The Old Faith
The Old Faith is an ancient, deeply rooted spiritual practice that pervades the land of Balgrendia, a complex tapestry woven from the reverence of nature, the elements, and the myriad spirits that dwell within the darkened woods and shadowed vales. At its core, the Old Faith is not a singular belief system but a conglomerate of local traditions, ancestral veneration, and the worship of a pantheon of deities, each embodying the raw, untamed forces of nature and the ethereal realm of faeries.
Practitioners of the Old Faith, ranging from druids to priests and village wise-women (or Kamennazena ) , maintain a harmonious relationship with the natural world, acting as intermediaries between the mortal realm and the mystical. Their rituals, often shrouded in secrecy, involve offerings to the spirits of the land, blood sacrifices for the more demanding deities, and elaborate ceremonies under the moonlight to honor the enigmatic Midnight Queen and her court.
The Old Faith's tenets emphasize respect for all living things, the cycles of life and death, and the power of the unseen forces that govern the world. Its followers believe in the interconnectedness of all beings, seeing themselves as but one thread in the intricate web of existence. This faith dictates much of daily life in Balgrendia, influencing everything from agricultural practices to judicial matters, always with an awareness of the delicate balance that must be maintained to avoid invoking the wrath of the unseen.
In a land where the veil between the material and the mystical is perennially thin, the Old Faith serves as both a guiding light and a warning. It teaches its adherents to tread carefully in the world, honoring the pacts made with the ancient powers that lurk in the shadows, for their protection is as crucial as it is perilous. The Old Faith, with its deep roots and myriad mysteries, stands as a testament to Balgrendia's rich, intertwined history of humanity, magic, and the dark embrace of the forest.
Practitioners of the Old Faith, ranging from druids to priests and village wise-women (or Kamennazena ) , maintain a harmonious relationship with the natural world, acting as intermediaries between the mortal realm and the mystical. Their rituals, often shrouded in secrecy, involve offerings to the spirits of the land, blood sacrifices for the more demanding deities, and elaborate ceremonies under the moonlight to honor the enigmatic Midnight Queen and her court.
The Old Faith's tenets emphasize respect for all living things, the cycles of life and death, and the power of the unseen forces that govern the world. Its followers believe in the interconnectedness of all beings, seeing themselves as but one thread in the intricate web of existence. This faith dictates much of daily life in Balgrendia, influencing everything from agricultural practices to judicial matters, always with an awareness of the delicate balance that must be maintained to avoid invoking the wrath of the unseen.
In a land where the veil between the material and the mystical is perennially thin, the Old Faith serves as both a guiding light and a warning. It teaches its adherents to tread carefully in the world, honoring the pacts made with the ancient powers that lurk in the shadows, for their protection is as crucial as it is perilous. The Old Faith, with its deep roots and myriad mysteries, stands as a testament to Balgrendia's rich, intertwined history of humanity, magic, and the dark embrace of the forest.
Permeated Organizations
Divines
- Domovoi, Protector of the Home
- Karvach, the Blooded Stag
- Lada, Goddess of Beauty, Love, and Marriage
- Leshy, Guardian of the Woods
- Mokosh, the Hearth Beneath the Soil
- Nahlia-of-the-Veil
- Old Man Winter
- Perun, the Thunderer
- Puck, the Lord of Masks and Mirth-Madness
- Stribog, Grandfather of the Winds
- The Far Lady
- The Queen of Dreams and Shadows
- Veles, Lord of the Dead and the Underworld
- Virelich, the Moth-Eyed Watcher
Related Traditions
Notable Members
