Nana Tulla

Original Chararacter by fall0410., adapted by Jordan Beasley

Nana Tulla, a Human Druid of significant age and wisdom, occupies a unique position within the magical ecosystem of the Sapphire Weald. Known for her gruff demeanor and practical approach to life, she is both a nurturer and a protector of the forest's delicate balance. Her relationship with the Weald is one of deep symbiosis, characterized by a profound understanding of the natural world and the arcane energies that pervade the region. Yet, unlike the treants and other native creatures, Tulla’s connection to the Weald is not inherent but earned through decades of dedication to its preservation and study.
Born in the lowlands beyond the Onyx Peaks, Tulla was drawn to the Sapphire Weald in her youth by the potent magical forces that emanated from its depths. Her early life was spent learning the craft of Druidry from nomadic elders, but it was in the Weald that she honed her abilities, adopting a custodial role similar to that of the treants, though her methods were distinctly human. Whereas the Weald’s native guardians relied on arcane symbiosis to maintain balance, Tulla employed knowledge, observation, and discipline to achieve the same ends.
Her relationship with the Weald’s other inhabitants, particularly the treants such as Cleverbeard, has been one of mutual respect. Though not a native to the Weald, Tulla’s long presence and her efforts to protect the forest have earned her the trust of its most ancient denizens. Her role, however, is not purely one of defense; she has taken it upon herself to study the magical energies of the Weald, seeking to understand how they influence both the flora and fauna. Over Time, her efforts have allowed her to Weave a deep, personal Magic drawn from the Weald itself, augmenting her natural Druidic abilities.
Tulla’s personality is defined by a sharp wit and a distinctly crotchety temperament. She has little patience for what she deems unnecessary conversation or frivolity and prefers action over deliberation. This brusque attitude has made her a somewhat isolated figure among other Druids and magical practitioners, but it has also rendered her a formidable presence within the Weald. She holds to a practical, no-nonsense view of nature—life is harsh, magic can be unpredictable, and survival is not guaranteed.
This sternness extends to her interactions with Hazelnut, the Tiefling child she discovered abandoned at the edge of the Weald. Finding the infant wrapped in a tattered banner and clutching a small music box, Tulla took the child in, naming her Hazelnut after the tree depicted on the banner. While her outward demeanor toward Hazelnut may appear gruff, Tulla has served as a nurturing figure, teaching her the ways of the forest, survival, and Druidry. She imparts lessons through experience rather than comfort, pushing Hazelnut to learn from the land and to respect its power. Despite this toughness, it is clear that Tulla cares deeply for Hazelnut, although she expresses this care through her actions rather than words.
Tulla’s philosophy is firmly rooted in pragmatism. She believes in the self-sufficiency of the natural world, which she interprets as a reflection of how beings should also learn to fend for themselves. This belief is evident in the way she raised Hazelnut, ensuring that the young Tiefling would grow into a capable and independent individual. Tulla’s view of the world outside the Weald is colored by distrust, particularly toward the Tatharians, whom she has seen encroaching on the forest in their mining and exploration efforts. Though she has never openly confronted them, she has always warned Hazelnut to steer clear of these outsiders, perceiving their presence as a potential threat to the Weald’s balance.
In her old age, Tulla has grown increasingly protective of the Sapphire Weald, sensing the growing instability in the arcane energies that flow through it. While she still maintains her role as a guardian, there is an underlying tension to her actions—an awareness that the balance she has worked so long to maintain is fragile. Her care for Hazelnut, though sometimes cloaked in sharp words and impatience, also reflects her understanding that the younger generation will one day bear the responsibility of safeguarding the Weald.
Thus, Nana Tulla stands as a complex figure—an embodiment of the harsh, unyielding aspects of nature, but also a nurturer who understands the necessity of passing on her knowledge to the next generation. Her gruff exterior belies a deep commitment to the survival of both the Weald and those she cares for, a commitment that has guided her actions for decades and will continue to do so as long as she draws breath.

Physical Description

Special abilities

Nana Tulla, though a master of her druidic craft, approaches her abilities with a stark pragmatism befitting her crotchety nature. Her decades within the Sapphire Weald have given her an unparalleled knowledge of the natural and arcane forces that influence the land, but she views this expertise not as something to flaunt or elaborate upon, but as a practical necessity for survival. While others might see her as a sage of the wilderness, Tulla herself would scoff at the title, preferring to think of herself as the Weald’s caretaker—someone who fixes problems as they arise, no more, no less.
Her ability to predict both natural and magical weather stems from a lifetime of paying attention to the signs nature offers, rather than from any grand communion with arcane forces. She notices the way the wind shifts, how the leaves of the Sapphire Sentinels tremble in certain ways before a storm, or how the animals behave before an arcane event like the Weeping Aurora. Tulla doesn’t need ancient texts or lofty druidic rituals to understand what’s coming; she simply listens to the land, her senses attuned to its smallest changes.
Tulla’s understanding of magical weather phenomena, like the Weeping Aurora or the Mythek Vortex, is similarly grounded in practicality. She doesn’t ponder the mechanics of the Ley Lines unless they pose an immediate threat. Her knowledge of the Weald’s magical rhythms is enough to detect dangerous fluctuations, and she has learned, through trial and error, how to prepare for these events. She may not be able to stop the Mythek Vortex, but she’ll know when it’s coming and how to make sure no one’s caught in its path.
As for documentation, Tulla isn’t one to write for writing’s sake. Over the years, she’s jotted down terse, functional notes—more for her own reference than to impress future generations. Her scrolls and journals, if anyone were to stumble across them, would read like field notes: “Luminoths acting odd, bad storm in three days,” or “Sentinels humming louder than usual, could be another Aurora.” Tulla documents what she needs to remember, and little more.
When it comes to intervening in the forces she predicts, Tulla is even more practical. She’ll use her control over plant life to shore up the Weald’s defenses if necessary, but she doesn’t waste energy on unnecessary actions. To her, the balance of Magic and nature is something to be maintained, not micromanaged. She’ll do what’s needed to keep the Weald—and herself—safe, and nothing more.

Table of Contents

Alignment

Neutral Good

Species

Human

Professions

• Druid

Year of Birth

1428 PE 102 Years old

Birthplace

Ebonora

Aligned Organization

Order of the Branch and Bramble