The Cedar Circle
Tucked away at the very edge of Maple Brook where the forest canopy begins to thicken, the school is a cluster of well-crafted wooden buildings and large, weather-treated hide teepees. The scent of pine resin and slow-cooking venison hangs in the air, and the grounds are often filled with students practicing rhythmic movements or intricate beadwork. The central structure, known as the Big House, is a longhouse made of dark cedar that serves as the administrative and social hub.
The Cedar Circle
The atmosphere is one of vibrant resilience and deep-rooted spirituality. It feels like a sanctuary where every activity, from cooking to woodcarving, is performed with intentionality and respect for the past.
Tucked away at the very edge of Maple Brook where the forest canopy begins to thicken, the school is a cluster of well-crafted wooden buildings and large, weather-treated hide teepees. The scent of pine resin and slow-cooking venison hangs in the air, and the grounds are often filled with students practicing rhythmic movements or intricate beadwork. The central structure, known as the Big House, is a longhouse made of dark cedar that serves as the administrative and social hub.
Quietly intense and patient, Kaelen speaks with the weight of someone who remembers the stories of a thousand ancestors and possesses a dry, observant wit.
History
The Living Curriculum
Unlike standard academic institutions, the Cedar Circle prioritizes oral tradition and physical mastery. The curriculum is divided into the Three Paths: the Path of Memory (History and Anti-Colonial Studies), the Path of the Land (Survival and Botany), and the Path of the Spirit (Dance, Meditation, and Ritual Magic).
The Spirit Pact
The school operates under a pact with the local forest spirits. In exchange for the school's protection of the woods, the spirits act as sentries and teaching assistants. It is common to see a shimmering wisp guiding a student to their next class or a spirit-owl correcting a child's pronunciation during history recitations.
The Refuge Protocol
Due to their history as refugees, the Felawi-ohana have built the school to be easily vacated or defended. Each teepee can be struck in minutes, and the Big House is reinforced with magical wards that can be triggered to hide the entire camp behind an illusion of dense, impenetrable thicket if danger approaches.
Denizens
Quietly intense and patient, Kaelen speaks with the weight of someone who remembers the stories of a thousand ancestors and possesses a dry, observant wit.
A benevolent, talking honey badger who teaches students how to identify edible roots and find water in the harshest terrains.
A human who was adopted by the tribe as a child: she leads the dance classes and is an expert on the pre-colonial maps of the territory.
An ancient earth spirit resembling a moss-covered boulder that occasionally shifts shape to give lectures on geology and ancestral lore.
Rumors & Plot Hooks
- 1.The food in the canteen is infused with spirit-magic that allows the eater to speak to forest creatures for a short time.
- 2.The local authorities in Maple Brook are secretly planning to tax the school into closure to clear the land for a lumber mill.
- 3.At the center of the totem pole is a shard of the Great Spirit's tooth, which protects the school from being seen by those with ill intent.
Classified Entry
Beneath the Big House lies the 'Hide-Away,' a hidden chamber where the tribe keeps the original artifacts and scrolls that survived the Cullings. These items contain the true names of the colonial generals who committed the atrocities, a list that would cause a political firestorm if made public.
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