[Realmcraft] The Cloister; Home of the Desert Druids

[Masamune]

Feedback and constructive criticsm is appreciated, flames are not. Lemme know what you think! ^.^ This writeup is to be paired with my Desert Druidism writeup.

~*The Cloister*~ On the sandswept southern outskirts of Arakmat, there is a series of especially steep dunes. Rumors of the area past the dunes keep most from attempting to trek past the area commonly called the Dune Range, and it is a wise thing. Just past the range is an area where sandstorms are especially abundant, and the worst is where they crash against a gigantic sandstone cliff, pincering hapless victims, between stone and storm. There is one safe haven, however. It is The Cloister. Known only to a few and the product of over a decade of labor, The Cloister is a carefully crafted and intricately designed series of caverns who's entry is concealed within a very subtle crack in the sandstone cliff. At the entrance it appears to be little more than a crack in the wall, but deeper in reveals the hidden chambers. Ventilated and lit indirectly through a series of several discreet openings, this sequestered institution is actually home to a small group of special druids. The Desert Druids are strange folk. Normally a druid's connection is to flora and fauna specifically, but Desert Druids follow a broader path. Nature comes in many forms, and just as most areas of Telath find many forms of flora and fauna, the rare areas of desert are also, of course, a form of nature. Thus, by accessing magic from the Plane of Nature and pulling not as much from plant and animal life--though there is still an element of that present--but from the very sand and stone that makes the biosphere of deserts so unique, they can not only survive in the intense weather but thrive, shaping the sand and rock to suit them. The Cloister is no exception. In fact, it is the epitome of that ability. Once past the rock-gap that makes up the entrance, the sandstone itself has been intricately shaped to make the entry hall a grandiose thing, with depressions and raised daises, several stone benches, chairs, and even the occasional--but rarely unoccupied--cushions adorn the area. It has a high ceiling, designed in such a manner that light is funneled in but none of the noise nor horrendous storms reach the interior. Carefully carved depictions line the walls, starting with a small group of fanatic druids who stuck close together when they were exiled from the druid community of Syl'rosya for believing that there could be as much power in sparsity of life as in abundant life. It showed their journey from Syl'rosya to the wastes they were forced into, their search for strength in an area where a druid might very well die, and then eventually finding power in the enduring life of the desert. In its rare flora and hardy fauna, and in the very sand and stone itself rather than the fertile soil and the greenery, and even the ability to pull from the deepest depths of the earth fresh water from underground streams. As such, in this hidden away academy, they have no want for comforts or water. They survive well enough with both without trouble. One or two of the more adept druids can usually be found in this front entry, studying or helping others. Most wear thin desert-brown robes. One, an obvious Arakmatan human with a wafer-thin build and thick brown dreadlocks, glances at any new arrivals and smiles in a welcoming fashion, though lurking behind his brown eyes, as with most desert druids, there is an edge of feral wisdom dwelling. "Serale, and welcome to The Cloister. I'm Helmer. We offer shelter at the least to those who find their way to our home. To have navigated the wastes to find us, however, you must not be just anyone...it's possible that you may have what it takes to be a desert druid. That, however, is neither here nor there. Sorry for my ramblings, we receive few guests. What can I do for you on this brightening?" Should they be permitted past the entry hall, there is a clear choice to travel to the left or right hallways. Down the left are the various teaching and instruction rooms, always on the left, curving in a semicircular manner. To the right are various sparse dormitories, always on the right. Due to the dually elegant yet rough design and the sparse nature of anything not created from sand or stone, the location seems rather reminiscent of a monk's monastic lifestyle, or a religious abbey. Each room would have a bed, a stone desk and bench, and a small armoire to store whatever rare goods someone may have. The rest of the room--and there isn't much of it--can be occupied or decorated as the occupant pleases. Both hallways meet at the far end to make a complete circle, and at the very end where the path's conjoin is a third path outwards, as well as a fourth path inwards, towards the center of the circle. The third path leads to a large, open area where several sandstone tables and benches have been placed through the room. A small section to the left has been cordoned off for where food is prepared, and to the right is a wall full