The Morningstar Pilgrims
The Morningstar Pilgrims are a far-ranging religious organisation of nomads, hermits and rangers that oppose threats to the natural world, help others survive the many perils of the wild. They are not opposed to civilisation or progress, but they strive to prevent civilisation and the wilderness from destroying one another. Particularly, as main followers of the Spring Maiden Eostara, they ensure the vibrant return of spring each year across the world - particularly through the continents of Lorthal. They protect the young, children and beasts, blooming plants and those threatened upon the borders of the wilderness - and return life to regions that are sparse with vegetation or animals.
They are spread far and wide, often intermingling with other kingdoms and societies and most operate in isolation. They learn to depend on themselves more than others, however, they become more social and share their knowledge and their skills each spring and summer and return to their isolation in the autumn and spring to preserve endangered animals and natural spaces.
They are referred to as Pilgrims because they often travel between natural shrines, hidden groves and sacred glades across the lands to establish harmony with nature amongst the communities that may live nearby, preaching the respect they hold dear to the natural world they love.
Culture
The Morningstar Pilgrims are always optimistic, seeing the best in the world, but accepting that not all have the best start in life. Travelling to each new place, they always come to bring something new, colourful and vibrant. They share good stories, food and friendly competition, sparking energy amongst the community where it seems stagnant or dull.
Public Agenda
- Warm the spirit and protect the young.
- Do not sit idle for the simple joys, plant them wherever you step and it shall bloom in your spirit. Bring your life and energy to others, and watch as it spreads.
- Spite hardship, live like it is always spring. Help others to see this.
History
The Morningstar Pilgrims have always been a travelling church of worship to Eostara, the Spring Maiden. Forming bands of families, volunteers and pilgrims that join in spontaneous journeys to see new wonders, enjoy the simple things & bring joy and life to others. They spend their time as wandering artisans, bards, labourers, teachers and protectors of the green - some will make their stay in different communities, whether welcome or otherwise, and revitalise and bring prosperity to the surrounding area, helping in small ways where they can. But they never stay too long in one single area, always ready to move after planting their crops, sowing the seeds for new plants and animals to grow and prosper - protecting little critters and creatures where they find them.
Agriculture & Industry
Agricultural: Animal Husbandry, Breeding, Gardening, Herding, Forestry.
Education
Home-taught and schooled by elders. Literate and multi-cultural, knowing multiple languages from their travels. Most are welcome and treated equally in their classes.
Divine Origins
It is said that the worship of Eostara began with the Fey and the Eladrin in the Divine period. Their spread began after children had taken to hiding from the dangers of the world in a blooming grove of sacred glades maintained by a sisterhood of Dryads, whom happened to be the ladies-in-waiting to the Spring Maiden. One little girl was blessed with her teachings, being so full of love and life, her name was Madrona. Madrona and the other children were showed the wonder and bounty of life as it changed from the harsh winter, and they followed in a train through the forest, seeing the flowers bloom and life spring back into action - guided by a proud Great Elk. Eostara raised them, but when the autumn came to be, she departed and left them as her dark side came and took over. Little Madrona, having been taught the ways to survive and track through the woods - led the other children on a journey through the lands and wilderness, over hills, following rivers and passing mountains - searching high and low for their adoptive mother. Winter came, and the children returned to their sacred grove, and armed with sticks and stones, they protected themselves - tricking and fooling the predators of the night while they warmed themselves on the furs of a small herd of elk, the Great Elks children. When spring came, the children saw the bloom of the flowers and frost melt; and their adoptive mother returned, and was so proud of how they survived that they celebrated. A wanderer within the woods had found the group of children, and invited them to follow him in his journey to visit other places - and they followed. The children stayed together as one great family, following Madrona, and they continued this and learned and picked up skills along their way. Endlessly curious and fascinated by what they saw across the land - however, they also saw that other children in the towns were facing hardship, and invited them along the way to their sacred grove, which they returned to each spring to see their mother. Their family grew, and they decided to find other groves to aid, raising the children of the Spring Maidens ladies-in-waiting, the Dryads, carrying their precious hearts and allowing life to spring across the land. They took the elk with them, and made friends with the rabbits of the land, talked to the early morning roosters and chickens in their coops - picking up skills with each town they passed and taking them with them. After many years, the Madrona had learned so much and shared with a great family of others - they continued this wondrous journey and passed it on to others and the next generation; the leader of each band would always be known as the Vernal Madrona.
