[Druidic Grove] - Knights Seeking Training? (GF; Tisiphone Please)

[Raliric Ered`Gard]

OOC: Thread created with Tisiphone’s permission. This thread is considered Grandfathered.

Six Knights of the Argent Sword moved though the forest to the north of Natura, into the wilderness and to the Druidic Grove that was their destination. They had been dedicated to this path for a great many eras now and finally the opportunity had arisen though with its obvious consequences and unexpected twists; something that was, unfortunately, unavoidable. Never the less they were set upon their path and these people had a very stubborn set of their shoulders. They knew that it might be difficult to attain what they wished, but they would do what they needed to do in order to get it. Such was their way; they wished for what they earned.

The journey to the Grove was indeed a beautiful one, something that would stay with each and every knight until the day they died. It was a place of peace and tranquility that was hardly rivaled. No doubt the location would be filed away for future reference and perhaps be a place that they would bring others in the future. Though as always time and a need that surpassed personal pleasure pushed them onward, disallowing them more than a few moments of pleasure. Such was their way.

They moved into the area that they believed to be the grove and glanced around, seeking out the druids who were supposed to inhabit the location, or at least some indication that there was a building or shelter of some description where they would enquire about what they sort.

[Nimh]

It was drawing towards the close of the winter, though some might still consider it yet in the middle, and should it have been warmer outside or closer to Spring, their reception would have been a slightly different one. For now, however, the fiesty little dryad that protected the Grove's fringes was in slumber, hibernating deep inside her tree as the sap continued to remain slow and dull, waiting for the warmth and life of spring to revive her. What greeted him instead was a woman of beauty, with dark brown ringlets that curled over her shoulders and heart-shaped face tinted pink with cold. She sat alone upon the hard ground, frozen with frozen but free of snow for the time-being, looking thin and fragile. She had a snow rabbit on her lap, which she cooed at as she stroked its ears.

She did not seem to notice them until the rabbit bolted, its ears flat against its head as it bounced off into the woods opposite them, and even then she smiled very softly and very serenely at the knights, her hands folded in her lap. "Serale, gentlemen. Do not tell me you mean to invade my grove?" Despite the sweet smile on her face, she had something of a worried glint to her eyes as she looked them over. It was not often that men of war came to visit her glen without a purpose. Those who studied here were typically of a peaceful sort with their minds set solely upon the regeneration and protection of the wood...not the building of might and arms. This, of course, did not always hold true, but was by and large just so with those she taught.

[Raliric Ered`Gard]

The presence of the woman was, at first a surprise given the weather and the fact that she sat within this cold. Raliric, as he drew closer, unclasped his cloak and, when he stood before her, offered it to her. ”Serale, I am Raliric Ered`Gard, these are Knights of the Argent Sword. We come in peace, and our will is to preserve it. You appear cold, please accept my cloak to warm you.” An extension of the arm toward her, within its grasp the cloak. If it was taken or denied he would then motion to the men behind him. ”These knights seek training in the druidic arts. They have been dedicated to that course for sometime now and I have, admittedly, been lax in my attention to these Knights.”

The four knights, of the five who stood behind Raliric, moved forward so that they stood to one side of the dracon Knight. There was a dwarf, an elf, a dorin and a human. Raliric continued to speak though, ”I have known these individuals for nearly four eras, I have ridden with them, eaten, drank and camped with them. They are truly set upon their ways. There is a fifth who would also seek training in the druidic arts, however he is currently in captivity within the city of Natura.” A sad expression flickered upon his features, however he stiffled it and resumed an impartial appearance. ”An unfortunate event given the circumstances, however one I fully condone and support.”

A pause as he glanced about the grove. ”Are you able to assist my fellows in their will to become Druids. They do not merely wish to seek training and then leave your grove, they are dedicated to staying, if that is allowed, and learning all that you have to teach them inn your peaceful arts.”

[Nimh]

The woman bowed her head slightly as Raliric introduced himself, her smile sweet as she took the offered cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. She did not pull it tight around her shoulders, but let it drape casually, allowing the tug of the occasional breeze to blow it. She did not truly seem overly cold, just comfortable, though her threadbare clothing might have made her otherwise. "Serale, Sirs," she greeted them all, gazing upon them in turn.

And then she listened, turning the words about her head with a stoic air that still remained soft and supple. "I always look forward to expanding the repetoire of others, Sir Knight, save that in this area I have some concern, and I hope that you bear with me as I try and understand the hopes of your men in this regard. You act as their mouthpiece, but it is their hearts I need to know in this matter, for here you come as Knights, men sworn to fight in what manner it is you see fit for what you believe to be right. I am, in my own way, pledged to something of the same sort, but I will fight for a means to do no harm with my sphere and merely nurture the world with it where I can, twisting nothing that Carmelya has placed here under our care."

She looked them over for they were fighting men, all of them. "Would you use the Druidism, then, to fight your foes? I do not teach harmful spells here, just peaceful matters that can only do good. Should you wish spells more battle-oriented, you would do best seeking guidance elsewhere."

[Raliric Ered`Gard]

OOC: I am sooooooo sorry, I thought I had subscribed to this but I hadn’t!

