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The Hrorein Grove

The Hrorein Grove was a druid circle that inhabited the massive primordial forest of the High Wilds. While considered a druid circle first and foremost, the Hrorein were also a tribe of Firbolgs that consisted of dozens of clans and families that worked together.   Not much is known about the Hrorein, as they dwelled in the deepest regions of the High Wilds and were nigh inaccessible to much of the Realm. What is known, however, is that they were superlative healers whose restorative arts were the stuff of legend. They were also known to be devout worshippers of Silvanus, the God of Wild Nature, thought to be his chosen people.   Contact with the Hrorein has all but ceased, and it is believed that some catastrophe decimated their numbers. The surviving Hrorein are few in number and have become isolationist.   The Hrorein are an egalitarian commune who are overseen by two distinct leaders: the Sower of Seeds and the Mender of Woods.

The Sower is a community leader who oversees daily tasks such as gathering, construction, defense, and general labor. The Sower of Seeds is traditionally chosen during their youth by the acting Sower, who takes them on as an apprentice. If there is no acceptable candidate, or if the acting Sower is unable to select an apprentice, the elders of the Hrorein usually assign one themselves.

 The Mender is the spiritual leader of the Hrorein, and because of the circle's devout worship of Silvanus, is traditionally seen as the chieftain. The Mender oversees all religious and cultural events and gatherings, as well as leading the Hrorein in their sacred rites. According to Hrorein belief, the Mender is the only living druid who has complete knowledge of the specific rites and rituals assigned to the circle by Silvanus. A Mender of Woods does not choose their successor while acting as Mender. Instead, according to Hrorein belief, only upon their death does a Mender select the next Mender. It is said that the spirits of all previous Menders confer with one another and present themselves to the living nominee, thus signifying they are chosen as Mender of Woods. 

 

Recontact

  The Order of the Argent alongside the Men of the Wood encountered the Hrorein Remnant during their exploration of the The High Wilds in Greenmarch of 2021. Though on the brink of collapse, the Hrorein survived the disaster that wracked their community nearly a decade ago. They persisted under the guidance of their chieftain Boru, Mender of Woods, a capable druid who was able to summon and bind forest spirits to assist the Hrorein in their daily tasks and rituals. However, the Hrorein's numbers continued to dwindle and the constant need to summon more spirits proved too taxing on the Mender, and a malevolent spirit was able to enter into the material plane.    Eventually this malevolent spirit known as a Leshen was defeated by the Order of the Argent.   Currently, the Hrorein still do not possess the numbers necessary to maintain the sacred rites assigned to them by Silvanus. According to Boru, should they fail to uphold this task there will be dire consequences not just for the High Wilds, but for the Realm and perhaps the World.

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