and, soon, as the long cold grew in ferocity and the once sparse fields became blanketed in white that never again lifted, the world that our ancestors had known could no longer support us.

Tormented, the sky above us bore only the promise of death. The snow fell in droves of gentle flakes, and the soft pounding of giant wings heralded  the coming of rending claws and icy destruction that hounded those last poor wretches who, as broken husks of men and women, were the last to reach the haven of our home.

In this time of wasting death, came the Coven. These five men and women, fey and dangerous, and learned in the ancient magics of the old world, brought to us the promise of life, food, and warmth. Where they came from, we do not know. Who those ancient five were, we no longer remember, for none now live who set eyes upon them. But when all was lost, when we had given up hope, they drove us deeper, down, dark, into the depths of Norhaven...


And there, the Tree saved us. There, we found the true Haven in the North.




Synopsis

The Coven, an order of five druids chosen from those with the highest mystical potential (irrespective of heritage or settlement), are the legacy of the five powerful druids who, when the tree was discovered, were able to bend its power to their will, nourish it, and use it to provide food and warmth to the depths of Norhaven.

Their rituals and magics are a closely guarded secret, and though many rumours and suspicions abound as to what exactly they do with the tree (including rumours of blood sacrifice and close ties to the fey), the truth remains shrouded in mystery. The Coven use this enigmatic position to their advantage, using their intimidating, mysterious and sometimes dangerous persona's to lend strength and credence to their word among the settlements while cultivating a following that borders on the religious.

The Coven is maintained at the centre of Norhaven's society, a neutral party between each of the settlements. The five druids of the Coven, and their network of agents and potentials, control the food supply to each of the settlements and ensure that the tree of life flourishes. They therefore have an important role in maintaining a level of balance and order between the various settlements. Though they are not a militant force, the leverage they hold over the tree, and their respected position of wisdom and ancient magics passed on from the original coven to each subsequent member, means they are often turned to for counsel or as mediators in disputes.

Though never consisting of more or less than five actual coven members, the order maintains a following of agents who often act on their behalf in matters outside Darkthorn Den itself. These agents are people of all walks of life and all settlements, chosen for their level headedness and desire to maintain the fragile stability of life within Norhaven. Agents of the Coven act as their eyes, ears, negotiators and, when required, as the Coven's own protectors in times of need.

((Players of any class or settlement can become agents of the Coven.))

In addition to their agents, the Coven attract many “Potentials”, who may one day take up a place in the Coven itself following the death of a current member. These men and women are practitioners  of the Druidic and fey magics, who often choose to dwell in the lush areas of Darkthorn Den to remain close to the Coven. More senior Potentials who are well respected and hold good standing with the Coven often act as mediators on less critical issues (such as individual disputes) that the Coven themselves need not get involved in. This acts to provide both experience and practice to these potentials while also keeping the Coven from being bothered by more trifling matters that should not take up their time.

((Players of the Druid class can become “potentials” in addition to being agents of the Coven))

[Hellcow (Retired)]

Members of the Coven

Name: Méla Moiala
Race: Elven
Gender: Female
Age: 390 (approx)
Physical Description/Demeanor:
Eerily silent and wraith-like in movement, Méla is a lithe and typically graceful elf whose dark coven robes are subtly and intricately embroidered with a black silk thread that lends a shimmer to her precise movements. Small in stature, with fair skin, very fair hair and an intense icy blue gaze, she is perhaps a little less imposing than some of her fellow coven members, but by no means lacking in presence. Méla is one who chooses her words carefully and sparingly, preferring to listen first and speak last. With a quiet, subtle and measured persuasiveness, she can be surprisingly influential.

Rumoured to have known some of the original Coven members, Méla is the eldest of the current Coven and holds a great deal of sway and respect within Darkthorn Den. Having become more reclusive as the years have passed by, she rarely exercises this sway unless feeling particularly compelled. Possessing a passive and harmonious nature, she (as with all of the Coven) is by no means shy or retiring, having a remarkably strong will and an accute focus.

Name: Leif Wolfsson (Nickname: The Wolf)
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 45 (Approx)
Physical Description/Demeanor:
As with many powerful druids (especially of human origin) Wolf's age is difficult to determine as his physical appearance has a somewhat hardened, timeless quality. The product of a rather brief and violent encounter between a Volsk male and a Gauthian female, he has relatively light dusty brown hair and a chiselled physique. Though dressing in his dark coven hooded robe for ritual purposes, Wolf more often wears his own choice of practical, earth coloured cloth and furs. Of all the Coven, Wolf has the most direct contact those outside the order, and is particularly active amongst the agents of the coven and the potentials. Renowned for his shape-shifting ability, steadfastness and up front blunt honesty, Wolf can come across as overly imposing at times (a trait which is added to by his rather husky voice), he knows when to concede to majority rule and is perhaps the best team player in the Coven.

Name: Edana Sile
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 28 (Approx)
Physical Description/Demeanor:
The youngest of the current Coven members, though like Wolf and other powerful human druids her physical appearance is oddly indefinable. Edana is a wilful and powerful woman with an often conflict-driven temperament honed by her difficult start in life. Undeniably skilled in the ancient fey magics, Edana is rarely seen dressed in anything other than her dark Coven dress/robe adorned with many trinkets and charms. Dark haired with hazel eyes and the slightly pale skin that so many in the depths possess, she is one who speaks her mind and will often resort to power over patience. For one so young, Edana excelled as a potential and as a chosen Coven member, and now plays a central role in many of the Coven's rituals. Her methods are sometimes questionable, though none can deny their effectiveness. Even some agents and potentials of the coven treat Edana with a degree of caution and wariness.

