Quote Originally Posted by ErrantX
I'd make them heavily druid based, and perhaps give them a spellcasting progression like Blighters (Complete Divine). They get all 9 spell levels but a quicker, smaller progression with limited spells. Give them lots of necromancy spells (hit the PHB, Complete Divine and Libris Mortis hard on that one) and go to town. Just make sure you don't lose the druid feel of them. I'm whole-heartedly supporting you making the Children.
I'm axing the spells, but see class features later.

I <3 dark druids.
I don't; I think that Blighters were overdone and completely cliche. I've been growing more and more irritated with the black-and-white nature of D&D morality lately, and I think it's time to play around with those delicious gray areas.