As you wander through the forest on a cool, fall evening, and if you are one of the lucky ones, you might come across the same thing I did. Do not run, simply watch and listen.....
Consumed with the stillness of the night, I wandered deeper and deeper into the Great Forest one evening not so long ago...pushing past the ever thickening grove of Trees, I found myself in a small clearing. To my surprise, I was not alone. There before me, circled around a warm glowing fire, sat an old Druid woman, even in age, very pretty. She was surrounded by other Druids, Dryads, Faeries, and even some small children. As I watched, the old woman beckoned me closer to them, and speaking in a soft, almost musical voice, she bade me to sit and join them. Magic was all around me and I could almost feel the very breath within the trees, and the pulse of the dryads and fae so close to me. The children’s eyes were wide with anticipation, as if they had been here before, and knew what was to come. "Sit, and be welcome with us this eve, as I recount the tale of the Dark Druids...woven in time many moons ago". I made myself comfortable and prepared myself to hear the words of this beautiful old Druid before me.
Eyes wide, and her voice ever soft, she began her tale...
"It was Yuri 34, or thereabouts, with my memory what it is, small details like that can escape me...." she prattled a bit while regaining her memories. "A great disturbance was about within the Kingdom, the Elders and Truth see-ers in the land knew something was amiss. The great librarian Win-Song was on the move within the Kingdom once again. We knew something was bound to happen. But no one was quite sure what it would be... The Druid Elder, Xenic himself, felt troubled by something he didn't fully understand at the time..."Be on the watch", he told his Druids, and he spent many days in meditation and conference with WinSong... While the Kingdom was wondering and studying and trying to prepare themselves for whatever might happen, there was an evil force preparing to do battle within the Kingdom...a force targeting the Elder Xenic... Many people will say he was a mere man, a Druid gone bad they say...but I know differently, the old woman whispered. This "man", was none other than Taranis himself, the God of Thunder, the keeper of Fire, who, when angered could bring destruction to all in his path. Taranis had come to the Kingdom as a Druid visiting this land, speaking of his wishes to join the Druid family, all the time waiting and watching as to when he could move his plan in to action.
The time came sooner than most expected when the great disaster hit the Kingdom. Totem animals came to life in huge angry forms and would slay anything in its path. The great Hyun moo, Baekho, Ju-Jak, and Chung ryong, all turned against the people who had worshipped them so devoutly for so many years. Panic gripped the townspeople as the different Elders struggled to decide what could and would be done to stop this. WinSong stepped in and informed the people of a ritual found within one of the volumes of his books. He had spent so many days pouring over the Tomes; he was tired, weary, and unsure if his idea would even work. While he was speaking to the Community regarding the ritual, Taranis was there...watching and listening. He saw his opportunity to strike Xenic down when the Druid Elder stepped forward offering his own life energy to WinSong for the ritual.
"Xenic walked forward to aid WinSong and Taranis killed him right there. Took the life of one of the Druids own, their Elder, and friend...."
It was here the old Druid stopped, and looked around the circle at the faces of each person, -or being-, sitting ‘round the fire. Eager faces were silent as we all waited for the old woman to continue her tale. I myself felt tears silently streaming down my face, as I felt the sadness in my own heart that the Druids must have felt for their Elder upon witnessing the Great Druids death. I waited quietly, knowing somehow the woman would begin speaking soon.... Pulling her cloak around her shoulders, the old Druid began to speak with her musical voice once more....
"The Druids wept with sadness as they gathered the body of the Great Druid lovingly into their arms, and carried him back to the Trigram Circle where they made their home. It was said by some of the townspeople who watched the procession, that on some of their faces were not tears, but a deep anger, and that some looked like caged animals, ready to attack. Once the Elder was safely in the Druid Circle, the Druids discussed how to breathe life back into the Great Druid and defeat the evil Taranis had brought to them in Xenic's death. It was decided that they would perform a ritual of their own right there within the confines of their beautiful Circle, amongst the Trigram flowers, to bring the beloved Elder back to Life. As they gathered, and spoke the words of the ritual, they carefully watched Xenic. Finally life was given back to the Great Druid once again, yet as they looked at him, they all began to realize something was beginning to change among them. Xenic had somehow changed, and looking around at each other, they saw the same change taking place in the faces of a few other Druids as well. You see, Taranis was not able to defeat Xenic in death, but he had imposed some of his true self into Xenic during his attack. The Great Druid was strong of soul and of spirit, and was able to harness that force now resting in him, and keep it balanced with the true nature of a Druid. Xenic stepped down as the Druid Elder that day, bestowing the honor of Elder on Ovates Nourah, but he has remained a powerful force within the Druid Circle even to this day. One by one the Druids who felt a shift in their spirits that day were drawn to Xenic. He took them under his wing and formed the Dark Druids within the Circle. These Druids are still led by Xenic, and remain within the Druid circle in harmony with the other Druids they walk so closely with. Many a young one has wondered about the Mystery surrounding Xenic and his dark druids, many have falsely accused these good people of being evil, and mean. Those ignorant of the true meaning of dark druids twisted tales and formed malicious opinions. But I am here to tell you of the truth that is who they are.
Xenic, who is now known as -Spirit- watches over Nature with great love and reverence as he always has, and instructs and teaches his dark druids to do the same. Represent of an element of nature that shows more force, they have all been renamed to give recognition to that force. These are the Druids who will take action against a defiler, they will lay their own life down to protect and serve their Goddess, their Nature. Do they hold true to balance you ask? Yes, I believe most of all, these Druids have learned the ability to harness their emotions and keep balance inside their souls, as well as around them. They tend to be a bit more secluded, reclusive, not seen in the towns as much, and not too fond of great crowds. But they, like other Druids, follow Nature, obey her laws, and are always watching...ready to fight for what they believe to be Truth."
With that final word, she ceased to speak. Silence abounded amongst the others. Curious of still more, I had talk with her. I asked her what had happened to the totem animals, of WinSong, and Taranis... Smiling softly she held up her hand and stopped me... "Young One, this is the Tale of the Dark Druids, you must return again to hear the Tales of that which you question." Looking around at each of us, she nodded her head slightly, and with grace unreflective of her age, she stood, reaching for her walking stick, and ventured back into the woods, pulling her dark hood over her head as she moved further away.
And that my friend is what I found the day I wandered deep into the Great Forest.
~Shyloh