of arcanically shaped indents that form perfectly smooth shelves, all packed full of texts. Some are more mainstream such as generic arcana writeups, and others are more personal, such as diaries of Desert Druids gone before, or texts scribed by a member of The Cloister to safeguard their knowledge from being lost or corrupted to history. This room is a diverse area that acts as a cafeteria, library, and meeting hall depending on the need. Most desert druids have an odd sense of humor, and so jokingly refer to the room as the 'libraryteria', which unfortunately for the room, has rather stuck. The inwards path is a very short path, but once inside is a surprisingly large oasis--perhaps the biggest of the Arakmatan Desert--known as the Desert Garden. Water is drawn from this large and seemingly ceaseless natural well, plantlife is grown here for food and for enjoyment, as well as even some herbs for medicinal purposes. In the end, it is the Desert Garden that truly allows The Cloister to be a completely self-sufficient commune when necessary. NPCs Initiate Wilhelmina Skye Secrets : Name Wilhelmina Skye Race, Age, Gender human, early teenager, female Description Wilhelmina has porcelain-white skin, long blonde hair, and crystal-blue eyes. How she keeps her luxuriously long hair so silky soft and clean is a mystery to all, but she is highly prized as company, due to her exotically gentle appearance, her wide-eyed innocence, and her helpful and friendly nature that makes many unable to help but smile. While she is clearly new to spellcraft, she moves about the Cloister as though she has spent her entire life sequestered within its walls, for indeed she has. With barely thirteen ordinations under her belt she was among the first to take up residence in the Cloister while it was still being fashioned, as she was the child of one of the Desert Druids who had worked upon it and given birth there, though she died in childbirth. Since the father was unknown, the community simply took her in to raise her as their own, with Akkari Al-Shazir acting as her main guardian and father figure. One of her self-appointed duties is to help take care of the plants within the Desert Garden. Skills Scribing - level 1 Desert Druidism - level 1 Desert Survival - level 3 Gardening - level 2 Can this NPC be used in self-moderation or in training situations? yes Junior Instructor Helmer Secrets : Name Helmer Race, Age, Gender Arakmatan human, young adult, male Description An obvious Arakmatan human with a wafer-thin build and thick brown dreadlocks, glances at any new arrivals and smiles in a welcoming fashion, though lurking behind his brown eyes, as with most desert druids, there is an edge of feral wisdom dwelling. He is one of the freer thinkers of the locale, his tendancy to 'think outside the box' making his surprising amount of mental agility highly prized among the scholars of the Cloister, to the point where he's frequently darting between instructors to assist them all. While he is not the most socially elegant of creatures and has a tendancy to get overexicted, his innate talent in Desert Druidism more than makes up for it, as he's currently trying to refine his Masterpiece before trying to move on to the next level. Skills Stargazing - level 1 Scribing - level 1 Teaching - level 2 Desert Druidism - level 3 Can this NPC be used in self-moderation or in training situations? yes Senior Instructor Akkari Al-Shazir Secrets : Name Akkari Al-Shazir Race, Age, Gender Dorin, middle-aged, male Description Though this Dorin is clearly approaching his upper years, there are few better at navigating the wild dunes, and few better at wielding the Druidic magic only the Desert can provide. His fur is completely white with a grey streak running from tail tip over his back to the tip of his nose, filling out around the ears but nowhere else. His black eyes speak with a wisdom few even among the Desert Druids can compare against, as he has devoted his entire life to the practice. Normally dressed in the light, brown robes of the Desert Druids, whenever the 'Headmaster' is away--which is frequently--he is in charge of the entire Cloister. Though he is as nice as they come, his main oddity is his outright bizzare sense of humor, laughing at things most consider unfunny, and making puns that are more likely to leave others confused than amused. Skills Desert Survival - level 4 Scribing - level 3 Teaching - level 3 Desert Druidism - level 4 Can this NPC be used in self-moderation or in training situations? With GM Approval Only Factoid: Secrets : Notability of Location - Uncommon, though the source of many rumors. Training Opportunities - Desert Druidism: L4 Scribing: L3 Desert Survival: L3 Gardening: L1 Employment Opportunities - none, though food, water, and shelter are commonly provided for any who stumble into the walls of the Cloister. Can this location be self-moderated? - With GM Permission Only.

[Z'kron]

I love this. Been waiting years (since GM Rob's time) to see someone finally writeup a locale for Desert Druids; it's going to be interesting seeing it played out.