Brilliant retired DM Shadowcharlatan built most of a pretty neat Druid Grove system, and I've been working on implementing it.
At the moment there is only one druid Grove Ritual spot available in game.
When the server has a certain number of players in-game, druids can use this spot (sometimes) to conduct a ritual. The ritual takes a while, but the Druid PC has the option to leave while it's taking place. If successful, the druid can receive various neat boons.
Glowing crystals in various areas close to the Grove indicate when a ritual is taking place.
If other PCs come along and interrupt the ritual (whether it be undefended, or by defeating the Druid in combat) they can steal a Saturated Leystone. This Saturated Leystone can then be turned in for big rewards to various NPCs, or perhaps used for other purposes.
Assuming this system seems to work fairly well, we plan to expand it to more groves and make it so druids can claim a particular grove.
It's important to note that it would be a massive violation of druidic oaths (and frankly considered OOC cheating) for a druid PC to cooperate with others to start a ritual and then deliberately let other PCs take the stone for rewards. So please don't do that.
This sounds absolutely awesome. Thanks SC!
Would there be any bonus for druids, rangers or other nature oriented PC's to aid the original Druid in this ritual, or would it be left to the druid in question to reward other players for their aid?
There is no scripted bonus currently for other PCs involved in the ritual, but absolutely it's a desirable thing for it to be a group effort. As players experiment with this system we welcome feedback for improvement and refinement.
There is always the possibility for a DM jumping in if we see a cool and interesting well role-played ritual.
This seems to be working fairly well. In terms of expansion, future druids who wish to claim a particular area as part of a Grove as part of a serious concept are invited to get in touch with me or apply for a scripted Grove to be created (may require IC work, of course).