Spriggan

Spriggan is an ancient city that has been untouched by time for many generations. The ancient gnomes who lived here, a race of people who were well connected with the forest, were said to be descended from Baervan Wildwanderer himself, though in the modern era most gnomes attribute this mostly to myth than anything else. That has not stopped the continued tradition of the reverence of the Wildwanderer family name. The final member of that family died some 300 years ago, and was buried in the family crypt, beneath the large Spriggan Tree in the middle of the town. A statue of Baervan Wildwanderer guards the now sealed entrance to the crypt.

The Spriggan Tree dominates the center of the town. Standing at approximately 575 feet tall (and reportedly still growing)and reported to be over 12000 years old, it is the tree that all the other trees around it are rooted from. The forest gnomes never believed in cutting the trees down, but rather built their homes upon, around, and under the already existing trees. This makes Spriggan an appealing place to live for many different subraces of gnomes, not just the gnomes of the forest. In a wondrous blend of nature and machinery, Spriggan is full of lifts and systems to aid in the above and below ground system that makes up Spriggan’s byways and walkways.

When it came to the Unification Conflict some 800 years ago, the gnomes of Spriggan had quickly fallen on the side of the High Elves. Their main interest had been to preserve the already long history of the town, and to keep the forests safe from what they saw as possibly troubling times ahead. Before the Dwarves sided with the High Elves, they were the main source of weapons for the High Elf forces. The protection of the High Elves and their far away position in the north part of Hilan meant that none of the wars and struggles of the Unification Conflict ever really touched Spriggan.

For a long time, those of the Blood of Wildwanderer ruled over Spriggan in a manner similar to kings and queens, but when the final heir died off, leadership was put to a vote. Since then, the new king or queen of Spriggan is voted upon from a series of candidates that the previous king and queen named (in a legal document that is updated regularly) before their death. This ruler will rule in whatever manner they see fit, but knows that on some level they should honor the status quo and traditions of the town. They will rule until death.

Spiggan is also home to the largest collection of written knowledge in Hilan. While the dead take up the roots of the Spriggan Tree, this library takes up the majority of the upper portion of the tree. Portions of the Spriggan Tree have been hollowed out, with shelves and storage units built directly into the wood, in a manner that has been mastered by the residents and passed down for many generations. The tree still lives and grows, and is tended by a number of scholars, many of whom are dedicated to the Order of Oghma.

The Order of Oghma is dedicated to the ongoing evolution of knowledge and the preservation of what has already been discovered. They are the primary keepers of the Library, tending to its upkeep as well as constantly reading and studying to update their always ongoing research. Members of the Order often leave Spriggan in a search for tomes to acquire and add to the collection, but other than those journeys, they rarely leave their studies.

The current King of Spriggan is Glendowl Angelspeck, and was elected to that position only three years ago.

The former High Priest of the Order of Oghma is Donnel Castguard, and is well into his 201st year. After the crimes of the Order had been discovered, the Order now remains leaderless.