Name: Tasarion Cúwë
Race: Elven
Gender: Male
Age: 240 (Approx)
Physical Description/Demeanor:
Master of all things that grow, Tasarion Cúwë casts an unusual figure with his dark coven robes often adorned with ivy and other such greenery that seems to have weaved its way out of and around the fabric. Dark haired with a very faint green tinge, Tasarion has skin that is unusually dark for those of the underground and a voice full of the smooth silkiness of the Elven language. Protected from the anamosity against his Draelan heritage by his status within the Coven, Tasarion is proud of his race though not to the point of bigotry. A calm speaker and negotiator, Tasarion is believed to be the sometimes lover of Méla Moiala and though the two are often solitary by nature, they are seen together more often than they are seen with any other members of the Coven and likely do enjoy each other's company. Tasarion is almost always seen in possession of a unique longbow that appears to be made of living wood that grows and changes like any plant, even adorned with occasional buds, shoots and leaves.

Name: Malik (Known by the Elves as “Nerossë”, which translates as “Dread Man”)
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown
Physical Description/Demeanor:
Disfigured, disturbing, twisted, scarred, hunched, sickly, powerful. All words that can easily be used to describe the man named Malik, who is an enigma even among the Coven. Wrapped in his dark coven robes, long hood and cowl that hide his face, Malik under most circumstances would be considered a wretched and pitiful creature. Malformed at birth, Malik's body is twisted and weak, with one arm little more than a shrivelled stump ending in more of a hooked fleshy claw than a hand. Hunched and unable to walk without his staff, and horrifically scarred by burns from some past trauma, Malik's age and history is largely unknown, though he is believed to be in his elderly years. As if in some gesture of cosmic balance, Malik's body may be twisted, fragile and monstrous, but his mind is sharper than any and he is possessed of a remarkable capacity for insight and foresight. Taken in by the Coven at an early age where he defied expectations and lived to maturity despite a ruined body and sickly health, Malik is a myth in his own lifetime, rarely seen by individuals and only glimpsed during the Coven's rituals. This man the elves call Nerossë is perhaps the most powerful practitioner of the ancient druidic rites and magics alive today. Though the Coven are a collection of equals and individuals within which no one person holds a position above any other, if there ever was a leader to whom the Coven as a whole would turn, it would be Malik. On the occasion that he does speak to outsiders, there is an odd sense of theatricality to Malik's demeanour, seeming to play exaggeratedly on his twisted form beneath the ragged black cowl of his coven robes.

[Red Hat]

Oooh druids, important underground druids! That's awsome, I love the maps! 

[Jopetzki]

But at the same time I sense a disturbance in the force. What about mah preshus shamans?
*Looks forward to the next episode of mythbus--  Norhaven lore and keeps his thumbs up/fingers crossed/whatever any culture does for good luck* Maybe in the dwarven kingdom.. maybe in the dwarven kingdom.. 

Oh yeah. I have a word for you guys. Splinterbolt.

I'm gonna hold off on posting mah wordpad full of ideas since you guys weren't too keen on that (and I can understand why <3 ), but this one..  this one is a gem from Spells of the woodlands.
Basically Scorching ray awesomeness for druids/shaman. Why wizards get it is beyond me.

Splinterbolt
Evocation
Level: Druid 2, Sorcerer/Wizard 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One or more streams of splinters
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

You cause a long, thin, sharp beam of splinters to lance out of your outstretched hand to strike a target in range. You must make a ranged attack (not a ranged touch attack) to hit the target; if you hit, the splinterbolt deals 4d6 points of piercing damage. The splinterbolt threatens a critical hit on an 18-20 and deals x3 damage on a successful critical hit.

You can fire one additional splinterbolt for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of three splinterbolts at 11th level). You can fire these splinterbolts at the same or different targets, but all splinterbolts must be aimed at targets within 30 feet of each other and fired simultaneously.

If you cast this spell in forested terrain, the splinterbolts are treated as cold iron magic weapons, and they deal an additional +4 points of damage on a hit.

[The Griffin]

So the guy who discovered the tree is unreliable and kept changing his story about how it happened...

... that's right folks, civilization was saved by Jorealite.

[thewanderingmystic]

Arg! New teaser info!! Makes me want to keep playing druids! Whhyyyyyyyyy 

I'm hoping as more info is released I'll find more motivation for playing another character again, and continue on the path to something a bit different.

Variety may be the spice of life but...darn your teasers. Darn youuuuu!! 

Reposted from the other thread. And reiterating...darn youuuuuu!!!!

[Fruitomancer]

Excellent, an abundance of meaty detail here. The Coven certainly seems to have a rather lofty responsibility and interesting tactics. Also: love the maps.

[Axel]

Volsk eh? Hm hm... Nice maps.

Exciting info and details!

[ZaoGao]

Mmm, history. Yum yum.

I love the direction this is going. A telling tree! And the maps! And Leif Wolfsson! *feints*

[Taerus Ormn]

Exciting stuff. Can't wait to get back to DCing now

[Zydel]

Do I like this? The answer is simple. Yes. Hm hm hm.

[Grebs]

You just want to persuade the Coven to start making people wander around pantless!

[Angelic]

*Finger twitch* There goes my plans of being a non-magic-ish character this time around XD

[Tipsgraph]

It's going to be a bit embarrassing if everyone makes druids.

[Hellcow (Retired)]

Just wait for the other teasers, there will be many other awesome classes and races besides the druids