The Masters of the Basanic Tao

The Altar of the Twelve Trees

Senior Foster – Billik File

(Tzi Tzain Ulmargarn)

Billik File was born in 1742 in the great city of Shi Ashlan on the once great continent of Helgath. It is the affairs of that nation that have led the Altar to question whether or not Billik is fit to lead the council. He was once the greatest of Ulmargarn; a lightning wit and mind that cut through the politics of the Tao like a hero’s sword through Dragon hide. He was bought from Helgath by the Hierophant of the day; Gereth Blackwood, to offer support and guidance to the burgeoning Ulmargarn Altar. Having excelled in the Henges of the Northern continents File was failing to move up the hierarchy of their groves due to his name and title, he was never one of the ruling class. So Blackwood offered the young Tzi Tzain the chance to shine in the Royal Basin, a chance which the ambitious young man fell upon like a hungry wolf.

However the war in Helgath has worn heavily on the soul of this young Eaölf, his heart breaking the day that Orbolom’s power sprang forth and overwhelmed the defences of his beloved homeland. His family, his friends and the Henges that had been his home for so many years all fell before the will of the daemonic lord and with every acre of land conquered so too was a portion of Billik’s soul. Since that day the Lord of the Twelve Trees has begun to falter, his resolve wavering. Facts and dates and knowledge of opponents strategies seem to slip from his mind leaving him weak in the seat of political battle. He has begun to rely more and more on the council of Jeleth whom he knows idolises him, but faces stiff competition for his position from the power hungry Alya who matches his strengths each day.

The Altar of the Creeping Vine

Senior Foster – Ledley Keane

(Human Ulmargarn)

Born in 1962 to a human family within the Creeping Vine, Ledley has served in the defence of the grove for as long as he has been able to. He is one of the few members of the Altar to have received extensive training outside of that provided, training that he achieved off of his own back when attended the University of Strabain at the age of twenty one where he studied Law and Anthropology, passing with first class honours. It is this training that has made him an instrumental figure in the advancement of the Vines powerbase throughout the Basin, Keane having gathered to himself a number of likeminded individuals that have formed a powerbase of notable up comers from the ranks of the Altar. He remains as ruthless as his closest ally, Naer, and has recently been appointed to the temporary Hierophants Council where a permanent position beckons and perhaps the position of first Vine Hierophant.

The Altar of The Gorgon

Senior Foster – Puedam Eman

Elected during the chaos of the Rhygahrean wars (2008 ppw or Dazak 3) Puednam was born in Haven in the year 1987ppw. He was originally trained as an Ulmargarn of the Twelve Trees but has shown remarkable aptitude for the rituals of the Melkarr and made his decision to switch to the Altar of the Gorgon in the same year that he was elected to governance. He led the Altar wisely and well during those wars although he never physically made it into any combat his rituals were amongst the most potent when it came to clearing the Daemon taint of the Rhygahrean Woods.

(Human Melkarr)

The Altar of The Emerald Willow

Senior Foster – Elisabeth Smith

(Human Melkarr)

Elisabeth is an extremely young senior Foster being born in 1985 but she has a good level of competence and is a formidable combatant. Originally she trained as an Ulmargarn and much of her political motivation comes through at council. She is often instrumental in making sure that the more aggressive policies go through and has very strong support for the Creeping Vine.

The Altar of The Broken Lady

High Foster – Jane Rewarath

(Human Ele-Strom)

Born in 1932 Jane Rewarath was originally a member of the Emerald Willow, a Melkarr born to a great and noble family who had long been powerful with the Tao of Kethlan. From birth she was groomed and fawned over by her seniors, presuming that she was destined for greatness. Her laziness and inability to focus on anything other than her own self importance were legendary. Regardless her elders chose to overlook her blatant disregard for the true and proper ways and she, enabled by their belief in her bloodline, maintained her blasé attitude and allowed the reverence of her being by her fellow Melkarr.

In her second year as a Melkarr she was selected to lead a ritual designed to bless a Tao friendly township with good harvest after a blight caused by an Undead Plague. The results were disastrous; three Ravage spirits were summoned and tens of villagers died. Rewarath was held wholly responsible for the deaths, her negligence and indeed flippancy in the wake of the incident led to a harsh judgement by the Ele Strom. She was taken into the ranks of their number as a student again and began her teachings from the beginning as though she were an infant, her judgement to serve the Altar until the day she died.

Initially Jane was resentful of this treatment but she quickly learned the lessons of fear and respect from the Senior Fosters of the Altar. Within three years she was truly a daughter of the line of Rewarath; the power of the Broken Lady clearly reflected in her powers and her spiritual form. She became unrecognisable as a person; where once had been silk now there was only Iron, where once a frivolous nature ruled now there was only resolve. This was over fifty years ago, the deeds of Jane Rewarath in the name of the Altar are now legend and none gave been sage from her judgement. Now she sits at the head of the council of Ele-Strom, iron haired and iron willed, though she is passed retirement age her punishment binds her to her duties until she dies and she has no intention of making a plea for leniency for good behaviour!

