Hjadana

The Grand Druid of The Prismatic Circle, spiritual leader of the Thrull people, and the true power behind the government, Hjadana truly believes that their way of living is saving the world from a great menace. Thus she exhorts each chief to continue the war against any who stand against them. The Grand Druid dwells within a hollow hill, surrounded by a fortress composed of living oak trees. Within this sacred area, she can command air and earth elementals to aid her. Hjadana sees the Coldfire Crisis as a sign that the Great Wyrm is almost awake, and thus she commands all the clans to intensify their raids and sacrifices.
The Grand Druid of the Prismatic Circle for just over twenty years, Hjadana is the spiritual leader of all the Thrull clans, at least in theory. But where the people of the clans might sometimes flag in their obeisance to those dedicated to ensuring that the Great Prismatic Wyrm remains forever asleep, the close ties between Hjadana and Clan Völgr ensure that the folk of Thrull at least fear the Prismatic Circle. For Hjadana, that is enough.

The Peril of the Past.

The reappearance of coldfire in the northlands fifty years ago catalyzed the fervor of the Prismatic Circle, who for fifty years had preached the awakening of Gormadraug was nigh unless Valikans took action. According to the druid Kybard who founded the circle, blood and sacrifice were the price that must be paid to keep Gormadraug quiescent, so that the folk of the north would need to embrace the old ways of battle, fury, and sacrifice forevermore.
When coldfire came back to the northlands, the druids of the Prismatic Circle saw it as a sign that the Great Prismatic Wyrm was beginning to wake, and the southland raids for which blood is both cost and reward intensified. The dread blood sacrifices that are the dark cornerstone of the circle’s faith take the lives of dozens of criminals and thralls each year, along with animal sacrifice that slakes the ritual sites known as the Sentinel Woods with blood.

Controlling the Clans.

The Prismatic Circle has never held true political power in Thrull and stands outside the tripartite clan structure that defines authority in western Valika. But since the clan leaders of old pledged the folk of Rune, Sýr, and Völgr to the teachings of Kybard, the druids of the circle have been the de facto power behind the chiefs. Thrull is effectively a theocracy in the eyes of Kandar and the lands of the south, with Hjadana seemingly uniting all Thrull under a single vision of battle and sacrifice. But the single-minded focus on reaving that has granted Clan Völgr a special place in the circle’s favor has been slowly chipping away at the clan unity Hjadana desires.
The grand druid’s closeness to Chief Nolgr Magnusson of Clan Völgr, and the Prismatic Circle’s presence in the Völgr clan seat of Tyburn, ensures that the bonds between the druids and that clan’s warriors and raiders remains strong. But rumors suggest that the Prismatic Circle has spies in the closest circles of advisers around Clan Rune chief Ordun and Clan Sýr chief Brokyr Bladesinger, monitoring the aspirations of those leaders and their adherence to the tenets of the druids’ grim faith. Ordun in particular has developed a reputation for demonstrating just enough fealty to the Prismatic Circle to avoid the appearance of insubordination, even as he nurtures a sense of independence among his clanfolk. It is thought by many that if Ordun were to relinquish his position—by choice or otherwise— Hjadana would be quick to place herself in a position to help choose his successor, with the backing of Clan Völgr’s warriors if necessary.

A Mother’s Guidance.

Hjadana has five children, all bearing their mother’s ice-blue eyes, petite frame, oakbrown hair, and pale countenance. The identities of their fathers have never been announced or claimed, though many speculate that Clan Völgr chief Nolgr Magnusson is among them. The oldest of the children is Lessa, who at sixteen is their mother’s chief acolyte and second-in-command within the Hollow Hill that is the sanctum of the Prismatic Circle druids. The younger children are likewise acolytes of the circle, but have received dedicated training in the combat, metal craft, and magic that are the hallmarks of the three clans. Hjadana has often spoken of how her children’s upbringing represents the deference and respect she feels for the ways of all three clans. But many of those who know her ambition and her hunger for unity quietly wonder whether the Grand Druid has plans to one day see the Prismatic Circle, Clan Rune, Clan Sýr, and Clan Völgr all brought under her indirect control, whether her children are placed in the clans as key advisers or installed as chiefs in their own right