Ivo Haggard

Born in the year 564, Ivo is the son of two villagers of Starry Woad who ended up together after a boozy night and an unintended pregnancy. They ended up being a rather surprisingly good pairing, in the sense that they were both drunks and relentlessly power hungry. Early days, they neglected Ivo as much as possible, leaving him plenty of time by himself.

As a young child, Ivo would often wander into the depths of the mystical Starry Woad forest, captivated by its ancient allure. The trees whispered secrets to him, and the wildlife seemed to respond to his presence. It was during one of these solitary adventures that he stumbled upon an enigmatic grove hidden deep within the woods.

Within the grove, Ivo encountered a nature spirit, wise and weathered by time. The spirit sensed the spark of magic within the young boy and they would spend time playing in the grove.

Ivo's unique connection with the natural world caught the eye in many throughout Starry Woad. His parents, recognising the opportunity for power and influence, seized upon the idea of grooming Ivo to become the village's future Druid. They saw him as their ticket to ascend the social ladder and attain a position of prominence within the community.

From a young age, Ivo's parents orchestrated his life, molding him into the image of the future Druid they desired. They hired scribes to transcribe ancient druidic texts, hoping to pass off their own limited knowledge as profound wisdom. Ivo was subjected to rigorous training, memorizing rituals, and incantations, albeit with distorted interpretations. Throught his training, Ivo seemingly stopped seeing th magic of the forest. He also forgot where to find the grove where he used to play with the animals and nature spirit when he was a small child.

In their desperate quest for status, Ivo's parents exploited his innocence, parading him around the village as "our little future Druid." They compelled him to run errands for the village's current Druid, hoping to ingratiate him with their chosen mentor. Despite the confusion and misguidance, Ivo's unwavering sense of duty to his community grew stronger with each passing day.

However, the weight of their expectations took a toll on Ivo. He yearned for a genuine connection with nature, rather than the superficial performances he was forced to enact. In secret, he continued to explore the Starry Woad forest, seeking solace and searching for the true essence of druidcraft.

When Ivo was twelve years old, his parents fell victim to a mysterious illness that swept through the village, leaving devastation in its wake. Alone and orphaned, Ivo found himself adrift, his parents' manipulative schemes now rendered meaningless. The current Druid, witnessing Ivo's plight, took him in as a junior apprentice, not out of obligation but genuine concern.

With the passing of his parents, Ivo's true journey as a Druid began. The Druid, recognizing the potential buried beneath the layers of misguided teachings, slowly guided Ivo onto the path of authenticity and enlightenment. Together, they stripped away the falsehoods and unveiled the profound wisdom hidden within the teachings of druidcraft.

Through his arduous training and the wisdom imparted by his new mentor, Ivo began to understand the interconnectedness of all living things. He rediscovered his innate connection with nature, embracing his role as a guardian of the land and a protector of its creatures.