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    Canonfire :: View topic - Initiation of a Druid
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    Initiation of a Druid
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    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:16 am  
    Initiation of a Druid

    There has been a lot of talk about druids and about religions and such here and on the WotC forums over the past few months. In my campaign, druidry is solely tied to the Old Faith, a mystery cult in which the Oerth Mother takes central role. This is an initiation rite into one of the mysteries, those of the first circle.

    This might belong better in the Heretics' Nest, but I'll stick it here anyway.


    Last edited by Vormaerin on Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:19 am; edited 1 time in total
    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:16 am  
    Part 1: The Ordeal

    Part 1: The Ordeal

    The days and nights passed slowly; time spent searching the woods, seeking what was needed. Would it be found in time? Hunger was a distraction, as was the lack of ale. But High Initiate had been firm: nothing but river or rain water until the Ceremony. IF the necessary things could be found.

    Sleeping in the open was nothing new... But the bug bites were. Everything that creeped and crawled seemed to be out to make life especially miserable. The rain was a relief. Wet and hungry was no fun, but at least the insects stayed away as well. Slipping in the mud along the river banks, the search continued. Some had been found, but not others. Time was running short.

    Searching, meditating. Alone in the Forest. "Remembering" long ago when the forest was not several woods, but on great expanse. Before men or even the elves had been here. Dwarves had, but they rarely came down from their mountain halls. Now the Forest was just woods. But still alive with life. Plants and animals..and other things. Men roamed the woods, some travellers, hunters. Others bandits and lawbreakers. The prohibition on shedding blood during purification. There would be other days, as the badger watched the men trudge by.

    Branches of birch and hazel and oak and holly; bound in ivy. Paste made of fiery milk mushrooms ground and mixed with river water. Crude clay bricks. Feathers from an owl. An assortment of wild herbs and grasses, bound in river reeds. Everything needed, except the dawn. That would be for tomorrow.

    Up before dawn, focusing on the tasks at hand. Eight days living only on water, alone, in the open, shedding no blood accidentally or purposefully. Not swatting the insects had been the worst, perhaps. Now, down to the river to await the dawn.

    The slightly flooding from the rains had receded. Looking about, there were no signs any had set foot here since. It was perfect. Walking to the shore, leaving no trace in the mud. The Sun just touched the horizon. Time to start.

    The crude bricks were placed side by side and the bundles sticks set upon them. Kneeling in the mud, praying, watching the sun rise slowly. As it reached the half way point, called fire ignited the branches. Aromatic smoke spread around the new made altar, adding clarity and an acrid focus to the proceedings. Now to dig. Quickly scooping mud into the river, leaving a shallow trench to surround the altar, water seeping in from the surrounding ground. A quick glance at the sun showed it had just cleared the horizon. Perfect. Earth, Fire, Air, Water, and Wood: born in darkness, raised in the dawn, blessed by day.

    The bundle of herbs and grasses were added to the fire while prayers to the Oerth Mother were recited. A sheaf of wild wheat for the Hearth Mother, a small staff for the Shalm. Sacrifices and entreaties accepted, it was time.

    The shock of the chill river water was breathtaking.. the glacier fed Davish entered the Javan not far north. Diving to the bottom, feeling the river bed beneath one's fingers...air..breath..the body trying to panic as the heavy waterlogged clothes slowed return to the surface. Gasping relief as new air flooded the lungs.. Feet finding purchase and walking, backwards, out of the river to where the Altar waited. Discarding the sodden clothes for good...donning the new ceremonial robe that Yovanna had woven. Walking backwards into the forest, eyes remaining on the river until all sight of it was lost in the trees.

    Reborn, renewed... Now for the last step before finding the others. Dipping the owl's feather in the mushroom paste, painting the third eye on the forehead, the sun and moon beneath the eyes.. Around, the air seemed crisper, the colors more vivid... It was time to find the others, to join the Mysteries.


    Last edited by Vormaerin on Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:33 am; edited 1 time in total
    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:18 am  
    Part 2: Mystery

    Part 2: The Ceremony and Mystery

    He arrived outside the Sacred Cavern where the other Initiates waited patiently. It had been a long trek from the riverside, fatigue and excitement warred in the flesh. The Ordeal was complete. It was time to celebrate. All stood together as the sun set, sharing the sacred Shalmbrew from a great oaken cup. A great bonfire crackled and spit in the center of the clearing. It flickered and danced, strange figures moving in its depths. As the Sun set and the New moon shed no light, the fire became all. Glowing, shimmering, twisting as the Initiates passed the Cup and chanted prayers to the Sun Father.

    The Cup emptied, the Procession formed: sacred fire at the lead, the initiates proceeded into the caves. Darkness smothered them, groans and titters echoes in their ears from the darkness. The light of the Sacred Torch little beyond the barest flicker against the surging, pulsing darkness. Though the path was worn smooth by the tramp of centuries of feet, yet still some stumbled in the dark and threatened to fall away into darkness and be lost... The somber chanting of the initiates could not drown out the ululating cries of That Which Lurked in Darkness. Only the path offered safety though the darkness caressed the cheeks of even those closest to the flame..

