The Plane Tenders
Also known as: The Priests of the Wilds
Sect History and Aims
The Outer Planes have long been home to an ancient sect of druidic nature masters. Originally from a remote Prime world, the founders of the sect fled to the Great Ring when their home was invaded by demons of unknown origin. Since that time, this Order of Druids of the Outer Planes have grown steadily in numbers, recruiting fellow ‘priests of the wild’ from primes and planars alike.
They’re much more than just a sect, however. As every Prime world has its own druidic hierarchy, so do the planes. Whenever an initiate is discovered by an elder member of the planar druids, they are observed for a period of time so the elder may determine if the initiate is worthy of joining the ranks of the planar druids.
If the initiate proves themselves to be worthy, an elder approaches them as soon as possible and invites them to join the ranks of the Plane Tenders. If the initiate accepts, they’re taken under the elder’s wing and schooled in the ways of the planar nature masters. Most initiates accept, though they’re not obliged to, if they prefer to go their own way.
Cutters who say no are still observed, however, to ensure their activities are in tune with those of the Plane Tenders. If the ‘outcast’ druid ever does anything to violate their creed, however, they are hunted with vigilance by the Plane Tenders’ ranger wing. Fully fledged druids or hierophants that arrive in the planes are immediately approached as soon as they’re discovered, because recruiting such powerful allies are integral to the sect’s own power and influence. Most druids in the Outer Planes are in the ranks of the Plane Tenders.
The multiverse is dying, consuming itself on an endless path towards entropy.
—Plane Tender credo
Although part of a hierarchy, the planar druids are usually as isolationist as they are on the Prime. Usually a druid will settle on a particular plane, selecting an environment that suits their own personality and preference. They each take on responsibility for the well-being of their respective areas, and they only rarely work together towards a common cause. Each planar layer has its own Grand Druid who oversees the tending of that particular plane by the various druids and initiates that live there and the organisation as a whole is led by the Sectol Arch Hierophant. A council of hierophant druids act as advisors to the grand druids and spend most of their time traveling the planes.
Once per cycle, the Grand Druids meet at the centre of the Outlands, hosted by the rilmani, to discuss matters of their way with one another. More junior druids and initiates are welcome to attend this meeting, but few of them are given a chance to speak. Hierophant druids also make every attempt to attend these ‘moots’ since it is at this time when a new Arch Hierophant is elected.
Most Arch Hierophants serve as long as they desire with little opposition. Only during the most dire circumstances would such a meeting take place before another cycle has passed.
The Sectol: The current Sectol Arch Hierophant is Tarmabalon the Tree Shepherd (planar human druid [he/him] / Plane Tenders / N).
Primary Plane of Influence: The only planes that are not overseen by a branch of the plane tenders are Limbo and the Abyss, the former being untendable and the latter being the source of the destruction of their ancient homeworld (and also too infinite and too dangerous to be worth looking after).
The Inner Planes are seldom a concern of the Plane Tenders since few of their numbers can survive in them, but some hierophants occupy themselves by travelling them regardless.
The Sectol Arch Hierophant maintains an “official” residence in Tir na Og in the Outlands, but is rarely found there between meetings.
These Priests of the Wild maintain no base of operations in Sigil. The Plane Tenders care little for the city itself—though some do hold a touch of compassion for the dying environment it occupies—except as means to travel to other planes.
The wild lands are decaying…
—Factol Tarmabalon
civilisation breeds death for the planes…
We must act now…
Membership: All a member has to be is a druid of a neutral alignment, or a ranger. Other eligibility requirements are determined through observation by other members of the sect.
Allies & Enemies: Though their ways are respected many and reviled by some, their isolationist nature precludes the existence of any allies or enemies. The Dustmen and Doomguard, however, represent the antithesis of the Tenders’ creed and are thus given the cold shoulder. The Verdant Guild are natural allies, and indeed some druids are members of both groups.
Advantages: Members of this sect may alter a commune with nature spell once per month to contact and receive guidance from a hierophant druid Tender. Hierophants themselves may use this benefit to contact the Arch Hierophant or others of their kind. The Arch Hierophant may contact any druid. Also, Plane Tenders are able to survive on any Outer Plane as though they had a universal Survival proficiency.
Restrictions: Being impartial to everything save nature, plane tenders must be of neutral alignment like other druids. In addition, Plane Tenders are highly unwelcome in urban areas, particularly Sigil, and are often banned from such places. This is usually unjustified, but officially the Plane Tenders disapprove of burgs and would like to see them destroyed. predictably, this tends to get the city-dwellers’ backs up a little. Tenders are also disliked across Arcadia, where they’re viewed (rightly or wrongly) as detrimental to the organised nature of the plane.
Source: Jon Winter-Holt, and an unknown author from 1998 (if you recognise this please get in touch!) This sect is homebrew.