Greensingers

"It is a shame to think that many will never appreciate the beauty of the fey."

The Greensingers are devoted to the fey, and serve as mediators between the fey and mortals. While a citizen of Sharn could go a lifetime without ever seeing a fey, the Greensingers interact with the Thelanis inhabitants as often as any other being. Since the fey and the Greensingers tend to keep their affairs private, very little is known about the group and their endeavors.

History

No one knows when the first fey emerged from the manifest zone into the Material Plane, nor where the manifest zone may be. It is known to be within the Eldeen Reaches, but narrowing it down to a wild forest the size of a nation is ineffectual.
What is known - mostly through the medium of folklore - is that many thousands of years ago, a legendary fey wizard by the name of Odhran Conn devised a way to pull open the curtain that was the divide between Thelanis and the Material Plane. He arrived in the manifest zone, a place where the barrier between two planes are weak. The manifest zone for Thelanis is located somewhere in the Eldeen Reaches, so when the fey emerged into our plane, they were delighted to find the Material Plane decorated in the wonders of nature, similar to theirs.
The fey began to explore, and it was not long before they met the guardians of the Towering Wood, the Ashbound. No one, perhaps save Great Druid Oalian, knows what occurred in the first interaction between the fey and the Ashbound. Whatever transpired was resolved amicably, as a branch broke off from the Ashbound to form the Greensingers, mediators between fey and mortals.

Structure

The Greensingers are comprised of a ranking system that is unusually rigid for a druidic circle. Yet, to them, it is entirely necessary to maintain a peaceful relationship with the fey. The highest rank is the Orator. This title belongs to the wisest and most learned among the Greensingers, as they interact directly with the fey. The next rank is the Kinemen, which is the most common rank of a Greensinger. Kinemen have trained under an Orator for at least three years, and may occasionally be tasked with interacting with the fey.
The last rank are the Equerries, who are apprentice druids who hope to one day number among the orators. An Equerry may be charged with assisting an Orator in his travels, or merely fetching a goodberry wine. New recruits to the druidic sect begin as an Equerry. However, the lowest rank does not mean unimportant; any member of the Greensingers will be quick to promote the importance of the Equerries.
There is another rank among the Greensingers, known as the Planerunners. However, it is unclear whether these fabled druids actually exist, or are merely a rumor. Legend has it that the Planerunners are those who cross the plane boundary into Thelanis, and possibly even other planes. If the Planerunners were to exist, then there would be few better sources to seek to learn about inter-planar travel- presuming the druid was willing to talk.

Culture

If one were to ask a member of another one of the druidic circles how they felt about the Greensingers, the most likely response would be one of distaste. Greensingers are often viewed as a smug group, with a tendency to border on elitism. Their relationship with the fey - mystical, otherworldly beings - seems to elevate their self-pride significantly.
While this snobbish view of the Feywatch certainly rings true with some members, it is a largely inaccurate depiction of the organization of the whole. Granted, they take pride in their work, but by no means think themselves above the other druids of the Eldeen Reaches and Shadow Marches.
Little is known about the quintessential operations between the Greensingers and their fey allies. To an outside observer, the druids may seem like simple inhabitants of the forest; engaging in natural rituals and meditating among groves of trees. But when the Material Plane and Thelanis become coterminous, activitites commence.
What is known is that the fey and the Greensingers thrive in the other's company because of their shared views of the world. Similar to the other druidic sects, nature is treasured above all. The plane of Thelanis is alleged to contain natural wonders unimaginable to those of the Material Plane. While other circles may endorse tearing civilization down, the Feywatch and their compatriots prefer elevating nature above civilization. And if some Greensingers have seen the impossibly beautiful landscapes of Thelanis, who can blame them?

Founding Date

Unknown

Type

Druidic Circle

Alternative Names

The Feywatch

Leader

Umecan Leoff

Symbol of the Greensingers

According to legend, hidden within the Greensinger crest is an incantation written in the language of the fey. When recited, a gateway to Thelanis will be opened. This incantation has yet to be discovered, but perhaps it is to be only known to the Greensingers, lest its power be abused for ill intent.