Duane "Dudley" Rawr
Silkas Guardian, 4th Hovah Duane Clyde Rawr (a.k.a. Dudley)
The Pre-dawn hour held it's breath in anticipation of the rising sun. 48 silkas monks assembled around the holy tree, Anathaes, just enough to reach around the massive circumference of this ancient tree. Deep inside Maela Bog, the holy tree was a living monument to the people and Aiwei Treesinger, the God of balance and life. All around them buzzed multitudes of butterflies and honeybees, unseen in the growing light, but ever-present.
Standing in the middle of the assembled monks stood three solemn figures. One in simple grey vestment with a bold red and blue Stoll of denoting the rank the Arch-Druid, leader of the Silkas Sect, Antonius Sathe. A bright red fox in his later years, only the tips of his acute ears starting to show signs of greying.
Standing next to The Honorable Mr. Saethe stood a second figure draped in cloth from head to toe, only his long full tail swishing from side to side in nervous movement gave away he was a big cat of some sort.
Next to the shrouded cat stood the Honorable Mr. Jerle Whipples, an otter with the longest white whiskers draped in his off-white robe and a Stoll denoting his rank of 3rd Hovah, Overseer of the Holy Hanto Monastery, where this ceremony began. Jerle always carried a walking stick with a curious and lustrous red stone embedded in the top. The stick end set in the damp boggy soil they stood on.
The light crept across the eastern sky as the sun threatened to crack the horizon. Antonius Sathe nodded to Jerle to begin the ritual.
Jerle nodded back and took his place on the small bit of chalk white stone not submerged in the boggy marsh and raised his hands in the air, holding his long stick in the air. "Aiwei Treesinger, as the dawn approaches, the most sacred moment of the day, we look for your blessing in the ordination of a new Shaman." The monks in the circle began to chant in a deep and haunting moving volume. Some say it's a series of four songs interwoven together in perfection, like a puzzle coming together in the wind. It was said to named 'A Call to Aiwei.' It was sung on special occassions like this; with the hope of calling him forward to bless and protect their new Shaman.
Jerle turn towards the great tree, his arms outstretched his walking stick high in the air, he began to sing the seventh part of the chant, his body moving back and forth he used his free hand to take the cover cloth over the Big Cats head and the song ascended to almost a fury. In the background, a new tone could be heard in the background a high-pitched wail from nobody in the circle.
The sun crested the horizon with a blinding flash looking like a orange and yellow egg yolk rising from behind the horizon. At that moment, Jerle removed the head cover over the big cat. He was a Mountain Lion, firmly built and muscular with the most curious head of hair for cougar. His tawny hair hung and long dreads all the way to his shoulder inlaid with different colored of beads and clips. He had the most piercing of blue eyes and he closed them for second to focus on the blinding light in his face, his muzzle full of large daggerlike teeth, but he didn't try to block the light with his hands, on the contrary he stood there in the light staring towards the sun with eyes squinted.
"Dudley Duane Rawr, Aiwei Treesinginger calls you into the inner circle of his order."
Dudley didn't respond, continuing to squint off towards the rising sun. The pause got longer and longer as everyone waited for his response with anticipation, there wasn't a noise in the bog, save the buzzing of the insects surrounding the ceremony. It wasn't until Jerle unceremoniously kicked him in the shin when he woke up from his trance.
"Ow!" Dudley thought to rub his leg, but the glare he received from Jerle blushed his cheeks and he said, "Oh yeah, sorry." He stood straight, stared back towards the sun and said, "I accept Aiwei's call to be a shaman amongst the Silkas and hope for his blessing." Dudley smiled sheepishly and Jerle just shook his head.
"We, followers of the sacred tree and of the balance of Aiwei's calling do bless you and promote you from the sixth Circle to the fourth circle. You are a guardian of our ways and a follower of the path." A two step jump in the sect was a rare honor, but Dudley had the tools needed for the task set before the Silkas and time was of the essence.
