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Message no. 1
From: Sight Unseen <toabo@****.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Seattle Druids
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 05:09:53 -0500
How do you run a druid in Seattle? I mean, are there any druid
societies around? What about sacred circles; are there any in the area?
Are there sacred sites in North America comparable to Merlin's Cave, holy
lochs, etc.?


Peace and Long Life,

Scott
Message no. 2
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Seattle Druids
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 08:41:25 GMT
Sight Unseen writes

> How do you run a druid in Seattle?
With dificulty. Theres nothing to srop the character operating, but.

> I mean, are there any druid societies around?
Have a look and Shadowland 4, theres comments in there, but thats not
the British (theres sort of more than one grouping) variety which is
what i think you mean.

> What about sacred circles; are there any in the area?
No reason for there to be any. The sites like this in Britain are all
Far older than White settlement in the Americas.

> Are there sacred sites in North America comparable to Merlin's Cave, holy
> lochs, etc.?
>
Plenty if your Native American, but Druidism is not an Native
American way.
>
> Peace and Long Life,
>
> Scott
>
Yes you could play a Druid (as per London/GR2) in a non European game
but you would have to have access to time in Europe for learning
spells etc. The hermetic Druids (as per British Government) probably
aren't too bad off as long as they don't want to use ritual magic,
the celtic variety however are in big trouble. On the other hand the
bonuses for preforming operations at Stonehenge are amazing -4! off
(almost) ALL magical target numbers !

There are compatible sies for them to use on the European mainland i
think but i don't know any details and the Germany sourcebook doesn't
cover such things (it reasonably deals with principally German
traditions)

Mark
Message no. 3
From: Dvixen <Dvixen@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Seattle Druids
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 02:17:21 -0800
> How do you run a druid in Seattle? I mean, are there any druid
> societies around? What about sacred circles; are there any in the area?
> Are there sacred sites in North America comparable to Merlin's Cave, holy
> lochs, etc.?

There are some, just not as famous. Any sacred sites of the Native Peoples
of N.A are somewhat lost, although I have heard of a few very old
settlements that could be seen as such. Beacon Hill Park, overlooking the
Sea from Victoria (BC, Canada), has some fairly ancient (3000yrs+) burial
caerns. This area is seen to be sacred, and when the caerns were dug up
back in the 1900's, *everyone* made a huge noise. (Archaeologists and
other experts put them back as close as possible) There is also Xelisen
(3000-6000yrs+), on Pender Island, and various sites of ancient art all
along the Island. Whether they be burial grounds, or abandoned ancient
settlements, I think any place of beauty and meaning would be sacred. The
Gaelic/Brythonic peoples' sacred sites are just more well known.

IMO, the 'ley lines' of North America are nowhere near the power of those
found in Tir na n'Og, but since the rise of Magic, they are gathering
strength. As for a Druid in Seattle, very possible, but I would infer a
Gaelic/Brythonic origin for that Druid, as Druidic Totems as put forth by
FASA do not match the local totems. (I believe that the Native peoples
have no non-animal totems, but I may be wrong. Any students of the Native
peoples of N.A out there?)

--
Dvixen/Snow Leopard/Celt dvixen@********.com
"Snow Melts"
The opinions expressed are those of the myriad voices in my head
Message no. 4
From: Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Seattle Druids
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 08:49:08 GMT
Forwarding to list.

> Why you sent this only to mw i'm not sure, but.
> repost to the list if you like.
> > From: "Dvixen" <Dvixen@********.com>
> > To: <M.J.Steedman@***.rgu.ac.uk>
>
> >
> > > > What about sacred circles; are there any in the area?
> > > No reason for there to be any. The sites like this in Britain are all
> > > Far older than White settlement in the Americas.
> >
> > Sacred circles, not quite, but sacred sites, definitely. Some of the sites
> > are far older than 3000 years.
> >
> I have no accurate idea myself i know far too little about the
> subjects but its thousands, and settlement of the Americas is
> hundreds which is plenty accurate enough for the answer :)
>
> > > > Are there sacred sites in North America comparable to Merlin's Cave,
> > holy
> > > > lochs, etc.?
> > > >
> > > Plenty if your Native American, but Druidism is not an Native
> > > American way.
> >
> > Very true. But... Shamanism is a closer word for it.
> The Celtic type druids (London sourcebook/GR2) are very similar to
> Shamen (they effectively use 95% the same rules in SR2) but the
> culture of course is different, but i don't know details.
>
> > I'd say that Druids
> > could only come from Celtic origins. Hmmm... I wonder if I can find a
> > Salish word for the equivalent term of Druid. Keepers of the lore... What
> > I wouldn't give for a dictionary of Salish terms...
> >
> Wouold probably be useful, but i have enough things to do myslef :(
>
> > > There are compatible sies for them to use on the European mainland i
> > > think but i don't know any details and the Germany sourcebook doesn't
> > > cover such things (it reasonably deals with principally German
> > > traditions)
> >
> > Y'know... If FASA gave us German traditions, and Celtic traditions, uzw,
> > I'd have to say that what is given in the rule book is the Native people's
> > traditions. So, no Druids not originally from the Isles, no Voudoun not
> > originally from wherever they are from, etc...
> >
> I don't see why you cannot have druids from Seattle following the
> Celtic traditions just there are serious problems playing one as a
> character.
> This is due to Druids needing Sacred sites such as standing stones
> and stone circles for certain magical operations which makes
> character development very tricky. If you've got a good GM you might
> manage it but i forsee serious problems.
> Its ok for the magicians who have mobile equipment (medicine lodges
> and hermetic libraries can be set up nearly anywhere), but Druids and
> Voodun have more problems though Voodoo is more portable.
>
> Mark
>

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