Tanirun Galeweaver

"Good day to you, ______. I am Annous Pineshadow, high priest of The Rainkeeper and ambassador of Qeynos. It has been a [long] time since I last set foot within the Jaggedpine, and although not surprised, I am amazed and awestruck at the untouched purity of these sacred grounds. It is very much a relief to know that the forest has been sparred the taint of the venomous world that has become Norrath."

"Sixty years — give or take. This is the place of my birth and my home. When I had come of age, I ventured to Qeynos to learn the ways of the priest, finding myself lost in the ways of the druid. I adore the nature that Karana sustains, but I had always felt myself more suited for the path of preservation and servitude of the faith. When his majesty, Antonious III sealed the Jaggedpine, I was among those who were asked to remain behind in Qeynos. Only the druids and rangers of Karana remained in the Jaggedpine — it was important to preserve only the bare minimum and we understood the need. We also did not wish to have our culture be entirely cut off and those who remained outside of the forest's confines were there to continue the faith and [sacred ways] of The Rainkeeper."

"There are hundreds of different rites, ceremonies, prayers, and rituals that are performed in one's devotion to The Rainkeeper. Many of these can be as simple as the performance of a duty, as a druid would protect their forest, while some may be as complex and consuming as a several day ceremony to usher in the changing seasons. Aaaah. . . but there is truly so much that in the time that's left for me here could not give proper justice for in my explanations — nor do I believe that you would truly understand them by simply listening. You must [have the faith in your heart] and you must truly wish to uphold the ways of the Rainkeeper and do so to truly understand."

"I would not dare challenge that, my friend, but is your faith strong enough to withstand the greatest of consequences — even the sacrifice of your own life in remaining true to that faith? Aaaah. . . but such is a question that cannot be merely asked and simply answered in words. One truly does not discover one's self until they are faces with the reality of such tests of faith. Perhaps, if [you are willing], I might guide you on a path that may lead to the discovery of such answers."

"Excellent, child. I am pleased to know that you are willing to go so far as to test your faith — but do so not to me, or to anyone other than yourself and The Rainkeeper, else you shall find only a hollow shadow of the answers you seek, and a great void of disappointment. If you prove successful in your own eyes by completing this task, then you shall be among The Rainkeeper's sacred order of priests — The Gale Weavers. Druids and Clerics alike make up this order, for our dedication is mutual in strength and our ultimate duties to The Rainkeeper are parallel. The first journey that you must embark on will result in the acquisition of the [Azure Idol of Karana] — an ancient item that each of The Gale Weavers possess."

"When the order was first founded by the Hierophant known as Tanirun Galeweaver, he bestowed upon all of his brethren a sacred idol carved by his own hands. It is said that when Tanirun blessed the Shrine of Karana with his gift of the storm, that the remaining essence of Karana's witness was divided among the idols. In the passing times, the idols were handed down when an old member passed beyond into the Eye of Karana's Storm and a new member was inducted in their predecessor's memory and honor. You will seek one of these idols — one that at present has no owner and was stolen by the bandit raiders and return it to me. The man who possesses the idol is one known as Drayen Blackguard — a member of the dreaded Blackguard family that has taken recent residence in the forest. You shall find him in the mountains of Rathe if our scouts are correct."

"Then your endeavor shall continue, my child. Take this scroll — to you now it holds no meaning but in due time you shall understand. Keep the scroll close to you until you have sought and successfully acquired the [Dormant Crystal Sphere] and [The Rainkeeper's Writ]."