Druids

The Druids were the wisest men and women of all the races.

Typically wore black.¹First King of Shannara – p 3 The Druids were named in honour of the Old World term for learned men.²The World of Shannara – p 9

Their goal was to work for the betterment of all people. They consisted of Humans, Gnomes, Dwarves, Elves, Trolls and a smattering of other races.

Men of learning who had guided the races from the chaos that followed the Great Wars.

Over time, however, they lost their purpose.

First Council of the Druids

Formed around 1000 years after the Great Wars, when the races were first discovering each other and were fighting for dominance.

500 years before the First King of Shannara, Galaphile called together the First Council of the Druids at Paranor. It was a gathering of the wisest men and women of all races: those who had memories of the old world; those who retained a few tattered crumbling books; those whose learning survived the barbarism of a 1000 years. The council gathered in last desperate effort to bring the races out of their current savagery into a new and better civilisation. The Druids began the laborious task of assembling their combined knowledge to be employed for the greater good.

They gathered together the teachings of the Old World so that they might be used to help the New World. All of the learning, whether by book or by word of mouth, that had been preserved throughout the years was brought before the council so that they could try to unlock their secrets. One of the books uncovered in this time was the Ildatch by Warlock Lord.

Second Council of the Druids

Formed after the First War of the Races, this council abandoned the study of magic, and instead turned to the old sciences.

Third Council of the Druids

Formed by Grianne Ohmsford after her return from Parkasia, as commanded by Walker Boh.³Jarka Ruus – p 3

It was formed from people sent under duress by Kylen Elessedil, at the insistence of Ahren Elessedil. Other people of different races also came, attracted by the prospect of exploring magic’s uses. Originally there was fresh hope and everything seemed possible, however over time the lack of change in the thinking and attitude of the governing bodies of the races eroded that hope.⁴Jarka Ruus – pp 3-4

When founding the order, Grianne turned to the Trolls to form the Druid Guard.

After many failures, there were struggles between Grianne and many of the other Druids, with many questioning why she was still their leader.⁵Jarka Ruus – pp 1-3 They feared and mistrusted her.⁶Jarka Ruus – p 4

Temporarily led by Shadea a’Ru when she conspired to rid the Druids of Grianne.

After Grianne was restored as Ard Rhys, she disbanded the Third Council, charging Khyber Elessedil and her allies with building a new Druid order.

Fourth Council of the Druids

Led by Khyber Elessedil⁷Wards of Faerie – p 55 and then Aphenglow Elessedil.⁸The High Druid’s Blade – p 53

Fifth Druid Order

Formerly led by Drisker Arc.

By the time of The Black Elfstone, the Druids were led by Ober Balronen.

Except for Clizia Porse, everyone present at Paranor was killed in the attack by the Skaar.

Ard Rhys was the title held by the leader of the Druid Councils. The position was also known as the High Druid.

Elves

Wards of Faerie

Druids were held in low regard by the Elves. Those who chose to join them were considered to lack common sense and moral balance. If you chose to side with the Druids, you were considered to have sided against the Elves.