The Ashbound exist in scattered groups that patrol ceaselessly within the Reaches or embark on raids against what they see as threats to the natural order. They have no central base or even a high druidic council. Individuals advance in personal power through their exploits, and those who are especially charismatic attract followers. The most influential become the de facto leaders of the organization, which means only that others are more likely to listen to them. During grand conclaves, these competing leaders speak to the assembled and shape the sect’s overall policies. The speaker who most sways the crowd assumes the mantle of leader, although this is by no means a lifetime position. The next year’s conclave might see another catch the sect’s attention and become the high druid with no further ado.
The current high druid is Gharull (N male shifter druid 10), whose passion and personal magnetism are irresistible. He is responsible for attracting many followers to the sect, and his voice has prevailed in the last eight grand conclaves. He sees himself as the voice of nature, and his outlook is fierce and uncompromising. The Ashbound sect has become even more radical under his leadership, with attacks against farmers in the eastern Reaches, raids on arcane academies in Aundair, even incursions against Brelish industries. He has the support of shifters within the sect as well as the Cyran refugees. His voice does not speak for all, though. Other local leaders are influential within their districts, most notably Collas (N male human druid 4), who takes a more moderate message to the eastern plains dwellers. He is a proponent of atonement ceremonies over the purifying flame. Should his philosophy dominate at a future conclave, most of the sect would moderate their attitudes as well.
Druids make up about one-quarter of the sect, a very high proportion compared to most religious organizations. The Ashbound count many rangers, Eldeen rangers, and barbarians among them, all fanatically devoted to the uncomplicated life. A local Ashbound leader might not even be a druid, especially in the western Reaches. There, war parties of rangers and barbarians are the rule. Around the borders of the Gloaming, on the other hand, the ratio of druids to others is much higher than elsewhere, in an effort to keep that region’s slow expansion in check. This often brings the Ashbound into conflict with the Children of Winter, who patrol its boundaries to protect what they see as sacred ground.
Most Ashbound spellcasters are druids, owing to the sect’s fierce antipathy to any sort of magic outside that of nature, but a few are adepts. Their primitive magic is acceptable to the Ashbound, as long as it is used for the correct purposes. Occasionally a spirit shaman (Complete Divine 14) joins the sect, seeing this as her responsibility to the spirits of nature. Many Ashbound, however, distrust the “spirits” she calls on as forces outside the natural order.