The Altar of The Stone Circle

Vormearn – Brennan Harden

(Orcish Vormearn)

Brennan is a younger Vormearn, born in 1992 who has been recently elevated to the council. He fought in the Rhygahrean wars for the Basin attempting to break the stranglehold that Longclaw had on the Harthalian Woods. His career in the field has been cut short due to the infection of his blood with the Orbolomic Lycanthrope disease that is only kept in check by a powerful draft that is brewed in Dreff. This does not stop him keeping up to date with all Tao based affairs and running the Altar with efficiency and skill. Harden is a tactician and a war leader who takes his duties with the greatest seriousness.

The Altar of the Twelve Trees

Senior Foster – Jeleth Lionsgold

(Human Ulmargarn)

Jeleth was born in 1989 and is in a unique position amongst Basanic folk. She was certainly born to be an Ulmargarn,during her years at University she excelled in the histories of the Altars and moved to train in the Twelve Trees when she was 20. It has been her political clout and money within the Royal Basin that has seen her rise to such a position of power within three swift years. She offers the Council a way to influence the Golden table and the regime that controls the Royal Basin which to the council is extremely valuable. However her natural ambition and Lionsgold upbringing have given the council something of a political animal to work with both outside and within the Twelve Trees. Her belief in Billik’s leadership is extreme, he was the first to have faith in her as a druid and she supports every move that he takes and fills in the gaps that he leaves behind in his currently fragile state.

The Altar of the Creeping Vine

Senior Foster – Curith Naer

(Human Ulmargarn)

Curith is known to be a Lycanthropic individual although what breed is unknown, although many speculate a badger, or whether he is fully a Lycan or just carries the heritage of one. He was born in 1889 to a noble human family of the Royal Basin, again little is known of them, he certainly changed his name and speaks little of his past, no-one of the Altar appears to have been brave enough to poke around in his past to find out. It is widely believe that he heard the call of the wild at an early age and was contacted by various members of the Altar who sought to use him to undermine the power of the Basin from within. However his temperament was too turbulent to control and he slew his parents, brothers and infant sister, some say he devoured them in his hybrid form after, and fled the Basin to live amongst the creatures of the wilderness.

He rose to power in the Altar through a ruthless sequence of both political and actual assassinations, destroying his opponents either through propaganda, perhaps learnt as a noble, or with the blade. By the time he was thirty he was amongst the forerunners of his pack and leading the Creeping Vine and the Emerald Willow who support them into a violent period of their history that would still be prevalent to this day had it not been for the wars that have intervened in his overall plans. Despite his advanced years he appears as a man in his mid forties and is as active as he ever has been. Recently he has managed to push to get Ledley Keane elected to the temporary Hierophants Council as the groves deliberate over who will be the next governor if Kethlans power in Daer Akmir.

The Altar of The Gorgon

Senior Foster – Makaross Glem

(Human Melkarr)

Elected during the peaceful times of 1972 ppw Makaross Glem was born in the sleepy hamlet of Delve in the Northern parts of the Western Marches, long ago in the year of 1949. He has served stoically and well teaching many of the Melkarr that now ply their trade throughout Kethlans Kingdom. He is notable for cultivating his own tobacco called Glems Delving which is famous in many taverns in and around the townships of Greenlakes.

The Altar of The Emerald Willow

Senior Foster – Paradime Jorek Levek Roan

(Zumatakan Melkarr)

An unusual individual, Roan is over a thousand years old and has visited all the spirits that Kethlan possess, or so he says. He acts as the senior instructor in matters of the spirits and the rituals and has many stories of Avvannahs wisdom for the young. Whilst he is true member of the Willow he is more an Avvanarite than a Ravager and is considered by some to be dead wood. He is trusted and respected by Holkar Rek however.

The Altar of The Broken Lady

Senior Foster – Cooper Shadowmane

(Human Ele-Strom)

Born in 1972 to the Shadowmane family many say that Cooper was an unusual child who shunned company and spoke only to his imaginary friends. In truth he was whispering to the spirits who had taken an interest in this young man who had been marked for a future within the Tao by Foresit the Lord of Justice. Coopers path was marked out for him and led him unerringly to the Altar of the Broken Lady where he was received by the Senior Fosters who had been prepared for his coming and were rewarded for their patience with a strange but gifted child with influence among the courts of the Royal Basin.

Cooper rose quietly and skilfully through the ranks of the Altar showing aptitude for all areas of the teachings but specifically for finding the guilty and discovering corruption within the Altars and Groves of the cultures of the world. His name became synonymous with the hunting and eradication of dark powers and he was instrumental in the combating of Orbolomicly infested nodes during the cataclysm wars; many daemonic powers came to know and to fear him. Since the wars he has remained within the Altar structure passing on his wisdom and stoically seeking a younger Ele Strom who will take up his mantle in the field, this individual has been promised to him by Foresit.

