Druids

A druid is someone who channels the energy of arcane energy through the natural world, developing powerful primal magic that they use to protect and serve the wilds of Somara.

## About

Druids act as stewards of the natural world, protection or furthering the goals of nature and preventing them from coming to harm. The practice of druidism is spread through mentorship, there are no schools or guilds in Somara that train groups of druids. The use of druidic magic tends to connect one to the primal forces of creation; as a result, powerful druids experience drastically lengthened lifespans, and become bastions of wisdom and knowledge, revered as sages across Somara.

Druidism is an ancient, revered form of magic, connected tightly to Syvl, the God of Nature himself. As a result, druids are treated well in most places, and generally regarded as selfless and wise.

Druids are also well-known for their ability to "wild shape", or shape-shift into an animal form.

## Circles

Druids are organized into Circles, which are organizations dedicated a specific area of nature or a specific method of protecting it. Some Circles are actual organizations (like the Circle of Dreams), while others are merely collections of traditions and practices.

There are 9 recognized druidic circles in Somara:

* Circle of the Beast
	+ Circle of the Beast druids embrace their animalistic side, forsaking civilization and become bestial carnivores that revel in savagery. They are often more beast than man.
* Circle of Dreams
	+ Circle of Dreams druids are from the Feywild, tapping into the plane's idyllic, alien magic to traverse great distances in short amounts of time. They are closely tied to Raei, the God of Sleep.
* Circle of the Land
	+ Circle of the Land druids are the most common and most in tune with the natural world. The majority of the Circle of the Land is organized into the Stewards of Somara, a loose-knit network of druids that work with Syvl to safeguard Somara's wilds from threats they may face.
* Circle of the Moon
	+ Circle of the Moon druids are fierce guardians of the wild who are masters of wildshaping, able to shift into bestial forms more powerful than those of other druids. They tend to revere Voxia, the Goddess of the Moon, and convene under a full moon to discuss news and threats.
* Circle of the Shepherd
	+ Circle of the Shepherd druids frequently commune with the living creatures of nature, including both beasts and fey. They're generally a nomadic people, focusing on defending creatures that cannot defend themselves. Circle of the Shepherd druids are common in northern Maltou and in the more remote regions of Somara.
* Circle of Spores
	+ Circle of Spores druids find beauty in decay and rot, and see within fungi the ability to transform life into other forms. They see death and life as a grand cycle, with death not an end, but a beginning of a new life. Unlike most druids, they have no inherent problem with the undead, seeing it as merely a companion to this strange natural cycle. Circle of Spores druids are generally feared and shunned for their casual acceptance of death which can sometimes lead to pacifism.
* Circle of the Stars
	+ Circle of the Stars druids are astrologers, drawing on the power of starlight to augment their magical prowess. They constantly watch the skies and are vigilant for omens and secrets hidden away in the heavens. They form close-knit colonies in remote areas where they build repositories to store their collected knowledge.
* Circle of Twilight
	+ Circle of Twilight druids hate undead, seeing it as a violation of the natural cycle of life and death. They exercise power over the boundary between the two states, using it to drive their enemies towards the latter and preserve their allies by drawing upon the former.
* Circle of Wildfire
	+ Circle of Wildfire druids are obsessed with the necessity of destruction for advancement. Where most druids would see a forest fire as a tragic loss of life, Circle of Wildfire druids see it as a cleansing flood that promotes long term growth. They forge bonds with natural spirits that grant them access to powers of creation and destruction.