Folk Lore 21: Bottiban
... a collection of Cultural beliefs, influencing the Folk Lore on Bottiban!
"Watch the skies as we clear the Bottan groves. Listen for laughter like snowflakes."
Bottiban are known as spirits of ancient Tundra Bottan Tree. This Mega-Flora inhabited marshlands where these creatures roamed the glades. In their encounters, Mythos Folk had conflicting stories. Most of the Legends describe them as mercurial marauders while others suggest they can be reasoned with if offered tribute and respect.
Bottiban in Spring
Emerged from hibernal rest; lack of wool.
"Take only what you need from the groves. They are like us, living in their nature."
Origin & Significance
Bottiban,
Summer & Autumn
Bottan blooms, increasing temperament.
Stories surrounding Bottiban included warnings about the spirit's behaviors. Attacking with ice and hail from above, concealing themselves within foliage or blizzards, these capricious creatures were considered wardens of Bottan groves.
These trees were important resources, as they provided clothing and wood; their root systems created marshes and rivers.
These trees were important resources, as they provided clothing and wood; their root systems created marshes and rivers.
Bottiban are classified as Sylvan creatures; manifested spirits of Tundra Bottan. Magical Ice is considered to be responsible for this transmutation into the physical from the spiritual, as they often produce this material. In the correct season, Tundra Bottan can also be harvested.
Folk Lore: On Bottiban
Individual Tales of Bottiban
The following is a collection of beliefs related to Bottiban from the Folk Lore:- Bottan Offerings
Offering to remove a Bottiban's down in Summer reduces temper. - Helpful Guides
Many stories include Bottiban as protector guides and guardians. - Seasonal Habits
Avoid during seasons of excess cold in Summer & