Blackwater Islands underwater

cerulean's summons rose from the whispering copse, reaching with faint tendrils toward the spiritglade where the listener resided. she  beckoned to @Ingram and set off at once, trusting her children would be safe where they slept within her den. the keeper's presence was necessary for this meeting.

the prophet greeted tulok and cerulean in turn. we will speak. but not here, her gaze swept across the keeper and the two speakers as she turned to lead them to their meeting place. a parting in the thick cover of trees and foliage, a path not unlike the occultists' path in the druids' grove. this path was darker and longer, full of twists and dead ends. it ended in a misty clearing with no visible exit save the path they'd taken. the forest around them was thick with stones and vegetation, the way barred by vines and fallen trees on all sides.

the listener stood in the center of the clearing, sweeping around to gaze upon her most trusted.

this is where we will decide the fate of the druids. we will meet here to discuss the path forward, and the decisions we will make, whenever the need arises.

what we speak of here must not leave this clearing, even in conversation among ourselves. the topics of our discussions, you may speak of freely; facts, predictions, the decisions we have come to. but you will speak nothing of opinions or strife, arguments or agreements. we will enter with opinions of our own, minds of our own, and we will speak them freely. rank does not exist in this clearing; we are equals here. but when we leave...

the prophet paused to give each a meaningful look.

we must be of one mind. one voice. when we have made our decisions, we will all stand behind them. if you cannot abide this, leave now, or the druids will pay the price for your weakness.