Druids of the Dark by Archie Blatz

At first glance, it may seem that the Underdark is a place of discomfort for the druidic kind. The cold dark caves and lack of greenery does not match up to our image of the forest guardian familiar to the surface. However, there has been a long history of druids working in the Underdark, in particular around this settlement we call Sanctuary or Dunwarren.

Initial research on the factions of ancient Dunwarren referred to a group called the Naturalists. Additional texts indicate that among the ancient Svirfneblin, and perhaps leading the Naturalist movement, were a group of druids. Druids organize themselves in circles, much like a coterie.

A druidic circle is, as far as can be discerned by outsiders, a formal organization of druids who work towards the same goal. Usually there is one druid who holds the title of Archdruid and the archdruid is often chosen on some sort of test involving their power. An archdruid is considered a wise and powerful benefactor of nature. Together a druidic circle forms an entity that is perhaps more powerful than the sum of it parts.

These circles come and go, just as the natural ebb and flow seen within natural systems. It would seem that throughout the history of Sanctuary, whenever a time of great change or unbalance set in, there would be druids there to do their work. In the history of Sanctuary, there would be many such circles to follow in the footsteps of the first Svirfneblin druids in Dunwarren.

Some circles that are known include the Grey Druid Circle which until recent times had a druidess holding back the tide Orogs far past the previous domain of the Sslal'teesh. Another group came to pass called the Wards of Aeon, personified by a druid referred to as the Keeper and another named Chameleon. Certainly many have existed, for druids are somewhat secretive and it is sure that other druidic circles have run their life cycle and not been recorded in the memory of the people.

Still later, Mycopolis was established on the fringes of Lower Sanctuary. At present, yet another circle has formed presided over by the Archdruid Anhe. This group has no specific name and as stated by one of their fold and senior member, “A name is just a thing, and we have no need for such things.”

It is said that nature is never in a hurry, yet everything gets done. Life springs anew from the ashes of death, and the patterns of the past have a way of manifesting in the present. The Corruption of Hammer and Steel (cataloged in the Sanctuary Library) speaks perhaps of a time long forgotten. It speaks of the lesson learned from the end times of the deep gnomes of Dunwarren. The druids in that piece warn of a thing called the Druids Curse. Perhaps this was the balancing moment in a time a great turmoil. This place remembers those gnomes, and none ever lived to tell the tale. It is also said that those who do not remember the past are forced to repeat it.