Thellynes holy orders

Holy Orders

The Thellynites have two holy orders: the woodwardens (the clergy), who protect forests from dark powers and minister to the humans and beasts who live in them, and the hallowed hunters, who destroy any creature or power that would defile the wilderness. One woodwarden might unite with a lone hallowed hunter to protect a chosen wild region. This alliance, called a greenbond, is the closest thing to a structure that the Thellynites possess. The Thellynite faith has no central authority; no one member may command another. In the greenbonds, the senior member usually leads, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Once indoctrinated into one of the Thellynite orders, the initiate chooses her own path, much as Canellans do.

Woodwardens of Thellyne

Young woodwardens wander the world, seeking a forest in need of a guardian. When they find one they take up residence, protecting the people and animals living there. He balanced their needs, but never allows people to ravage the wild. Hunted animals must rebuild their numbers. Gathered plants must be allowed to regrow. Among some primitive or woodland societies, the woodwarden might be the spiritual leader of an entire people.
Unlike druids, their order does not require reclusive behavior. They are clergy after all, and minister to groups, small or large. In remote areas, their only congregants might be the animals, but they serve nonetheless, keeping dark things from the woods. Some woodwardens never settle in a single forest and adventure around the world, battling the enemies of nature. These priests are rare, but considered just as devout as their settled counterparts.
All woodwardens share the same basic tenets: The natural world should be protected, the people and animals who reside therein served, and the laws of the Thellynite faith observed. The differences between the three alignments of woodwardens are based on where they choose to practice. Most woodwardens are neutral good. They protect the largest wild places, seeking to do the most good.
Lawful good woodwardens seek woodlands near civilization. Taking up residence in the forest or a neighboring town, they teach people to honor nature, and tread lightly upon it. Many of these woodwardens minister to towns of loggers, teaching them how to properly respect and replenish the trees.
Chaotic good woodwardens might settle anywhere. Those who live near civilization dissuade people from damaging the woods in any way. This might lead two woodwardens into conflict; lawful good woodwarden tolerate some exploitation of the forest, but their chaotic good brethren do not. Members of the woodwardens are addressed as “warden.” In the rare formal introductions, the woodwarden is introduced as, “a woodwarden of the Thellynites.”

Joining the Woodwardens

Initiates seeking to become woodwardens must find an established member of the order and become her apprentice, spending up to five years learning woodcraft and Thellyne’s teachings. When the master deems his training complete, she leads him to the depths of the woods, strips him of all possessions, and leaves him to find his way back. Students who manage this become woodwardens, clerics with the Nature domain, and masters of their own destinies

Hallowed Hunters of Thellyne

Like many rangers, hallowed hunters drive evil creatures from the woods, but unlike rangers (who they often count as allies), however, they receive powers from Thellyne, the goddess of the hunt. Thus the order trains powerful hunters, who might even lead good rangers against nature’s enemies. Hallowed hunters must protect woodlands, and must not willingly allow evil to take over natural places. Hunters cannot knowingly do evil, or assist in the commission of evil. Most of them are neutral good.

Hallowed hunters keep the company of those who love the woodlands, especially rangers and woodwardens. While they might join other good people, they do not stray from the woodlands for long, and have no real desire to spend time in cities or towns. They do not long abide the company of those who do evil, and actively oppose those who would harm the natural world. Hallowed hunters are called “hunters,” or “huntresses,” and are addressed as such.

Joining the Hallowed Hunters When one receives the call to become a hallowed hunter, she must track down a member of the order. If the initiated hunter agrees to take the candidate as her apprentice, the training can take up to eight years, as the two travel together, and the young hunter-to-be learns the secrets of the woods. In some cases, a ranger receives the call, and requires only training in the ways peculiar to Thellyne. This training only takes six months. Once trained, the hallowed hunter becomes a paladin, and is free to go wherever he believes he’s needed, as there is no authority to gainsay his desire. These pal- adins always swear the Oath of the Ancients.

Type

Religious, Holy Order