Emerald Enclave

The Emerald Enclave is a far-ranging group that opposes threats to the natural world and helps others survive the many perils of the wild. A Ranger might be hired to lead a caravan through a treacherous mountain pass or the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale. A Druid might volunteer to help a small village prepare for a long, brutal winter. Barbarians and witches who live like hermits most of the year might defend a town against marauding orcs or barbarians. Members of the Emerald Enclave know how to survive, and more importantly, they want to help others do the same. They are not opposed to civilization or progress, but they strive to prevent civilization and the wilderness from destroying one another.
Members of the Emerald Enclave are spread far and wide, and usually operate in isolation. They learn to depend on themselves more than others. Survival in a harsh world also demands great fortitude and mastery of certain fighting and survival skills. Members of the Enclave who dedicate themselves to helping others survive the perils of the wilderness are more social than others who are charged with defending sacred glades and preserving the natural balance.

Beliefs

• The natural order must be respected and preserved.
• Forces that seek to upset the natural balance must be destroyed.
• The wilderness can be harsh. Not everyone can survive in it without assistance.

Structure

The Emerald Enclave was renowned for its benevolent deeds as much as it was feared for swift actions against those responsible for crimes against nature. Politicians and drunks gossiped regularly, discussing the Emerald Enclave's actions, eventually leading to exaggerated recounts of true events and an almost-mythical reputation in the Reach. The Enclave's vindictive ways were Common cautionary tales in the areas of The Vilhon Reach bordering forests.
Despite its reputation, the Emerald Enclave was not an exclusively druidic organization. Its membership also extended 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 had the following ranks from lowest to highest: Springwarden, Summerstrider, Autumnreaver, Winterstalker, and Master of the Wild.

Hierarchy

The Enclave arranged into seven 'circles', which each had different duties and a different place in the hierarchy. Each member of the organization belonged to a single circle and could move between them with experience and by reaching certain prominence within the order.
These circles began with the Circle of Initiates, aptly named for including new members of the Enclave.
The Circle of Earth, the second circle of prominence, welcomed members of the Circle of Initiates as they ranked up.
The third in the hierarchy was the Circle of Air, which usually had its members join after learning the ability to take on a wild shape. Non-druids were promoted to the Circle of Air after performing outstanding service for the Enclave. From the Circle of Air, members of the organization could move to one of three groups: Eldath's Circle, the Circle of Alluvium, and The Planar Circle.
Eldath's Circle did not necessarily mean worshiping the goddess of calm waters, but all of its members took on the role of sailing and protecting the waterways of Toril. They searched for information beneficial to the Emerald Enclave in the process.
The Planar Circle was the group of individuals whose calling laid beyond the Prime Material plane—the most respected of all roles within the organization, many of whom perished in the planes or elected never to return to Toril, but continued to send information from the planes to the Emerald Enclave.
Lastly, the members of the Circle of Alluvium were travelers. They crossed the entirety of Faerûn, while some stuck to traversing the Vilhon Reach. The circle's members served as scouts and spies, keeping tabs on kingdoms, organizations, and politics that could interfere with the natural balance.
The Elder Circle, or the Elder Circle of Three, was the governing body of the Emerald Enclave and the highest circle one could be promoted to. The circle consisted of only three members at one time. Members of the Circle of Three were the most powerful druids or religious leaders, and with such fame came pilgrims searching for the Elder Circle's wise advice and those seeking to end the Emerald Enclave, starting with its leaders.

Culture

Initiation

Initiates were required to serve neither good nor evil, nor to serve any other organization (apart from the churches of Eldath, Mielikki, or Silvanus), to be innocent of crimes against nature, and to have performed at least one significant deed that benefited nature in the Vilhon Reach. The rites of initiation were held each full moon at the Oakenhall, which was the House of Silvanus at the heart of Ilighôn

Public Agenda

To restore and preserve the natural order, keep the elemental forces of the world in check, keep civilization and the wilderness from destroying one another, and help others survive the perils of the wilderness.

Assets

Members of the Emerald Enclave did not wear uniforms; instead, each individual was adorned with an article of clothing or jewelry that was green in color. Most commonly, it was 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's holy symbol.

The natural order must be respected and preserved.

Founding Date

374 DR

Alternative Names

Caretakers, Nature's Chosen, Circle, Chosen of Silvanus

Deities

• Eldath
• Mielikki
• Silvanus

Notable Members

• Delaan Winterhound
• Reidoth