Jaggedpine Forest, west coast of Antonica
A committee runs Surefall Glade. Its members include Te'Anara and Hager Sureshot, the Druid and Ranger Guildmasters, and the other guild trainers.
Surefall Glade is a peaceful vale, a pocket of the Jaggedpine Forest cut off by the mountains. It is only accessable through tunnels. Large redwoods dominate this grove, and the largest, found hollowed years and years ago, serves as the home of the Druids. Simple stone huts house other students of the woodland ways. A waterfall watches over it all and conceals a network of tunnels that house the many bears of Surefall Glade.
Almost exclusively Humans and Half Elves. Some Wood Elves occasionally take temporary residence.
During the reign of Antonius Bayle the Third (father to Qeynos's current Monarch), Surefall Glade was founded in a small glade set into a mountain valley in the southern-most tip of the Jaggedpine Forest. At first, the Glade provided a sort of base camp for explorers into the Jaggedpine. It wasn't long, however, before these explorers came across the Unkempt Wood.
The Unkempt Woods house a civilization that came across the woods early in the history of Man's existance on Antonica. They lived there, rarely disturbed, in deep communion with nature. The Unkempt Druids slaughtered all who encroached upon their territory, and it wasn't long before the residents of Surefall Glade, fearing the continued exploration would provoke the Unkempt into an all out attack, closed the entrance to the rest of the Jaggedpine Forest. Antonius III supported this decision, knowing that if Surefall Glade fell, the Unkempt would sweep down and attack Qeynos. He added his own edict that the Jaggedpine Forest and Unkempt Woods were strictly off limits.
The Glade prospered, training all who wished to learn the craft of the Ranger or Druid, and with time the population of Karana worshippers saw their share of Tunare followers arrive. To date, the Glade has maintained a majority in favor of Karana.
Just recently, the entrance to the Jaggedpine Forest has been reopened, as the few Karana worshippers left behind have been threatened by a new Gnollish menace. It seems the Gnolls of Blackburrow have tunneled their way into the Jaggedpine, and are causing all sorts of havoc. In light of the threat, Antonius IV and the residents of Surefall Glade have decided it is important to shore up their defenses and turn back the Gnolls, if possible.
As Surefall is such a small community, their culture is fairly homogenous. They are tightly bound by their faith and devotion to the protection of the Glade and all nature. The folk of Surefall Glade can be very serious at times, as they are often in the midst of confrontation with the Sabertooth Clan of Gnolls or the Bloodsabers.
They are not, however, forever dour. They feel it would be pointless to preserve life without actually living, and so they make sure they enjoy their time on Norrath as often as possible when they are not "on duty." The people of the Glade aren't as formal or rigid as some societies, and they rarely concern themselves with points of ettiquette or propriety.
Surefall has few permanent residents. There is a central core of Rangers and Druids lead by Hager Sureshot and Te'Anara who teach those who come to learn the crafts. Because of this, there are few customs regarding child raising. Each child is raised according to the ideals of the parents in question, and a "standard" childhood for a child born in Surefall Glade doesn't really exist. Because of their wandering nature, it is rare for two citizens of Surefall to remain in a dedicated relationship for too long. Further, the pitfalls that surround a low-level war with poachers and the Bloodsabers mean many folk die before they have a chance to see their children grow.
Surefall Glade is run by committee, however, there are very few permanant residents of Surefall Glade outside of this Committee. There are few difficult decisions to be made by the residents of Surefall Glade.
Their goals are simple: Preserve nature and all of nature's creatures. Their laws are equally simple. Anyone who defiles and destroys nature is a criminal. The only distinction they make is whether the infraction is willful or through ignorance. Ignorance is treated with education. Repeated "ignorance" is deemed willful. Willful acts are dealt with by the quick application of terminal violence.
Capital punishment gives few residents of Surefall Glade a reason to pause. Any who are killed are a threat to nature, and their bodies do more to preserve it than their extended life. They have no illusions about the sanctity of life. Nature is red in tooth and claw, and the herd must sometimes be culled.
If any questions arise in Surefall Glade, Te'Anara, Druid Guildmaster, and Hager Sureshot, Ranger Guildmaster, usually confer with their respective guilds and come to some arrangement. More often than not, it comes down to what Hager and Te'Anara feel the gods would want, and the rest is just making sure everyone agrees with them.
Worship is split almost evenly between Tunare and Karana, with the balance tipping toward the side of the Rainkeeper. There is no rivalry between the two faiths here. Adherents of one god recognize the fact that their ideals are unified in the purpose of Surefall Glade.
Despite the fact that every inhabitant of Surefall Glade is a devout believer in their god, the Glade has few formal ceremonies. Those living and training in Surefall Glade live their faiths, and worship every day within the temple of nature itself.
There are, however, two major times that are recognized by the people of Surefall. The first is known, rather unimaginatively, as The Reaping. This is a time during the autumn months, when the harvests are finishing and everyone is preparing for the winter. During this month, the Rangers and Druids of Surefall aid the farmers of the area, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. During they will double their efforts to drive out or eradicate poachers in their lands. It is a grim sort of harvest, but one they justify in the protection of nature's peace.
The second major observance comes in the Spring. This is called the Awakening, and is marked by providing aid to those hit hardest by the Winter weather. They help ensure that the community around them has a fruitful growing season. Both of these observances focus on the Human aspect of the duties of Surefall Glade, as it is often easy for them to get caught up in the protection of nature at all costs, even to the detriment of their neighbors.
Qeynos
Surefall Glade doesn't make war on other cities, unless one counts Blackburrow.
Riordhan
None