The small group of Sylvan followed as the child was placed within a nook amongst the roots of the great grove tree, the roots seemed to slowly shift around her and cradle her and rock her and the child slowly drifted towards sleep. The Sylvan nodded amongst themselves and left the child there knowing she would be one with the grove and grow stronger.
Many years passed by as she grew, the land giving her nutrition as well as what was fed as an occasional meal. The land was still at peace though tales of trouble occasionally were heard as rumors whispered on the wind. It was on one such day that the whispers were loud, the breeze blowing high, that the child left the grove for a while, which was easy to do as back then there were no walls around any grove, and made her way down to a nearby stream, a stream that often spoke to her. She lightly splashed her hands in the water, refreshing to her, and relaxed against a rock. She tried once again her rooting technequie, her hands becoming roots that gently dug into the moist soil as she heard something, someone, speaking to her. She looked around though saw no one, though the voice was still heard though seeming to come from all around, as if the land was speaking. She smiled, not afraid at the gentle voice that came to her and finally she spoke back. "Who are you?" She whispered unto the wind.
"I am nature..." It replied, the voice being no louder than the rustling of leaves.
"What do you want, with me?" The child said once again, a little louder this time.
"To warn you..." the voice replied again, a hint of worry evident in the emotion of the odd voice.
"To warn me?" The child said quietly, her green eyes blinking lightly at such a matter.
"Corruption comes to nature, to the land, it will come in many forms, be wary, Karinae, be wary." And with that the voice seemed to fade off, the presence not felt so strongly as the child tried to understand, though she was filled with a purpose, to be ready... as well as a name... Karinae.
Nearly sixty years passed before the coming of the Formorian toward the great groves, which is a short time in the time of nature and Sylvan, and the people feared and worried and did their best to defend. Karinae herself had been training in the ways of Sylvan music and Sylvan magic of nature, she felt a calling to both. She and many other Sylvan did their best to regrow the forests, though the Formorian were too strong and too many and too well armed, something had to be done.
The Sylvan gathered and many ideas tossed about. Some said they should flee to a new land, but none wished to leave what they had, others said they should fight to the last, yet they saw little purpose in senseless dying, and still others remained that they should keep the forests growing to try and outgrow the Formorians, though few had hopes of such. Then a final idea was passed, to call on the old world of Hibernia and it's fighting for help. It was well known that the celts and firbolgs knew well of weapons and war and perhaps could lend aid in the fight. Many Sylvan opposed this idea, fearing what the war-like hibernians might cause and if they would not be a greater evil, though most agreed that the battle would not be won without help. Karinae was one of those vlhemently opposed to the idea but even she had to finally agree there seemed little more option, she would not abandon the nature that had nurtured her for so long. With great worry, the portal to Hibernia was constructed and emisaries sent forth to bring help and they returned, with the aid of the Hibernians. Karinae simply saw these "invaders" as more corruption to her land and became a recluse for many years to come, training in quiet and taking on the occasional Sylvan student of animism.
Years of being a recluse though and seeing the corruption of the land hardened her and it was not till she met an elf that had a love for her lands did her view soften of the Hibernians. Those years are not ones to be spoken of much, as there is little interest in them in a story, save that she continued with gaining closer to the land, closer to Hy Brasil, greater in knowledge.
Now Karinae has grown and accepted those of Hibernia, she even now has a great thirst to learn more of their culture, as it is greatly different than from how she was grown. This is a story that shall always be more written and to grow as the time comes to it, to us, though only the future has that story.
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With that story we bring this essay upon the Sylvan people to a close. They are a people of nature, of balance, and of a quiet strength. They are unique and different from others, yet such differences are indeed a good thing. I hope you have learned some of the Sylvan people and some of their ways, dear reader, and as the Sylvan people say "May your roots be well watered and always in rich soil, may the sun shine upon your leaves always, and be at peace."
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