Lost Mine of Phandelver describes Reidoth as is “a gaunt, white-bearded human” male, while Phandalin And Below: The Shattered Obelisk describes the druid as “an elderly human woman with long, white hair.”

Regardless of Reidoth’s pronouns, it seems both versions of the Thundertree side quest agree that the druid is old. The question is, how old?

Through their Timeless Body feature, a venerable human druid can live for several centuries. And since Reidoth has no stat block, that leaves the Dungeon Master to fill in the gaps. So it begs the question: is the druid a spry 70+ year-old still tramping around the wilds? Or is Reidoth a venerable druid who, through the Timeless Body class feature, is several centuries old?

Freed of the limitations of time, Reidoth could be portrayed as a Gandalf-like character in your telling of the story. Someone who provides the characters with guidance and wisdom that comes with living long enough to know every blade of grass between the High Road and the Long Road.

As a human who has lived through five or more centuries, Reidoth might have known Aldith Tresendar, and dined in the great hall at Tresendar Manor with the famous knight. Might recall the splendor of Phalorm’s banners as its armies marched off to war, never to return. Might have been at Wave Echo Cave during the battle that destroyed it and, to this day, hold the belief that it is better that the Forge of Spells remains lost in the mists of time.

Reidoth might remember the dwarves of Axeholm and the elvish wizard (Vyldara) who brought about its ruin. Or the elvish wizards who built the Woodland Manse and what is now Crawgmaw Castle. The old druid may have even known Agatha the Banshee when she was an elf maiden, and recommend that anyone seeking an audience with the banshee would be well-served to use of her true name (Auglathla) if they wish to have her appear before them.

Reidoth might remember Delsendra Amzarr and her war with the orcs among the peaks and valleys of the Sword Mountains. Might remember with great sadness the fall of Lady Tanamere Alagondar in her epic battle with Azdraka, the terror of the grasslands. Perhaps the old druid even helped create the dragon barrow where both are interred.

There’s even more knowledge that Reidoth could dispense, either because the druid was there when it happened, or recalls the news of events as they happened in centuries past. Have fun with that. Let Reidoth inform the characters and expand the world you are leading them through. Use the old coot to plant the seeds of adventure for the players at your table beyond Wave Echo Cave!

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