Lady Jonaylha the Insightful of Solusek Ro

Trembling slightly, the shy young wood elf snuck into the guild hall of the Soldiers of Tunare. She approached The Heartwood Master hesitantly, not wanting to intrude as she saw him conversing with some of the other guild masters. He of course had already noticed her when she entered and recognized in her the soul of a true druid. He smiled and held out his hand to her.

“Come, child. You have received a summons, I believe.”

She handed him her note that a runner had delivered to her parents’ house just the previous evening.

“Welcome, Jonaylha, to the ranks of the Soldiers of Tunare! Here is your guild tunic, wear it with pride to display your allegiance to the Mother of All.”

She pulled the tunic over her head and smoothed the soft fabric over her hips while listening intently to the instructions from The Heartwood Master. Club in hand, clad in green, she took a deep breath and stepped out into the forest to earn her keep with the Soldiers of Tunare.

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The elven woman strode through Kelethin with the grace and nimbleness only acquired on the battlefield. The piercing gaze from her bright blue eyes observed everything around her, ever watching for possible threats to be dealt with. The occasional guard greeted her with an appreciative smile as she passed by on her way to see The Heartwood Master and deliver her report of yet another quest completed in far off lands.

Her armor, aglow with enchantments and protective magics, dyed dark red so as not to stain too badly from the blood on any battlefield. Here and there a scar showed where it wasn’t completely covered by the armor. In her hand a Staff of Everliving Brambles hummed with trapped magic, the crystals glowing a bright green with the living energy inside them. Across her back she had slung her shield, picked up in the frozen halls of a giant fortress in the far north.

Her back straight, her head held high, she pushed open the door to the guild hall of the Soldiers of Tunare, greeting the guild masters and mistresses with smiles and hugs. The Heartwood Master was the last she approached, inclining her head in a small bow of respect.

“You have returned to us once again, Jonaylha.” He smiled as he inclined his own head in the same small bow of respect, then clasped her forearm and pulled her in for a warm hug.

“I have news of great importance. The dragons are growing in power once again, and there are whispers in the gnomish lands of the return of the one we believed gone forever. It was nearly impossible to find this information, but those that I could… persuade … to speak of it named it, The Awakened!”

“This is grave news indeed. I will see to it that the bards spread the news. But please, you have journeyed far. Take your evening meal with us once again and rest for the night.”

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A long time ago, indeed it seems almost an eternity sometimes, in the green calm of the Greater Faydark a druid was born. When she stepped out into the forest that first day as a Soldier of Tunare, she had no idea what the future would bring, and that she would one day find herself facing foes that would be able to lay waste to the Faydark in but a single breath. She would face these monsters alongside friends and comrades, and they would prevail.

Nothing she experienced in her first 43 seasons as a Soldier of Tunare gave any hint to what the future held. She traveled beyond the Faydark, into the lands of the Gnomes and the Dwarves, and even by ship to the distant continent of Antonica, once known as Tunaria. She explored Kunark and Velious, and even the moon of Luclin. When the ancient Elven city of Takish-Hiz, along with several other locations long thought lost, was discovered she was forced by an oath given long ago, to forsake her adventuring and withdraw into the heart of the Plane of Growth and the presence of Tunare, her Goddess.

An age passed before the young druid was allowed to again emerge into the world of Norrath. A world that had changed as to be nearly unrecognizeable by the Elf. After a brief visit to the Plane of Knowledge and the Great Library Myrist to gather what texts she could find detailing the events that had taken place since her withdrawal from the world, she ventured into the cold North. Taking up temporary residence in Halas, she spent her days slaying the Ice Giants that guard Permafrost Keep. Ten full seasons she spent in the North, reading up on what had been going on, and getting reacquainted with the world. The Barbarians did not disturb her, honoring her powers of nature’s magic and respecting her wish to be left alone.

In her fifty-third season, she once again felt ready to face adventure. Through messengers in the Plane of Knowledge she sent out messages to her friends of old, fellow adventurers. With sadness she received each messenger as they returned and informed her that none of them longer walked the lands of Norrath. None but one.

One early morning, about a week after her return to Kelethin, there was a knock on her door. She quickly slipped a robe on and went to see who it was, hoping it might be another messenger with perhaps a more cheerful response. The visitor outside her door was taller than an Elf, yet slighter than a Human. She could make out chainmail armor underneath a full-length cloak of forest green. A slim, gloved hand pushed back the hood to reveal a Half-Elven face she would never forget.