Raliric nodded, agreeing that he was acting as these men’s mouthpiece and thus he steppped back to allow them to speak of their hopes and dreams with regards to the druidic sphere of nature.

The first to answer was an elf woman, whilst the Dorin, Halfling and Dwarf waited for their own terns to speak. ”Though we are Knights, sworn to our Lord, to the Empire and to the Sacred Three, we believe that there are otherways we may fulfill our mandate and our oaths through peaceful means. I will not lie to you, there will be times when a need to fight is upon us and we will not turn away from that struggle. There will always be times that one must fight for what they believe in, it is what we do after that struggle that will make us what we are. I can not speak for my fellows, however in my heart I feel a connection with nature; as if a string were attached to me and it has led me ever closer to this moment.” She had, indirectly, answered the question possed of her, though she could think of no other way to have put it unless asked for a simple word, yes or no. In which case he answer would be a hesitant yes. ”Yes, I will have no misconception that in time my Druidism will be used in a fight, just as the Naturan Druidism was used for such at Zerdargia when necessity was the cause for its use. However my use of the arcane will not be ill used or without justification, and I will accept all responsibility for the repercussions of that arcanic use.”

The other knights said much the same, some adding that it was so that they could better understand Carmelya’s mysteries, others that they had been a part of nature for most of their lives and would give anything to feel that much closer.

All the while Raliric and Gedriwyn stood back and listened; the knight champion feeling proud of his knights for their noble intentions and their words. Though, his smile faded slightly as the elf female spoke again, this time bringing their captured companion back into the equations. ”Sir Ibukor would also have liked the opportunity to learn Druidism. He is just as dedicated to nature as we are, perhaps more so now. Alas, he is being detained in Natura proper for his birth. Punished because he was born an ork and not another race.” It was clear that she was upset with the matter, she was close to the ork and it showed by her will to protect him and see that he was given the same opportunities as they.

[Nimh]

Dhwae inclined her cheek slightly as the woman explained herself. It was something Dhwae could understand, this connection...a connection that was hard to ignore. She smiled faintly at the mention of Zerdargia, shifting her arms around herself slightly. "We have changed some since Zerdargia. It is a painful thing to watch your friends and family die. We no longer preach the use of our spells for such matters. There are ways to resolve matters beyond violence. No, I will teach you nothing that could be used in a way that is violent. Some might teach you to use the spells differently, but here...here you will not find what once was. I have had my share of violence. I do not wish to see it returned into the world. Not any more."

It was clear she was not comfortable with the notion of teaching someone who would inevitably use the arcana for something other than as she wished it to be. She sighed and shifted around the grove a little, a hand rubbing the side of her neck as if it itched or bothered her. Any with sharp eyes could catch a faint glint of golden sheen against the soft pallor of her skin. "I understand your frustration for your friend, but I too was at Zerdargia and can understand their reluctance to let him wander free. Let it lie. I do not think there is little can be done to change their minds."

She frowned, torn at the decision that she faced here--to train people who were militant, who would use the Druidism she would allow them access to for violent means, whether the cause was fair or not. She had sought to turn her back on that path and submerge herself in nurturing the world around her. A touch choice indeed. "You are not asking something of me that I view lightly. You have as much as told me that you will deal with the arcana in a manner I would not approve of, regardless that your cause might be good. Does not everyone think their cause the better one, after all?"

She paused, quiet a moment. "But then there is little in the way of damage I suppose I could teach you that would come to others being harmed. Just know that--I do not teach spells here that can be used in battle." She drew in a deep breath. "I have also begun inquiring after the methods of my tutelage. It has become a trend, I've noticed, for others to come and seek training with myself or someone else in this grove only to have that person turn their back and leave after I have imparted what knowledge I can. As such, our numbers dwindle some. Would you be willing to stay on with us for a prescribed length of time in exchange for your lessons? We would teach you how best to use what we teach you so that we do not release unto the world a group we might regret."

[Raliric Ered`Gard]

The elf female, the spokes person it would seem for the potential druids, listened carefully to everything that was said and she agreed with much of it, and saw the merit in the values and principles mentioned for the rest. Thus when she spoke she could do naught but agree and accept, it fit with what she and the other knights wished and they were committed to whatever they made oath to.

”I agree and accept what you have said. Whilst there is reason behind learning offensive methods of the use of druidism, such is something that should perhaps come with an already tempered mind; one that is ready for the burden of such arcane uses.” She nodded, interpreting what Dhwae had said in her own way, ”By that I mean that we would be most appreciative to even learn the non-harmful methods of druidism and committed to that cause until such time as you believe us ready to learn a fuller scope of the art.”

”As such we would also be committed to this grove and Natura. I believe that the others would agree with me when I say that in taking on this cause of action we would gladly accept the responsibility and pleasure of serving you and the other druids in this grove to assist in bettering or maintaining such a society.” a pause before she continued, ”Obviously our commitment is also to the Knights of the Argent Sword and thus, should they require us, and that would only be in a situation of dire need, we must answer their call. All other times we would be here with the Grove and Natura.”