    Down, down, deeper and deeper into the dark. Skin tingled at the its caress. Eyes saw black shapes move against the blackness. Ears heard the wailing cries of the lost... Chanting, chanting.. feeble protection against the Great Dark. Would any be lost on this trip? Would a new victim be known only as a wailing cry in future Rites?

    At last, the Procession entered the Great Womb... Before them stood the mighty throne: The tall formless Woman towering above them, a great stone chair carved in her lap. The procession slowly spread out in a half circle facing the Woman.. The darkness here was different....comforting, primal, full of life and secrets. The air throbbed as with a great heat. Sweating, trembling, the initiates waited...

    The Old Man was the first to enter, the great beard trailing to the ground. He strode forth and claimed the Throne! Drums, drums, drums in the deep.. A steady throb, a rhythmic beat. Time had begun its march..

    The sudden light blinded the watching Initiates as the Sun Father strode into the Chamber, the drums pounding out in time with his marching foot. He sat on the Throne. From his hand leapt forth birds and flowers... Life.. And Light.

    But lo! Time continued... the Nightlord strode into the Chamber... Darkness rushed in.. Light fled. The Nightlord sat upon the vacant Throne. And Death entered the world. Life existed, Time measured it, Death ended it. Deep into the eyes of the Initiates the Nightlord stared...Who else will be claimed?

    Drums throbbed and pounded! Rhythm lost... some loud, some soft, some fast, some slow... The Dread One had entered... maggots dripped from his flesh. Yellowed orbs glared balefully from sunken cheeks.. Even the Nightlord fled before his visage... Insanity lurked in the darkness.. flutes and pipes began to play: wild, manic incoherent tunes. The Plague Rider took the throne. Wild howls surged from the darkness, the flutes and pipes shrieked and gibbered...

    Even the Woman began to take ill...patches of malign growth forming on the stone even as the Plague Rider vanished..... With a face of stone, the Uncaring One entered. The throb of the drums, the shrieks of the pipes...nothing mattered to him. He sat on the Throne. Glittering light, sparkling with power, burst forth from the throne...Sparks the bobbed and weaved, floating with the pipes, drifting with the drums... to settle on the foreheads of the initiates..

    Power! The touch of magic..the body tingled, roared, threatened to burst... Power to heal.. power to change.. power to maintain.... Chaos and Unlife crawled on the body of the Mother. Gifts of Life, Gifts of Time, Gifts of Death, Gifts of Disease, Gifts of Magic! Visions swam before the initiates... Past, Present, Future... An endless struggle against the diseases of the Oerth Mother..

    Pain..clenching, wrenching pain...doubling over, stomach spasming...screaming agony...falling down...muscles knotting... stomach clenching again and again... gasping in pain and exhaustion...lying on the ground.. darkness and pain overwhelming sight and sense..

    Sudden light..and an end to pain... A great cracking sound... Eyes opening.. the Throne split! Behold the Twins.. Obad Hai and Berei, guides to the Way... Laughing and Singing they circle the initiates, bringing them healing wine.. Up they rise! Joy and song and wild dancing as the procession weaves its way to the surface, the gibbering in the darkness fleeing before the Twins' song.

    Out they come, dancing around the embers of the fire even as the Sun rises over the hills. Merriment until the Sun reaches it Zenith..

    The celebration winds down...ecstasy leaving.. fatigue setting in... The New Initiate is brought before the Twins.

    "Who are you?" intones the Shalm, eyes stern.

    "I am one born of the river. I am he who has entered the Womb of the Earth. I am the one who has born the pains of Life and Death.."

    "Who are you? says smiling Berei.

    "I am the Deliverer of Hope. I am the Healer of the Oerth. I am the servant of the Cycle."

    "You are a Druid." say the Twins in unison.
    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:21 am  

    And so it is: season after season, year after year, century after century, age after age. The Rites are the same, the Fates are the same. What is different is the Druid. How does the new initiate absorb the Mysteries? What inner nature do they reveal? Only the individual druid can say...
    Master Greytalker

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    Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:05 pm  

    This may be better as an article.
    Master Greytalker

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    Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:57 pm  

    Perhaps, though I didn't think we really did straight short story type things as articles here. An article on the Old Faith mystery cult might find some interested readers, though I think the above makes it pretty clear just how heretical my vision of that faith is.
    Grandmaster Greytalker

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    Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:14 am  

    Vormaerin wrote:
    Perhaps, though I didn't think we really did straight short story type things as articles here. An article on the Old Faith mystery cult might find some interested readers, though I think the above makes it pretty clear just how heretical my vision of that faith is.


    Stories and herecies make fine articles. I've done both.

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    Journeyman Greytalker

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    Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:20 am  

    How does restricting "druidry", and I assume this includes the druid class, to the Old Faith and worship of Beory interact with other canonical druidic organizations? The Flan aren't the only culture with a strong tie to nature, nor are they even the only race.

