Vendel
Structure
Verdalis is a circle of equals, bound not by rank but by shared reverence for the wilds. Their gatherings are led by a Speaker, a voice chosen by consensus to guide the council’s deliberations. No member is bound to stay; all may come and go as the winds of the forest call them.
Culture
At the heart of Verdalis lies an unyielding devotion to the balance of nature. They believe the wilds are sacred, a living tapestry threatened by encroaching darkness and unchecked greed. To them, every creature—beast or mortal—deserves aid when wearied or lost. Their rites honor the cycles of life and death, light and shadow, growth and decay.
Public Agenda
Verdalis 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.
Assets
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.
History
Two millennia ago, a divine being named Drax—Guardian of Empathy and Protector of Beasts—bestowed the gift of Velana, a sacred magic, upon select individuals from the non-magical Vetheri and Syenvel peoples. This magic was meant to foster empathy and a deep connection with the wild creatures of the land. These chosen few became the Nimari, entrusted with the sacred duty to protect the beasts and maintain balance between the wilds, the burgs, and the castles. Verdalis was founded as their sanctuary and shield, standing against the relentless expansion of the Rasen Culture. Over centuries, the Nimari have grown in strength and wisdom, their roots entwined with the very essence of the natural world.
Demography and Population
The Syenvel, once fierce hunters and warriors, now form a minority within the circle, their ranks predominantly female but inclusive of men. The Vetheri, valuing equilibrium among races, hold the majority. Verdalis maintains a sacred balance of genders, reflecting the harmony they seek in nature.
Territories
Their gatherings happened in clearings, sacred places, would meet in gardens. They have a one single stone altar protected by the magh sanctum.
Military
They have warriors allies, burg or castles's patrols, and their own fighters.
Technological Level
Their power lies in magh - the primal magic of their Divine - and profound knowledge of flora, fauna, and the land’s secrets.
Laws
Verdalis 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.
Agriculture & Industry
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.
Education
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.
Infrastructure
Verdalis is a circle of equals, bound not by rank but by shared reverence for the wilds. Their gatherings are led by a Speaker, a voice chosen by consensus to guide the council’s deliberations. No member is bound to stay; all may come and go as the winds of the forest call them.
"In balance, we thrive; in protection, we endure."
Their main grove, known as the Heartwood Enclave, is a place of power and sanctuary. From here, they watch over the wilds, offering aid to beasts and travelers alike.
The fene coin is the standard currency among the Vetheri and Syenvel, and the Nimari use it when trading in burgs and castles. Though the druids themselves rely on the gifts of the wild, they respect the practical necessity of fene for interacting with the wider world.
Drax, their divine spirit, leaves enchanted scrolls before the Speaker, guiding the circle’s laws and decisions.
The Speaker interprets the sacred laws, but the circle as a whole deliberates and decides the fate of disputes and transgressions.
Drax serves as the ultimate arbiter, punishing those who pervert the circle’s sacred trust and uphold the wilds’ sanctity.
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