Tenets of Faith
- The natural order must be respected and preserved.
- Forces that seek to upset the natural balance must be destroyed.
- The wilderness can be harsh. Not everyone can survive in it without assistance.
Ethics
The Morningstars follow the spiritual tradition of their elders, which holds as a spiritualistic respect and veneration of the seasons and the natural world around them - listening not only to humans, but also the trees, the wind, the pack, the herd, the moss and the fungi. Finding interconnectedness between all of them, focusing on sacredness and harmony.
They are subject to the laws of the land in which they travel in, and the social contracts of their areas and upbringing. But they look upon nature to find ways to live in harmony with the wilderness, and fit in amongst the rest of the world peacefully. They follow a life lived in service, not to the self, but to the world itself. The prime examples of these who 'walk their talk', have deep respect for the natural world - building natural reserves and burial grounds, organise events and clean up destruction to natural areas claimed by war or expansion, allow nature to reclaim lands themselves, reflect on their personal consumption and work with every fibre of their being to ensure that they are living in harmony with nature.
They do not tolerate direct environmental damage, poaching, hunting for sport or cruelty to animals or even nature - most especially, they find any and all people that would cause harm to young beasts or children sinful. Plucking flowers from the ground is considered taboo, or disturbing the nests of birds and stealing their eggs, breaking hives of bees or breaking the cobwebs spun by little spiders.
Worship
Worship is more of fulfilling a service and finding a balance and harmony with nature, and seeing oneself as an equal to the working bee, or the great redwood. Constantly travelling to not take up too much of one space, or too much of one areas resources, leaving it better than they found it and restoring vitality and beauty to the region.
Priesthood
They are guided by the Vernal Madrona, the eldest and wisest of their community - each one is elected by the nomadic groups after they reach the age of 60, or when their firstborn child comes of age. They are usually distinguished by the vestments they have fashioned over a lifetime, known as the Springcloaks, and usually are adorned with a flower-embroidered phrygian caps that usually hang back to the ground, wreathed in all the colours of spring.
Granted Divine Powers
Most priests or druids hold the natural ability to talk to animals and plants, find companionship with spring animals such as rabbits, chickens, birds and elk. Matrons are capable of transforming into bears and packs of rabbits. The most dignified skill that most of the skilled and elderly Morningstars have is the ability to bless and return the growth of the land to different regions.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Morningstars respect the law of the lands they travel through - but they do at times infringe on these areas if they find them to be too laborious or industrious at the sacrifice of the natural resources of the land around them. They seek to make peace with words first, hoping to pacify others to change their ways - then show by example by those that disregard and disrespect nature with threats to demolish the means of production or industry, or by the threat of a roaring bear to one's face while subdued down to the ground. The only time they act against the law is when harm or cruelty has been discovered to a child or a young animal or bird, and make an example to the community before making their leave of the area - returning the next year to see if they have learned their lesson.
Spring is when life's alive in everything. Where flowers bloom so does hope.
Type
Religious, Druidic Circle
Economic System
Gift economy
Legislative Body
The Vernal Madrona - the eldest and wisest member of the Morningstar Pilgrims.
Judicial Body
The Elderflowers - A council of elders within the nomadic troupe of the Morningstars.
Executive Body
The Brothers Butterfly - The tried and tested warriors of the nomadic groups, preferring to negotiate passively than to engage in combat.
