Buckley was a woodsman living on the edges of the Neverwinter Wood. He lived his whole life there with few incidents of action or adventure. Never marrying, he lived a quiet life of hunting, woodcutting, and sometimes acting as a guide, or as an intermediary between the druids and the city itself.
Always being a respectful woodsman, Buckley was approached by the druids; they asked if he would like to work closer with them. Because of events in the outside world, they felt that they needed someone who could more easily deal with civilization. Though no city-dweller, Buckley fit the bill and accepted. After several years, he entered the druidic tradition itself, following Silvanus the Forestfather.
On a misty spring morning, Buckley saw a bright, white fox sprinting through the woods. Intrigued, he followed, only to lose its trail after a few minutes. Soon after, a white deer bounded out of the trees and continued leading him on a chase. Again, he lost the trail, but a white sparrow took its place--the succession of animals continued throughout his pursuit. Buckley kept up the chase, but not as a hunter--he simply wanted to see these wondrous animals up close.
As noontime came on, Buckley reached a clearing at the foot of a small cliff. In the clearing stood a shining white unicorn. Buckley approached nervously, and the strong animal stood firm. Almost able to touch the unicorn, Buckley instead said aloud, "I understand." The unicorn leaped into the air and vanished.
Buck explained his strange experience to the elders of his circle. The said it must have been a vision from Lurue, the Mistress of Beasts. They also said that only Buckley himself could unravel its true meaning.
He found himself having vivid dreams of traveling the land, sea, and sky, covered in a multitude of forms. As weeks went by, the dreams became more vivid; he would change from beast to human to dragon to fire elemental to treant and more. In the day, he would see the shapes of living things in clouds, boulders, and old logs. Buckley began obsessing about the myriad possibilities of the living form and went to the elders again. The white animals were a visionquest from Lurue: seek the path of unfettered shapes. They knew such traditions existed among some druids, though not in their particular circle. They heard that a druid with such abilities lived somewhere in the land called Sundren.
A few weeks later, Buck arrived in Port Avanthyr. Only an initiate of druidic traditions, he began searching Sundren at once for this mysterious mentor.
Always being a respectful woodsman, Buckley was approached by the druids; they asked if he would like to work closer with them. Because of events in the outside world, they felt that they needed someone who could more easily deal with civilization. Though no city-dweller, Buckley fit the bill and accepted. After several years, he entered the druidic tradition itself, following Silvanus the Forestfather.
On a misty spring morning, Buckley saw a bright, white fox sprinting through the woods. Intrigued, he followed, only to lose its trail after a few minutes. Soon after, a white deer bounded out of the trees and continued leading him on a chase. Again, he lost the trail, but a white sparrow took its place--the succession of animals continued throughout his pursuit. Buckley kept up the chase, but not as a hunter--he simply wanted to see these wondrous animals up close.
As noontime came on, Buckley reached a clearing at the foot of a small cliff. In the clearing stood a shining white unicorn. Buckley approached nervously, and the strong animal stood firm. Almost able to touch the unicorn, Buckley instead said aloud, "I understand." The unicorn leaped into the air and vanished.
Buck explained his strange experience to the elders of his circle. The said it must have been a vision from Lurue, the Mistress of Beasts. They also said that only Buckley himself could unravel its true meaning.
He found himself having vivid dreams of traveling the land, sea, and sky, covered in a multitude of forms. As weeks went by, the dreams became more vivid; he would change from beast to human to dragon to fire elemental to treant and more. In the day, he would see the shapes of living things in clouds, boulders, and old logs. Buckley began obsessing about the myriad possibilities of the living form and went to the elders again. The white animals were a visionquest from Lurue: seek the path of unfettered shapes. They knew such traditions existed among some druids, though not in their particular circle. They heard that a druid with such abilities lived somewhere in the land called Sundren.
A few weeks later, Buck arrived in Port Avanthyr. Only an initiate of druidic traditions, he began searching Sundren at once for this mysterious mentor.
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