Silvanus

(a.k.a. Oak Father, The Old Oak, Treefather,)

Silvanus is the God of wild nature, standing in alliance with Mielikki and Eldath in the Triad of the Woodlands.

Church of Silvanus

The Church of Silvanus was the main organization of worship of the god Silvanus. Spread throughout Creostrana and loosely organized, nevertheless, the Greenleaf priesthood was far stronger than people thought. The Clergy of Silvanus preached about the peace and purity of wild lands.

The Clergy of Silvanus was expected to protect forests, plant new trees whenever possible, and banish disease. They also were friends of Dryads and were expected to seek them out and serve them whenever possible. While expected to kill only when necessary, they were fierce enemies of those who would harm the forest with axe or fire. Silvanites should use violence only when the situation or hostile enemy leaves no other option.
Silvanites aided in wildlife breeding, nursing sick animals, and replanting shrubs and trees.

Rituals

Call of Oak, Ash, and Thorn
In this ritual the supplicant to Silvanus gathers the leaves of Oak, Ash and Thorn trees. The leaves are then floated on still water, and Silvanus is entreated to hear the worshiper's prayer.

Divine Domains

Nature, Light, Peace, Order,

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Belled Branches were holy symbols created by the druids of Silvanus. They took the form of a silver tree branch strung with tiny golden bells, hanging from a simple chain. Those implements were inspired by an older druidic practice of focusing magic through tree branches encrusted with mistletoe and holly, and some were known to increase the potency of divine magic.

Hamadryad eggs were white egg-shaped stones used as a holy symbol by worshipers of Silvanus. They were engraved with an oak lead that turned green when used by a faithful to focus divine spells. Some hamadryad eggs were known to empower the casting abilities of their users, and granted them limited teleportation abilities. 

Tenets of Faith

A central creed of followers of Silvanus is to preserve the Balance. Fire is balanced with ice, wild water is balanced with drought, and life is balanced with death. This was in part because they viewed the power of civilization as encroaching on wild spaces, and they sought to balance this by siding with nature. This commitment to Balance made so Silvanites often fought for one side on one day, only to join the opposing side the other day. The Greenleaf Church was unconcerned with the particular ruling families, leaders or governments of the nations around them, viewing the rise and fall of various countries with indifference. They always meant to keep the Balance. And as long as nature survived, the balance would remain.

Another part of their creed was to fight disease. Plant new flora. Stop the felling of forests.

Holidays

Midsummer Night, Highharvesttide, Night of the Forest Walks,

Divine Classification

Deity