Paths of Protection

In the depths of winter, when life is at it’s lowest ebb, fell spirits wander the forest. These spirits bring hunger, sickness, and misery to those who cannot avoid their attention. Precautions most be taken to protect villages and travellers and these have become known as the Paths of Protection. This tradition is practiced throughout the kingdom apart from in Calen Tal tel’Taure where it regarded as being a bit quaint.

Execution

As winter approaches the elders of a village will gather the children to remind them of the precautions they need to take during winter. Depending on the size of the village any older children may be told to teach the warning verses to the younger ones, but if there aren't any older children the elders will do it themselves.

If you must walk in winter’s night
Do not rely on carried light.

They flock at once to breath or flame
Gathering close they call your name

The sounds of the children reciting the verses is also a sign to the adults in the village that it is time to start their own preparations. Scarves and masks are gotten out and checked for damage, and new ones made if needed.

On the night of the next moon ritual (when the moon is at it's fullest) the people of the village gather to show their masks and scarves. The children's masks tend to be the most ornate, resembling animals and monsters and they will usually spend the evening chasing each other around while wearing their masks.

The day after the children are set to building the paths that will protect the village. These paths are marked out using stones and branches, and direct anything travelling along them away from the village. The paths split and rejoin, with numerous dead ends and possible routes.

Heed them not for should you reply
Within a week they’ll see you die.

The children play games through the paths during the winter, but each afternoon one of the village elders will inspect the paths and put right any breaks.

Components and tools

The main component of this tradition is a mask or scarf or that is used to cover the nose and mouth. While it can cover the rest of the face as well the most important thing is to reduce the amount of breath steaming in the air so as not to attract any unwelcome spirits.
The paths can be marked with anything as long as it won't be blown away by the wind. Large branches or stones are the main things used.

Related Organizations

• Ancient Kingdom of the Forest

Related Ethnicities

• Taurim

The elves have long had a close connection with the fey, but not all of the fey are friendly. Some malcious fey slip into the forest and try to cause trouble. These fey do not perceive the world in the same way as the mortal races and they find it easier to notice things like flames or breath condensing in the cold night air. They also have a peculiar obsession with following paths which allows the elves to direct them away from their villages.