I'm impressed with the background write-ups that I have seen so far. Very cool. I'll try my hand at writing up something coherent and apologise beforehand for my bad prose.
The Shadow Circle
In the corners of the world, in places unspoiled by the races of men, the primal forces of nature reign unchecked. The beasts grow more cunning, the darkest recesses guard prehistoric forms of life and a delicate balance is held, seemingly in spite of the widespread devastation that can be unleashed by natural forces.
It was not always this way. Once the entire world was subject to a precarious existance, constantly at odds with a hostile, cleansing force that ensured only the survival of the fittest. Those that would become the civilised races had a fear and respect for nature, never hunting more than they required, never taking more than the land could sustain. When balance was lost, it was only a matter of time before nature found a new equilibrium. With the rise of decadent civilisation, that age draws to an end.
Not all have forgotten the old ways. On the fringes of civilisation, a small, loosely organised society guards the wild against the inexorable progress of civilisation; a ruthless, shamanic cabal of druids known as the Shadow Circle. When a trapper is mauled by animals, a woodsman crushed by a deadfall or a miner is trapped by a collapse, some supersticious folk regain their lost reverance for nature. Those that fail to heed these warnings of the Shadow Circle often fall afoul of tribes of bloodthirsty humanoids, the depredations of feral lycanthropes or enraged fey warbands, aided and granted succor by magicians that can channel nature's wrath.
The Shadow Circle is also capable of subtlety. Sometimes their actions can be as simple as poisoning a well or causing arable land to become overgrown with briars and rife with vermin. A prolonged campaign of harrassment can cause a civilised township to collapse under the weight of it's own decadence, forcing survivors to lead simpler lives, turn to banditry or migrate. In this way, the Shadow Circle believes a semblance of balance is restored to the natural world.
Not all of the Shadow Circle embrace philosophies of chaos or outright malice, yet they all hold the concept of natural balance in the highest esteem. They are extremists within the Druidic order, with a profound
hatred of civilisation. They may form unusual or atypical alliances for a time, they may even employ tactics that would appall more moderate Druids; put simply, they believe the ends justify the means.
Cypress 'Cy' Moonbeam
Binder 3//Druid 3
Militant Environmentalist
Scarcely more than a dozen years have passed since he was born. The contractions of his mother were accompanied by peals of thunder. Her labour pains caused the earth to shake. For three days a storm raged as a chrysalis formed until it was finally torn asunder by a flash of lightning. He was formed spontaneously by the wild power of nature, his auspicious birth heralding the role he would play in times to come.
He was found by a member of the Circle, a strange toddler wandering the forest in an odd fugue state. He was fostered out to a small commune of simple hunters and farmers, who raised him as they would their own children and when it was deemed he was old enough, given instruction by the druids that watched over the simple community.
Cypress, as he came to be known took to his lessons with a precocious ease. Calling upon the blessing of nature was something that required little or no effort from him. He was a vessel, waiting to be filled with the power of nature. It drove his ambition, his aggression and gave him purpose. When Nature needed to impart it's wisdom, it spoke with his voice. When Nature required vengeage, he became it's fist.
There were other voices that gave Cypress guidance as well. They were ancient, but young in comparison to the world. They offered their power in exchange for the ability to touch the world again, though his grasp. Their knowledge refined his understanding and promised of a deeper purpose in the world.
Cypress is a fanatic, batshit insane and an instrument though which various Aspects and Vestiges can influence the world. His own personality and desires take a back seat while alien personalities compete for control of his body.
Stats, gear and notes
Cypress Moonbeam; Male Killoren. Binder 3//Druid 3
Medium Fey
Initiative: +2
Hit Dice: 3d8, 17hp
Speed: 40 feet
AC: 15 (+2 dex, +2 leather, +1 shield), touch 12, ff 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+0
Attack:melee Silver Sickle (MW) +1
Damage: 1d6 -3
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Spells, Soul Binding
Special Qualities: (racial) Low-Light Vision, Immunity to Sleep, Cold Iron Anaethema(su), Manifest Natures Might(su); (Class) Fast Movement (ex), Rage 1/day(ex), Nature Sense (ex), Wild Empathy (ex), Woodland Stride (ex), Trackless Step (ex), Soul Binding (su), Suppress Sign (ex), Pact Augmentation (su)
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +3, +2 saves vs. enchantment spells and effects.
