Never before have I taken the time to write a post on the public boards.
No matter how true, funny, or just plain stupid I believe a post to
be..I've always thought adding my two cents was just more clutter to the
boards and a perpetuation of subjects that always end up going nowhere.
I've finally reached the point where I've love just to gouge out my
eyes, so I don't have to read any more of this. Each post gets a little
more acidic to the point of disgust and makes me pray even more for the
day that compassion returns to this land. But before I return to silence
and the joys I've discovered of being a hermit, there is a subject I
think needs addressed.

First of all, Oakstone is not trying to lay ownership to any forest. I
am a Druid, a member of Oakstone, and Gaian...and I have no desire for
power, fame, wealth, ect. I find communing with Nature in my little
grove to be quite comfortable. And I know that the majority of those in
similiar organization feel that same as I do. This is about protection
and restrictions, protection of Nature to be exact. The idea of who is
fit to protect and restrict others from using their own powers is under
fire, and I am not about to join in that debate, since I've seen enough
opinions on Darkenwood to last me a lifetime. If someone wants to talk
to me about my view so badly, they can send a tell. Sometimes it is best
to keep things private instead of smearing them all over the boards,
just for the sake of letting everyone else hear you talk. Though I will
say that when the Spirit of Darkenwood was suffering like all of Nature,
Oakstone was there trying to heal. Druids, Sentinels, Oakstone..we were
all there making the concoctions needed to ease Darkenwood's wounds,
because we care. We love all forests and we want to keep them safe and
healthy.

The subject that I really wanted to address was that of Mother Gaia's
passing. Yes, my Mother spread Her essence across all of Sapience to
help bring unity to the forest dwellers once more. And yes, it is highly
unlikely that Nature will manifest itself in the form of Gaia again.
But, the ideas and children of Gaia are NOT dead. I am not a former
Gaian, I am a Gaian NOW and will always follow the path that She has
made for me. Nature can never die, or else we would all die too. Her
ideas of protecting Nature and learning about the flora and fauna that
we depend on still thrive within the hearts of many. Gaia still has an
Order, many of us still pledge our loyalty to the Goddess we love, even
if we have lost the conventional means of worhsipping Her. I invite all
of those who are interested in the path that Gaia has left to approach
one of Her followers. We have vast knowledge of Nature and the mark Gaia
has left that we've love to share. We are still taking on proteges, so
Gaia may never be forgotten.

So I say to those who believe that Gaia is gone: Mother's Legacy lives
on. She was the most fit Mother for Nature and in my heart, She can
never be replaced. Do not think that Her realm has disappeared. The
Oakstone that She created as a council for protecting Nature still
stands strong, as do the Forest defenses. We are prepared. Nature will
live forever. Gaia's memory and teachings will stay strong in the
heart's of Her Order.

From a Child of Nature to All,
Druidess Aelyn Sa'Rithven-Jaydde

Penned by my hand on the 18th of Scarlatan, in the year 308 AF.