    What of the Olman tradition? Are they allowed druids, or are their traditions limited to clerics of specific deities?

    What of the Baklunish, particularly the Tigetr and Wolf Nomads?

    The Suel barbarians of the Thillonrian peninsula?

    The Olvenfolk of various stock?
    Master Greytalker

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    Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:35 pm  

    Well, as I mentioned my construction is heretical, so it doesn't mesh with "other canonical druids" at all.

    Other nature deities have clerics with plant and animal domains, not druids. Some of the barbs may have some sort of shamanic class instead I haven't needed to make a game mechanics adaptation of their spirit/ancestor worship yet.

    The Old Faith is not strictly Flan only. It is historically associated with the Flan, because they were the humans practicing the religion when the Suel and Oeridians encountered it. But druidry is older than the Flan, the Oerth Mother has been around since creation. Arguably, she *is* creation. The "Druids of the Elder Age" were not humans. It was from them, or their successors, that the Flan learned of the Oerth Mother's faith.
    Journeyman Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:00 am  

    Cool. All druids are initiates of the Old Faith, period. It's a workable model, and AD&D level titles and class restrictions support it.

    But Beory, the Oerth Mother, is a Flan deity, the Old Faith is based in worshipping her (though not necessarily as deity as much as a force of nature) and thus, it is a Flan religion.

    To use an analogy, the Demeter is Greek goddess. The Romans worshipped her as Ceres (yes, the root for cereal) and some of their conquered peoples, Germans, Celts, etc., may have adopted her, but she is still a Greek deity. Beory is the same. She is not a deity of any of the other pantheons nor is she a commmon deity, like St. Cuthbert or Ehlonna.

    So, has this changed in your version? Are there other factors that play into this?
    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:00 pm  

    Well, real world gods are cultural artifacts. They principally exist to elucidate and justify cultural mores. So a close identification with culture is both sound and relevant. Fantasy gods are individuals that principally exist to advance their own personal agenda (as selfish or selfless as that agenda might be). So I take the cultural referents with a large grain of salt.

    The Oerth Mother is not labelled a 'flan' deity by later scholars because she is exclusive to the Flan and unknown to others. But rather because the Flan peoples were the only ones in the days of the migrations (ie 'pre mass mingling') whose religion emphasized her. The Oeridians, Suel, and Baklunish knew of the Oerth Mother (really, how can you not?) but their religions focus on more intermediary gods. The Oeridians' reverance for nature is bound up in the Wind Gods (and Merikka), while the Suel have Phyton and the Baklunish have Geshtai. Even the Flan have Obad Hai and Berei, though their faith acknowledges those two as servants of the Oerth Mother explicitly.

    Like most of the Greater Gods, Beory tends to be distant and uninvolved in 'micromanagement'. Most cultures acknowledge her in some sense (just as the Greeks acknowledged but did not worship Gaia), but their priesthoods associate with the more active and involved lesser gods.

    The Old Faith is a relic of the Flan peoples, but druidry and the service of the Oerth Mother predates humanity. In the ages before humanity, the "Druids of the Elder Ages" served her. Some Flan (who actually have several religious traditions apart from the Old Faith) learned of this tradition and adopted it. But the Old Faith is not ethnically exclusive. There are now druids of many ethnicities and many races, all bound together in their service to the Oerth Mother, guided by Obad Hai and Berei.
    Journeyman Greytalker

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    Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:31 pm  

    So, to use 2E terms, druids are the specialty priests of Beory. Everyone else has to come up with their own. Got it.
    Journeyman Greytalker

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    Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:36 pm  

    Vormaerin wrote:
    Well, real world gods are cultural artifacts. They principally exist to elucidate and justify cultural mores. So a close identification with culture is both sound and relevant. Fantasy gods are individuals that principally exist to advance their own personal agenda (as selfish or selfless as that agenda might be). So I take the cultural referents with a large grain of salt.


    Why does this not work? The Flan, from a canonical reference, are matched in their reverence for (and/or links to) the land only by the Olman. Why shouldn't the gods in game serve the same purposes as IRL? Their different foci and portfolios already reinforce ethnic differences.

    How many deities of nature do the Oeridians have? Now how many of those are agricultural deities. The Oeridians do not have the same link to the wild as the Flan, and this is expressed in the concerns of their deities.
    Master Greytalker

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    Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:15 pm  

    Well, obviously the relationship between gods and followers is a two way street. What I am saying is that claiming some sort of exclusivity on the human side is neither accurate nor relevant in a fantasy situation. In real life, saying a diety is "greek" told you a lot about that god. The god is inextricably linked with the culture.

    But saying 'Beory is a Flan goddess' says something about the Flan, but nothing of substance about Beory herself. Unless you postulate the gods' exist as a function of mortals' belief or something and Beory came into existance with the Flan or the like. Which I absolutely do not. Beory is far older than the Flan peoples and limiting her by them is inappropriate, IMHO.
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