Emerald Enclave

The Emerald Enclave was an organization of druids and other nature worshipers based out of the island of Ilighôn off the coast of the Vilhon Reach. They were referred to by many names, including Caretakers, Nature's Chosen, the Circle, and the Chosen of Silvanus. Despite the power of the Vilhonese nations, as of the 14th century DR they did nothing involving the land and nature without the approval of the Enclave.

Beliefs

According to the Elder Circle, the Greatest Tenets Number Three included:

• The order of nature must be preserved in all its iterations.

• Any force that would disrupt that order had to be defeated.

• The Enclave would always provide aid to anyone left fatigued or suffering injury.

Organization

The Emerald Enclave is renowned for its benevolent deeds as much as it is feared for swift actions against those responsible for crimes against nature. Despite its reputation, the Emerald Enclave is not an exclusively druidic organization. Its membership also extends to bards and other beings who venerated nature and neutrality. No member of the Enclave could follow paths of good or evil, but apart from that narrow path between light and darkness, the Emerald Enclave imposed little restrictions.

Ranks

The Enclave has the following ranks from lowest to highest:

• Springwarden (1 Renown) - This is the rank a character receives when first joining the Emerald Enclave. This includes low-level adventurers, informants, and mundane protectors of the wilds and environmentalists. They often receive the insignia for the Emerald Enclave upon attaining this rank which is a copper cloak clasp in the shape of a leaf and accented with green enamel.

• Summerstrider (3 Renown) - Summerstriders have shown that they are aligned with the Enclave's goals, and can take on more responsibility and be trusted to work with discretion. The Emerald Enclave offers training in Herbalism kit, Woodcarver’s tools, or Cartographer's tools to members of this rank to help them be more useful to the faction, or apprentice under a higher-ranking adventurer who can serve as a mentor.

• Autumnreaver (10 Renown) - Autumnreavers are reliable faction agents, level 5 at the absolute lowest, entrusted with many secrets and deserving of additional support during adventures, and can even start recruiting other members or giving quests to low-level adventurers. The Emerald Enclave may be able to get an Autumnraver a +1 weapon or +1 shield, or cloak of the manta ray or even +1 armor, or ring of animal influence

• Winterstalker (25 Renown) - Winterstalkers are trusted voices within the Emerald Enclave. They are looked up as champions of the Enclave, their words carry weight and they must be wise enough to set a good example for their faction. They would be level 11 at the lowest and can become mentors to scouts or druids, and serve as ambassadors of the will of the wilds to major civilizations to help guide them to not over log, or over fish, or let greed and their need to grow anger or destroy nature.

• Master of the Wild (50 Renown) Masters of the Wild must be at least level 17 and are deeply ensconced within the leadership of the Enclave and have a great degree of influence, guiding faction decisions and can even open all-new chapters, and inspire new younger members.

Dogma

The majority of members venerate Eldath, the Goddess of Singing Waters; Mielikki, Lady of the Forest; or Silvanus, the Treefather.

Tactics

The Emerald Enclave has a well-established pattern of action when dealing with those violating nature. Firstly, the Enclave issues a simple warning to those deemed guilty. If the warning is ignored, the Emerald Enclave acted swiftly and decisively, stopping the wrongdoers by any means.

Base of Operations

Based out of the isle of Ilighôn, the Emerald Enclave's heart is the House of Silvanus, or Oakenhall, built atop the mountain range at the center of the island. The island itself is guarded by a circular reef called Eldath's Ring and the waterways around by Emerald Enclave's allies from the Elemental Plane of Water. The Emerald Enclave has expanded its scope beyond the Vilhon Reach to the rest of Faerûn. To protect forests that would surely eventually face danger from encroaching civilization, it formed splinter cells in such woods as High Forest, Cormanthor, the Wealdath, and the Great Dale. Despite the cells' humble sizes, they remained vigilant, keeping watch for foes such as the Church of Talos and the People of the Black Blood.

Possessions

Members of the Emerald Enclave do not wear uniforms; instead, each individual is adorned with an article of clothing or jewelry that is green in color. Most commonly, it is a green pendant or a pair of emerald earrings. Druids of high standing could be discerned by their eyes that turned a bright green color and shimmered with Silvanus's holy symbol.

Relationships

The Emerald Enclave is at odds with the Red Wizards of Thay for many, many years and with mages of the Zhentarim, as well as other wizards, in fears of the spellcasters abusing the Art and unleashing a disaster similar to the Rotting Wars. The Enclave also opposes the Church of Bane, Church of Talos, and Church of Malar, as well as the Malarite cult known as the People of the Black Blood.