Page 129 - D&D - Player's Handbook

Dancing Place in the high valleys of the Thunder Peaks, THE HA RP ERS AN D DRUIDS
alongside their fey allies. The Watchers of S evreld meet Druid circles in the North are often allied with the Harpers,
in Old Mushroom Grove in the High Forest, northeast as they have common purpose, with bards and rangers
.of Secomber, and the Starwater Circle gathers around serving as go-betweens. Individual Harpers can usually ex-
their namesake pool in the northern forest of Mir. pect a circle to at least grant them food and shelter, and an
opportunity to attend a gathering and speak, if they wish.
THE CIRCLE OF SWORDS Still, the Harpers aren 't a druidic organization and,
despite what some common folk might believe, not every
Protectors of the Neverwinter Wood, the Circle of druid or dru id circle is allied with, or even friendly toward,
Swords drives destructive humanoids like hobgoblins, the Harpers and their cause. Indeed, some druids consider
bugbears, and their kin from the wood, while also safe- the Harpers busybodies who threaten the natural balance
guarding it against exploitation at the hands of civilized almost as much as the evils that they fight against.
folk and protecting the wood's ancient ruins and sacred
sites from looters. Moonwell water placed in a container or taken more
In the Druid Circle class feature in the Player's Hand- than 30 feet away from the well no longer has any of
book, the Circle of the Moon is common for Circle of these properties; it is simply water.
Swords druids, although some belong to the Circle of On the three nights of the full moon, three or more
the Land (Forest). druids gathered around a moonwell can cast commune
and scrying once each without expending spell slots and
THE EMERALD ENCLAVE without material components, provided that one of the
Less a druid circle and more a loose confederation of druids is at least 9th level and the rest are at least 4th
circles and their allies, the Emerald Enclave is devoted level. At the DM's option, the druids can use a moonwell
to protecting the redoubt of civilization in the North on such nights to cast different spells.
from destruction. Elsewhere in the world, the Emerald
Enclave must pursue a more balanced path, but the vast FIGHTERS
wilderness of the North holds far more danger to people
"SLOW TO LEARN, AREN'T THEY?" A WHJTE- HAJRED OLD
than they pose to it.
Founded in the Vilhon Reach over a thousand years knight who'd lost his helm in the last fray drawled. "This is
ago, the Emerald Enclave has spread across much of getting to be like a proper romp in the Dragonjaws, it is! I'll
Faerfin. Its members include druids, rangers, barbar-
have to get my minstrel to write a ballad about this ... "
ians, and others who live in the wilderness and know
"I hope he sings swiftly," a Purple Dragon armsman
and respect its ways. They wear an article of emerald
green clothing as a symbol of their membership, often growled. "Here they are!"
bearing the emblem of a stag's head. The howling spilled over the bodies in another rushing
In the Druid Circle class feature in the Player's Hand- tide of flapping leather, slashing swords, and beady goblin
book, Emerald Enclave druids belong to the Circle of the
Land and Circle of the Moon in equal measure. eyes. Men planted themselves- no running and leaping
now-to hew steadily, like harvesters with scy thes and many
THE MOONSHEA CIRCLES
fields in front of them, in a rhy thm of death.
The Ffolk of the Moonshea Isles venerate the land as
-Troy Denning, Death of the Dragon
the great goddess they call the Earthmother. Their cir-
cles gather around sacred pools known as moonwells, Whether doughty warriors, idealistic young soldiers, or
their link between the natural world and the goddess, hard-bitten mercenaries, fighters are found everywhere
ringed by standing stone circles, raised by their ancient in the Forgotten Realms. Even the most peaceful lands
ancestors.
have militia for protection against their enemies, and
In the Druid Circle class feature in the Player's Hand-
many great rulers in the Realms' past were fighters of
book, Moonshea druids most often belong to the Circle some sort. There are always opportunities for those
of the Land (Coast, Forest, and Mountain).
who know how to handle themselves in a fight.
Able-bodied folk in many parts of the Sword Coast
MOONWELLS
and the North learn at least the rudiments of combat
The water of a moonwell, drunk directly from cupped
as part of a local militia, serving in times of need, while
hands, restores ld8 hit points, plus the drinker's Wis-
a few go on to become professional soldiers, guards,
dom bonus, if any .. If the drinker has threatened the bal-
or the like. Officers tend to come from the nobility, al-
ance of nature since the last full moon, the water instead
deals ld8 poison damage to the drinker. This damage though there are opportunities for capable leaders to
demonstrate their skills and rise through the ranks.
is also dealt by a corrupted moonwell. Either effect oc-
Fighters who don't make a career of soldiering find
curs once only per day per drinker. On the nights of the
full moon, drinkin·g the water of a moonwell can, at the other ways to demonstrate their prowess. Mercenaries
DM's discretion, have additional effects, such as confer- find employment with those who need skilled warriors
ring the benefits of a lesser restoration spell. but who lack the time or means to train them. Such
employers include adventuring companies, which are
almost always in need of a reliable fighter.
CHAPTER 4 I CLASSES