Old Faith Druidry
The Old Faiths is primarily a blanket term for the eldest of Oerth's greater beings. Some devote themselves to a specific deity or group of deities, others worship the spirituality of the land more generally.
Cosmological Views
The followers of the Old Faith hold trees, particularly oak and ash, and the sun and the moons as sacred. Druids of the Old Faith believe they must protect trees, plants, and crops from destruction; to a lesser extent, they protect their human followers and animals as well.
They recognize that humans, humanoids, and animals need food and shelter, and don't begrudge them the right to hunt or practice agriculture if they do so responsibly. Druids of the Old Faith may not destroy woodlands or crops, though they may work to change the nature of these things if they feel it is worth the effort to do so. For example, an Old Faith druid could cleanse a corrupted wood of its evil taint, but the Old Faith is strongly neutral in alignment, believing that Good, Evil, Law, and Chaos should exist in balance.
The Old Faith holds itself aloof from worldly affairs, being primarily concerned with the cycles of nature: life, death, and rebirth. They view all things as part of a great cycle, with Good and Evil only temporary phases. Only when the cycle itself is threatened do they feel called to action.
Tenets of Faith
As a folk religion, practitioners of the Old Faith cannot truly be said to follow any one code. They tend to share a reverence for nature and the natural order, though. Rejection of civilizations, especially expansionist governments who encroach on nature, is also common.
If this faith can be said to have any rule, it is this:
- Protect nature. Do not practice or tolerate subversions of the natural order.
Worship
Specific methods of worship differ depending on the deity involved.
Beory
Beory is worshiped by practices of the Old Faith across all races, but has stronger followers among Elves and Dwarves, whose long lives tie them more closely to the time before cities dotted the shores of Nyr Div. Her worship is informal, not centralized through any hierarchy or temple structure. She is worshiped under many names, and a general reverence for her exists among many nomadic cultures of the Flanaess.Priesthood
The Old Faith is not an organized religion, but it may be practiced in groups. Its clergy is not distinguished by any uniform or signifier, though clerics, paladins, and druids may use the symbol of Beory or another Old-Faith deity as a holy symbol.
Though not enforced, followers of the Old Faith are often compelled to certain pursuits. They can often be found tending and protecting natural and especially wilderness locations. Extremists may even fight against civilization, engaging in vandalism or personal protest to prevent settlements from pushing further into wilderness.
Followers of the Old Faiths may take a conservation role, such as protecting a forest from being felled or an animal from poachers. They often also tend ancient holy places, though those are rare, and their veracity is debated even among practitioners.
Sects
Despite not having any formal hierarchy or internal structure, there are a few specific paths among the Old Faiths.
Bards of the Old Lore
Those who devote themselves to preserving the oral traditions and stories of the Old Faiths are considered Bards of the Old Lore. They help keep the culture and stories of the Old World alive.Rangers of the Gnarley Way
Rather than rejecting modernity, these Old Faith followers seek to help negotiate a coexistence between the Old Gods, Nature, and contemporary people and cultures, balancing the needs of people and their civilizations with those of nature.
Type
Druidic Circle
Alternative Names
The Bronzewood Lodge Community
Controlled Territories