Abilities: str 7, dex 14, con 11, int 12, wis 17, cha 15
Skills: Concentration +6, Handle Animal +5*, Knowledge (Arcana) +6, Knowledge (Nature) +10*, Profession (Herbalist) +6*, Spellcraft +9*, Survival +13*
Feats: Extend Spell, Energy Substitution (Electricity), Born of Three Thunders
Flaws: Weak Will
Alignment: True Neutral
*+2 racial bonus to Handle Animal and Survival, +2 bonus to Knowledge (nature) and Survival (nature sense), +2 synergy to survival above ground (not included), +2 synergy to spellcraft and knowledge (nature), +2 Herbalism MW skill kit
Notes:
Killoren Race: from Races of the Wild
Feats: Energy Substitution and Born of Three Thunders from Complete Arcane
Binder: from Tome of Magic.
Skill ranks (5x4 at first, +5 per level) 30
6 in Concentration, spellcraft and survival
5 in Knowledge Nature and Arcana
1 in Handle animal and Prof herbalism
Aspect of Nature. Can choose one at the start of every day; Ancient, Destroyer or Hunter.
Ancient buffs knowledge (nature) checks and will saves, stacking with the normal racial abilities. Probably only active when research needs to be done or Cy gets introspective.
Destroyer grants a smite attack. Typically active when combat is expected. Default choice. +2 to hit, + 3 damage, twice per day.
Hunter buffs stealth and perception skills as well as initiative. Probably active if Cy expects to be sneaking around a lot.
Wild Empathy Checks made at + 1 (-4 Druidic Avenger, +2 charisma, +3 druid level)
Druidic Avenger grant a + 10 bonus to speed.
Druidic Avenger grants Rage as a barbarian, 1 per day.
Born of Three Thunders turns an [electricity] spell into [electricity, sonic]. Anyone damaged must make a fort save at spell DC (13+ spell level) or be stunned for 1 round and a reflex save to avoid being knocked prone if they are stunned (13+ spell level). Casting a three thunders spell dazes the caster the following round.
Energy substitution allows a spell with any energy keyword to become an electricity spell and eligable for three thunders. Assume all energy spells prepared (such as produce flame, flame blade) benefit from three thunders unless otherwise noted.
Favoured vestiges at this level are Leraje and Naberious. Effective Binder level 3. Soul Binding checks made at +5 (binder level + cha)
Assume Leraje is default. She grants precise shot (fire into melee at no penalty, cover still applies), bow proficiencies and a Ricochet ability, which allows ranged attacks to strike adjacent targets with a single attack. Also improved low light vision and +4 Hide checks.
Naberious would only be active if Cy prepares Sanctified or Corrupt spells, in order to recover from ability damage quickly.
Gear Costing (2700 WBL)
Masterwork Silver Sickle 326g
Leather Armour 10g
Explorers outfit (Tied died robes, pantaloons, many pockets, torn and diry)-free
dagger 2g
Longbow 75g
40 arrows, probably made by an elf 2g
Light Wooden Shield 3g
Healers kit 50g
Spell Component Pouch 5g
Belt Pouch 1g
Hemp Shoulder Bag (backpack equivelant) 2g
Wand of Lesser Vigor (SpC) CL 1. 750g
Pearl of Power, level 1. 1000g
Masterwork Artisans Tools (Herbalist; mortar and pestle, pruning knife, etc) 55g
optional:
Extended goodberries with a couple of days remaining.
Devilweed, 10 uses, 60g BoVD p43
Baccaran, 3 uses, 30g BoVD p43
384 gold remaining.
Lemme know if you wold like clarification on anything, require some changes or whatever