The Altar of The Stone Circle

Vormearn – Evelyn Stone

(Human Vormearn)

Evelyn is old for a Vormearn; born in 1965 she is heavily scarred and carries the permanent wound of a missing left eye and ear from a battle long ago against the Voushnazi. This has done little to stem her reckless nature and the spirit of the ancient Vormearn that sustains her in battle can be seen raging in her violet eyes. Of the council she is the most commonly seen instructing the younger Vormearn, preparing them for their coming trials with the tales of her youth and explaining where every mark and scar on her battle hardened body.

The Altar of the Twelve Trees

Senior Foster – Alya Eaihain

(Yuirfarvallen Ulmargarn)

Born in Rhygahrea in 1472, Alya was a survivor of the Mandragoran wars and the exodus of the Yuirfarvallen following that tragedy into the Royal Basin. The Eaihain were amongst those that travelled to the Basin in 1583 and they carried in their hearts the Tao of Kethlan. The groves of the wild ways of Rhygahrea differ massively from the Altars of the Duchies however and Alya’s parents were faced with a difficult choice; their political skills made the choice of Ulmargarn for her clear but they needed to find strength in the Royal Basin so they chose the Twelve Trees. For many years she trained with the Twelve Trees but she could not keep the wild out of her heart, nor her contempt for their growing reliance on cities and their ways. She has tried, as her power has increased, to steer the Altar to a more centralised position between the old ways and the new. With Billik’s failing psyche she has taken many chances to attack his position but found herself politically circling with Jeleth at each step.

The Altar of the Creeping Vine

Senior Foster – Jasmine Rush

(Human Ulmargarn)

Jasmine Rush was born in 1984 in Rendrith to a common family who pushed her into service as a prostitute at age eleven amongst the many other dock workers in that busy port town. After only two months of abuse she killed her first man and within three weeks of that event the militia were on the hunt for a serial killer. She escaped by stowing away on a vessel bound for the Rice Empire and whilst onboard she met a woman called Laria Emmerson, a member of the Altar, who sheltered her and taught her how to harness the rage that Ravage had given her. After her initiation into the Altar at the age of fourteen she travelled the world returning at the age of twenty four to take her place on the council. She was so skilled in the art of ritual and of diplomacy that many saw her as the natural Alpha, a role that she declined, for now. It is rumoured that her journeys took her to the Greater Teeth and the Sea Hag, the Harvest Plains and the temples there and even the ancestral lands. Wherever they took her the gleam of Ravage is still strong in her eyes and her knife still calls for blood from her hip.

The Altar of The Gorgon

Senior Foster – Prilly Folney

(Kalashinkan Melkarr)

Elected in 1980 Prilly is the oldest serving member of the council being born as she was in 1930 ppw. Kalashinkas not being the most famously long lived of individuals many consider that her long life stems from the many visits that she made to the sacred groves of Rhygahrea during her youth. Indeed many point to Prilly as being the power behind the downfall of Kalus Sing, the Undead Scourge of Fellgorge burrows back in the 50’s! She can often be found playing her Skavamareen much to the delight of the children of Green Lakes.

The Altar of The Emerald Willow

Senior Foster – Golkar Rek

(Orcish Melkarr)

Golkar Rek is an extremely powerful Melkarr who commands the complete respect of many of the lesser spirits and the guidance of those more powerful. Very little is known of her past or her age but it is known that she arrived from the spirit realms with the blessings of Kerth and since that day has ruled the Emerald Willow through fear and strength. She is not a Melkarr to be trifled with her word and her will are law and any who choose to oppose her are swiftly dealt with.

The Altar of The Stone Circle

Senior Foster – Lord Slick knife

(Sidhe Ele-Strom)

Lord Slickknife came to the Altar in 1752, already an accomplished druid and master of ritual he was found unconscious and heavily wounded in the Marekoth Grove in Old Harthalian surrounded by the bodies of dead daemons. The Unseelie had clearly been at the point of laying down his life to defend the grove and he was carried reverentially by the Melkarr that discovered him back to the Altar of the Gorgon where he was healed. His talents lay in meting out punishment to those that crossed the power of Kethlan and whilst he was clearly not a power of Vaklam he agreed to assist and aid those that had recovered him by joining the Broken Lady.

The Sidhe took his position extremely seriously and travelled with the high council for many years before becoming one of them. His mastery over the punishment rituals is second to none, when performed by the Fae they are more potent, virulent than when cast by any other. Slickknife is ready to dispense any levels of justice, whether that be through the ritual or the swinging of an axe he does not step down; those that have committed sin are punished. Noted for his trademark duster and heavy brimmed hat Slickknife imbues in others the will of punishment and radiates a fear born of some inner struggle that makes him one of the most formidable powers in Kethlans arsenal.

The Altar of The Stone Circle

Vormearn – Sillik Harthness

(Human Vormearn)

They call her the Night Shield. She is the protector of the wildest parts of Kethlans Kingdom and she operates mainly during the nocturnal hours. Born in 1988 to a Vormearn family operating out of the woodlands around Dreff she was bought up and raised a warrior of the wild. She is still very much active, young as she is, blades dancing death to the enemies of Kethlan in the night. She is part of the High Council of the Vormearn and her voice is well heard, she even occasionally appears to train the worthy, taking special note and interest in those exceptional cases and blooding them in the field.