Véndel (Ven-dal)

Véndal is a circle of equals, bound not by rank but by shared reverence for the wilds. Its elders form a loose council, and from among them a Speaker is chosen by consensus. The Speaker, currently Sédar, leads gatherings, guides the council’s deliberations, and serves as the circle’s voice to outsiders. No member is bound to stay; all may come and go as the winds of the forest call them.

At the heart of Véndal lies an unyielding devotion to the balance of wilds. They believe the wilds are sacred, a living tapestry threatened by encroaching darkness and unchecked greed. To them, every beast or kin deserves aid when wearied or lost. Their rites honor the cycles of life and death, light and shadow, growth and decay.

Véndal stands as the vigilant guardian between the untamed wilds, the sprawling burgs, and the industrious castles. They strive to prevent the wilds from being ravaged by overhunting or exploitation, especially by the expanding Rasen Culture. Their mission is to maintain harmony, ensuring no force overwhelms the delicate balance of life.

Their greatest wealth lies in their profound knowledge of the land—its herbs, beasts, and hidden paths. While the Nimari live closely with nature, they engage in trade using fene coins, the common currency of the Vetheri and Syenvel peoples, to procure supplies from burgs and castles.

The Véndal Circle is composed of elders and trained Lévan. They guide the Nimari in keeping life in balance and in reading the wilds and Veria’s will.

Two millennia ago, the Guardian Spirit Veria gave the sacred zíno of Vétar to a few Rásen, who became the first Lévan, able to feel the pain of beasts and bound to guard the wilds. They formed Véndal, a druidic circle whose purpose was to keep balance between the wilds, the burgs, and the castles. Over time, Véndal grew, the Rásen came to them for guidance, and the circle slowly understood how important it was to the wilds. From this deep bond with Veria and the land, the Nimari emerged as a distinct culture who live to protect the wilds and the beasts that dwell within them.

The Síenvel, once fierce hunters and warriors, now form a minority within the circle, their ranks predominantly female but inclusive of men. The Nélrin, valuing equilibrium among races, hold the majority. Véndal maintains a sacred balance of genders, reflecting the harmony they seek in nature.

Their gatherings happened in clearings, sacred places, and offen would meet in gardens. They have a one single stone altar protected by the zíno sanctum.

They have their trained Lévan, warriors allies and their own fighters. Forcers will come to their aid if they are in the burgs or castles.

Their power lies in Vétar - the primal zíno of their Divine - and profound knowledge of flora, fauna, and the land’s secrets.

Véndal enforces sacred laws: those who harm the land must mend it; no harm may come to the young or pregnant beasts; and all may take only what is necessary, honoring the cycle of giving and receiving.

They are healers and nurturers, tending to the wilds and those who dwell within. They combat disease, ensure the beasts’ prosperity, and teach the races the art of foraging, fostering a symbiotic relationship with nature.

Véndal children may attend a Vésan in nearby burgs and castles. Only when the road is safe may they make the journey. There they join sánoke, where they learn reading, writing, counting, and common lore. This helps them speak with Rásen and understand Línasha Island.

Their vétar training happens inside the Véndal. Nímari’s Guides teach healing, respect for beasts, and the ways of the wild. They use stories, rituals, and hands-on lessons in the forests and fields. There is no formal Vésan for this, only regular gatherings and teaching by experienced Nímari. Rásen or Nímari kin may learn from Nímari’s Guides. Those who stay near the Guides and sacred places learn the most.

The Véndal leave only light traces on the land. They build as little as they can and let the forest remain mostly untouched.

Shelter and Camps

Permanent camps grown from bent saplings, living trees, thatch, and earth. They are crafted to rest gently on the land rather than scar it.

Seasonal shelters that can be dismantled or left to return to the forest.

A few shared lodges or longhouses near Rásen burgs and castles, used as neutral meeting places and waystations.

Paths and Travel

A web of narrow forest paths and hidden trails linking Véndal clearings.

Simple rope bridges, log crossings, and stepping stones over streams and ravines.

Natural fords and dry ridges marked as preferred routes, avoiding main Rásen roads.

Water and Waste

Protected springs, streams, and shallow wells, often ringed with stone or rooted plants.

Planted reeds, willows, and moss beds to keep water sources clean.

Middens and waste pits placed far from camps and water, covered with ash and leaf mold to speed decay.

Sacred and Communal Sites

Sacred groves and stone-rings used for councils, rites, and teaching.

Clearings chosen for natural shelter, good sightlines, and easy escape routes.

Simple wooden platforms or raised areas for Speakers and ritual work.

Markers and Signals

Carved stones, feathered poles, and knot-signs marking safe trails, camps, and boundaries.

Totems or painted stones warning of danger or signaling sacred ground.