The chant continued in the background, at a lower volume. But the edges of the circle, small creatures came to take part of the ritual. These creatures were shaped like like vegetation or inanimate objects such as rocks, but they were not. Small mushrooms with arms and limbs and faces. Blades of grass that could move on their own, trees and bushes great and small and circled around the monks, moving all on their own. The monks however did not fear, these creatures were as much a part of the planet as everyday creatures, there was no need to fear. These were the fae'ré, present everywhere and nowhere, they prefer to hide in plain sight from the vast majority of the planet's other primitive inhabitants, but have found a welcoming place in the this organization.
The inlaid jewel in Jerle's walking stick began to glow with a deep blood red color. Jerle looked back to the Arch-Druid with a look of wonder and amazement, this never happened before. He looked forward and said, "We are your servants, what is your bidding?"
Antonius Saethe stepped forward from the Sacred tree and looked around, was this a sign from Aiwei himself? He took the glowing stick from Jerle and Planted it in the ground. The wind howled, knocking everyone down other than the three in the middle of the circle, nevertheless the assembled audience did not stop their chants, that would be an outrage.
A booming crash could be heard from far back deep in the forest. Every footstep felt like an earthquake from many meters away, but the chanting continued. Dudley looked around in wonderment. He'd been to dozens of these ceremonies in the past, they usually ended without anything like this. Jerle pronounces the promotion and the vests the sacred Stoll on the newly appointed with the anticipation of breakfast waiting back at the monastery. Breakfast was the true highlight of the morning, well usually. Was Aiwei himself going to show up?
I tree the size of a four storey building crashed its way through the willow brush in the deeper parts of the bog surrounding the holy tree. It made it's way to stand before Anathaes and the assemebly. Fist bowing to the holy tree. This ancient oak stared down at the Arch-druid and boomed in a voice that sounded like wind from a hurricane, "I have been sent by the King of the Fae."
All the fae creatures in the camp began a new chant in their language. The multitudes of the bog congregated around the great trees so they were beyond number. The song deafened anyone not prepared for it as the multitudes made their voices heard. The dazed monks, who knew the song as well, though a bit rusty from misuse chimed in. The trio in the middle joined in as well. The fae song simple and powerful, "Aiwei, bless us in your light." Every creature assembled knelt in adoration of the holy tree, Anathaes. Once touched by Aiwei himself tens of milennia ago.
The summoned tree also bowed in reverence, it's word boomed out, "Go back to the monastery, the Riitha’Qael will be waiting for you with her needs and instructions. She will only speak to Dudley until she returns again." With that, the tree froze in place. All the fae creatures in the valley stopped singing and drifted away from the scene in every direction, most heading towards the monastery like a wave of creatures
Dudley stood in shock. "Who is or are the Riitha’Qael?" his eyes wide in fear and awe he looked to Jerle.
Jerle dusted himself off and looked around the grove. He circled around and noticed 3 other great oaks in the same prostration as the current one now stood. "Damned if Merle wasn't right. I owe him lunch."
Antonius Saethe got up and brushed his hands through his red flaxen head hair, straightening it. "Well now, that was something I've never experienced. I've read about it, but never seen it." He looked at the other two then the assembled monks, "Come we've been summoned."
Dudley's eyes grew wilder as he watched everyone begin to leave the scene as if they saw an interesting play at the theatre and not an amazing force of nature play out, "Why are you all so calm. What the hell is going on?"
Jerle took him by the collar and straightened out the big cat's robes. "You'll be fine. Let me look at you." He took out the Vestment Stoll of Guardian Shaman of the 4th Hovah and placed it over Dudley's head reverently with a smile. "Usually nothing happens at these events other than breakfast..." Echoing Dudley's inner comments. "Sometimes however," He chuckled as he looked the big guy over, "You get a reminder that Aiwei is alive, be he a God or a celestial creature."