“Eone!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close and he laughed quietly as he returned the gesture.

“I got your message,” he said with a smile, “and I just had to come see for myself that you are indeed back.”

“I am” she smiled back, “and for a good long while this time I expect. But come inside, join me for breakfast and tell me everything.”

And so, once again, she put on her armor, picked up her staff and shield and set out across the face of Norrath in search of adventure.

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Panting from the frantic run, the Elf materialized in the Plane of Knowledge in front of the transportation stone for The Great Divide. She cursed herself for being so reckless and spending all her mana on kiting so that she did not have enough to Gate herself to safety when the giants came after her. She sat down on the grass, thinking to meditate for a while to gather her strength, when a soft voice from above spoke to her.

“Are you all right?” At the same time she felt herself bathed in a soft blue glow, warmth spreading through her as her wounds were healed. Raising her head, at first all she saw was the head of a gigantic white lizard of a kind some adventurers used for mounts. She had learned that they were called Drogmor. On the Drogmor was perched a Half-Elven female dressed in light chainmail of Elven make, dyed a deep vibrant blue. Next to her were two other women, one a Human and the other an Elf, both of them dressed in the same vibrant blue color.

“Thank you,” Jonaylha smiled, “I overextended myself a bit, and didn’t have enough mana to Gate when they broke through the root. Lesson learned.”

“Hah! Indeed,” smiled the other woman. “I’m Narah, and these two are my sisters. We’re Earthen Guardians,” at this Jonaylha noticed the badge each woman wore, which displayed a heraldic device in blue and gold, “and we spend much of our time here sharing our gifts of magic with adventurers that pass by.”

Intrigued, Jonaylha asked Narah to tell her more, and that evening she to became an Earthen Guardian. And although not required, she to dyed her armor in blue and gold, proud to display the colors of her guild.

For quite a few seasons, the Druid walked alongside the Earthen Guardians, learning to use her new skills and gaining ever more experience. After some time, however, she started once again to feel restless.

One fine day, Jonaylha answered the call to participate in a Halfling High Dive in the city of Rivervale. In the guise of a Halfling, she arrived at the city and got in line with the other participants. There she met Minta, the “neato gnomie necro of Bertoxx” as she described herself. The two became friends, and through Minta, Jonaylha was introduced to the Barbarian Warrior Legionarius and his brother Enormious Altruisticus the Shaman. The three of them traversed the Planes of Power together, laying waste to the population in several of them, while collecting items and gold.

Legionarius told Jonaylha more about the guild Minta and her companions Silvershadow and Starmender were part of, the Eye of Mordor. They were a larger guild than the Earthen Guardians, and they spent several days every week raiding the lairs of dragons and monsters from the Plane of Discord. The stories awoke a longing in the young Druid, a desire for greater adventures and the thrill of victory as the raid made their way past each guardian to gain access the Overlord himself.

With some sadness, Jonaylha eventually parted with the Earthen Guardians and joined the Eye of Mordor. Alongside the seasoned veterans of her new family, Jonaylha quickly grew in power and experience, until one day the beloved leader of Eye of Mordor, Galam Faithseeker of Mithaniel Marr, announced that he was retiring. The announcement hit the guild like no monster ever could. The sadness was evident in everyone as each made their plans for the future. A future in which the Eye of Mordor would be no longer.

Jonaylha, at first determined to try and keep the guild together and regain their former strength, finally decided to follow many of the former guild members to a new realm. Alongside her friends, she joined a new guild, Ancient Dominion. Jonaylha and her friends were quickly accepted into the Ancient Dominion family and although a flash of blue armor could still make her look a bit closer to see their beloved blue Paladin leader, Jonaylha settled with her new family.

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Now, as the rumors fly across Norrath of The Awakened and the stirrings in the Gnomish lands, Jonaylha delivers her report to The Heartwood Master. As she leaves the guild hall of the Soldiers of Tunare, she takes a deep breath of the fresh pine-scented air of the Faydark before she walks off through the city, on her way towards new adventures.

Her golden hair turned white as ages have passed, the snug leather armor showing a few signs of the battles she has been through. The Staff of Everliving Brambles glows green in her hand, and across her back is slung the shield of a fallen foe, defeated in the frozen land of giants. She walks with confidence and grace, secure in her powers and confident that she is up to facing any challenge the Gods want to throw in her path.