Jacquin Arlicson

Jacquen spent his formative years in the Helltooth Mountains, much like many Mountainfolk who live in the lowlands. His father taught him to use druidcraft, and on his 15th birthday, immediately after completing his right of adulthood, he left for Clonmeath to learn what his father could not teach him.   He soon joined the Circle of the Claw and learned quickly. To the surprise of even Jacquen, his ability to wildshape was almost casual to him, and he was able to stay in his animal forms longer than most other initiates. At 22 he was able to touch the Greatwood and earn his place as a full druid in the Circle of the Claw, but he had larger goals. He hoped to become High Druid of the Circle some day. He spent the next 13 years focusing on that pursuit alone. He learned how to manage every rite that would be required of him, he memorized pages upon pages of speeches he would need to recite on holidays, and he sharpened his skills in wildshaping to be second to none in the Circle.   But when the High Druid of the Circle of the Claw retired, Jacquen was not selected. Instead, Flax suggested that one of his friends, Or Ku Bronlith, be given the position, and the druids in the Circle followed his advice. Or Ku was voted in as the new High Druid, but he was not as skilled in druidism nor had he been working toward the position in the first place. Jacquen had to admit that the man wasn't completely incompetent, but he still felt like the position was stolen from him due to politics. Because of this, when several druids approached him to form a new druid circle with its own rules and none of the politics of the other five Circles, he joined readily.   Luneri led them during that time and kept them from being completely cut out of the culture while maintaining the strong stance of promotion by merit that the group was based on. When the Circle was suddenly officiated by the Archdruid himself in 1267, the group had only days to decide their new leader. At the time of the officiation, Luneri was cast as High Druid of the Circle of the Fang, but she soon felt like she did not have what it took to be High Druid. Instead, she asked Jacquen if he could take her place. After all, she said, he had been the one working for it for a good 20 years. Jacquen happily accepted.   Upon hearing the plan of Flax to take a new piece of the Delta for themselves, Jacquen eagerly voted in favor of the plan. This was the chance for his group of outcasts to really prove themselves as combatants and crucial members of the Six Circles.