* Restricted Information: Druids initiated into these Mysteries only

The Mysteries of the Circles

"Stones stand in circles in the head"
    from Akilia's vision of Sylva

1. The Circles
2. The Mysteries
3. The Sites

1. The Circles

The Druids of old built or grew Circles to mark the Sacred Hearts of the Forests under their care.  Usually these were circles of twelve standing stones, sometimes with a central altar stone.  Sometimes (particularly amongst Tree Cults) they were circles of trees.  Sometimes (particularly amongst Beastmaster Cults) they were circles of totem poles.  Many of these Circles remain as the Sacred Sites of the local Druids, and are maintained and protected with care.  Others have fallen into disuse, and may be in a state of ruin.

Typically each stone/tree/totem (the word "stone" will be used in this document to denote any of these) in a Circle is designated to represent another Circle in the same Forest, and often marked with a symbol or rune to indicate this.  Thus each stone in the Circle of a Sub-Forest represents the Circles of the other Sub-Forests of that Forest, together with the Sacred Heart Circle of the Forest.  Each stone in the Sacred Heart Circle of the Forest represents the Circles of the Sub-Forests of that Forest, but also has an alternate representation of the other Major Forests of the Overworld or Underworld, as applicable.

2. The Mysteries

The above can be deduced by any Druid of an enquiring mind with access to the Circles.  The following Mysteries may be learnt from senior Druids or gathered from further experience of the Circles.  They are given in ascending order of secrecy, with indications of the Druid (or other) Level at which an initiate may be ready to receive them.  (However, this will always depend upon the judgement of the Druid Elders, and there is no right to this knowledge.  Attitude and respect for the Cult are at least, if not more, important.)

• DrL 4: The designations of other Circles have normally been used to make actual connections between the Circles known as "Links".  It is possible to use the Links to travel between the Circles, for example by using Transport via Plants to go from one Tree Circle to another, without having first instressed from the destination Tree or despite the destination Tree being of a different Species.
• DrL 6: The Circles have a spiritual aspect too.  The connections may be used to scry by Dreaming, and so gain insights or prophecies, to move into the Natural Kingdoms (where appropriate alternate designations exist) or to travel by ChaosMastery.  The Guardian Nature Spirits of the respective Forests, Who are associated with Their respective Circles, are alive to this spiritual aspect, and may often be encountered when using it.
• DrL 8 / DrML 4: The Circles are reflections of the Hall of Mirrors in the High Temple of ORORO, Demigod of Imagination, in Khalkan-Jho in the Dreamworlds.  Their connections are not therefore fixed, and an adept may use them to make alternate connections.  This is easier where there is a natural or logical link from a particular stone to the intended destination.  Or one may simply open one's mind to the possibilities.  Hallucinogenic substances can assist in achieving an appropriate trance state.
• DrL 10: Each Circle has a corresponding and opposite Dark Circle, accessed by the spiritual aspect.  Often the Dark Circle exists only in Dreams, but some Cults that have explored the Dark Side of Nature have built physical Dark Circles (for example in a cavern beneath the Light Circle).  In some places in the Underworld, the Dark Circle is the only physical one, and it is the Light Circle that is accessed spiritually.  The Dark Circles are part of the Dark Forest: a powerful Dreamworld / Realm of Madness that represents the Dark Side of Nature, and which has occasionally physically manifested itself in the Real World.  Dark Circles have connections mirroring those of their Light Circles, and may be used by adepts for travel unseen from the Light Side.
• DrL 12 / DrML 6: The true adept can conjure up a Circle in his mind, without the need of a physical Circle.  A physical Circle is a powerful aid to imagining a spiritual Circle, but is not essential.  Powerful ChaosMasters, as well as Dreamers, may grasp this concept.

3. The Sites

The Circles of the Major Forests of the Overworld and Underworld respectively are as follows.  They are listed in the orders in which they are commonly Linked from Sacred Hearts (counting deasil in the Overworld and widdershins in the Underworld - from Dark Hearts count widdershins in the Overworld and deasil in the Underworld).

Overworld

• Sacred Hearts

1. The Icelands
2. The North East Forest: Historical (* Restricted: sages and historians of the area only) / Proposed (* Restricted: Aldalië and their allies only)
3. The Mountains of the Dwarves (Khazâd-Valga) and Eastern Mountain Range
4. The Jungle
5. The Caspian Mountains
6. The Great Desert
7. The Grasslands
8. The Inner Sea (Great Ocean)
9. The Outer Sea / Sea of CASPIS
10. Taur Galen (Greenwood the Great)
11. The Valdrean Plain
12. The North West Forest

Underworld

• Sacred Hearts

1. The Icelands
2. The Sea of CASPIS / Outer Sea
3. The Mountain Ranges
4. The Desert of Fire and Trikāf
5. The Far Lands (Far Hills, Flerrig and Kargen)
6. The Lazy Lands (Vale of Vclo, Harrig and the Desert of Torpor)
7. The Blasted Lands and Great Orcish Empire
8. The Great Desert
9. The Sea of Mizzin and Lost Deserts: Moriquendi / Lindar versions
10. Gurdor and Zarmator
11. The North Western Deserts
12. Hulmo & The Lesser Orcish Empire

The following are some of the Circles of the Sub-Forests and Minor Forests:

• The Great Swamp
• The Northlands (Sub-Forest of the North West Forest)
• Kyr (Minor Forest)

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