Dudley's wide eyes remained wide and searching, "What was all that about Jerle, who am I meeting with? And why me specifically?"
"Jerle patted him on the shoulder, "it's a great honor my young Shaman, you about to meet Rhoneth Bellevant. Be on your best behavior, she is short and sweet and not much for small talk."
"Who?" Dudley's arms pleaded for answers.
"She's not from around here, the first of many you'll meet." He chuckled as he waved Dudley towards the waiting boat. "C'mon Dudders, its your time in the grinder."
Throwing up his hands, he followed as he was dirrected.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Dudley's most distinguished feature is his moppy dreaded mess of hair on his head and his emeral green eyes. He is a shaman. He takes the form of his ancient ancestors.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Complicated
Education
He has two Sumni rings, like most folks. ALso, he has decades long training as a Silkas agent.
Employment
His cover job is as janitor at the local hospital.
Dudley is a Silkas Guardian is one who has put put through rigorous training on how to effectively guard a person, a holy site, or any other strange object or thing that The Silkas organization wants to protect. He has some fae training. Duane Dudley Rawr can hide in plain sight. He's been shown how and he always wears his Aglièr necklas that gives him the power.
This is a very rare gift, only those of the fourth Hovah or above is gifted with such a responsibility. There are a total of nine Hovah in the Silkas religion. Because of who she is Chickee Jones is a member of the eighth Circle. Her grandmother on the other hand is so trusted by the Silkas she is granted fifth level, the highest level a non-monk can attain.
Accomplishments & Achievements
He has been earned the title of Guardian in the Silkas Druidic Council. His family always served the Silkas for over 10 generations, probably more. His father was a monk of the 5th circle as was his father before him. Dudley has eclipsed them all by obtaining a 4th level appointment, a difficult accomplishment. He is trusted with knowledge from the inner circles and is a full druid, not a monk.
Failures & Embarrassments
Dudley comes off as a witless character, he kinda is witless in his own strange way. He is tied to the land, the forests, and his ancestors and forgets to go to work at the Hospital. He forgets to wear clothes, even in the deeps of winter. He wants to run as his forefathers did. His friends make sure to have a set of clothes ready for him if he should ever need them.
He is not the best compass and gets lost in the deep bush. Timmy and Tommy Wharton, his apprentices, know where to go at a moments command.
Intellectual Characteristics
Dudley is clever and resourceful and knows how to live in the deep forests for long periods of time. He loves being one with his ancestors and walking their steps. He is an underestimated stalker and can hide in the slightest cover.
Morality & Philosophy
His philosophy is The Strings or The Path. He follows the teachings and lore of Aiwei Stormbringer, King of the Fae. There is not much grey area in his philosphies. He expands on Aiwei's teachings and has a deep philosophical bent of his own that's profound. He rarely shares his view, but will chastize offenders and share his beliefs with trusted friends.
Taboos
In the Fae tradition, he does not touch iron. A curiosity for some people, but most chalk it up to Dudley's various eccentricities.
Social
Contacts & Relations
As a Silkas monk, Dudley is tied to the land. His philosophical beliefs been in that direction all the time, to the point of annoyance. But out in the wilds in the Bush he is in his element. Dudley knows every tree branch and path and the 10 mile radius. He has become great friends with spiders and can talk to butterflies, but they avoid him. It is amusing to watch him chase after them.
Dudley can see the Fay and they can see him. He cannot go into their shard, but he has learned how to hide like them. He works for Jerle and Rhoneth though that also is a secret.
Relationships
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Current Status
Silkas full Druid, 4th Hovah
Species
Ethnicity
Church/Cult
Organization
Age
28
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Sharp blue eyes
Hair
Tawny beige, his head hair is long giving him a hippy appearance.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tawny fur
Height
1.7 m
Weight
205lbs or 102kg
Belief/Deity
The Creator, Aiwei Treesinger
Aligned Organization
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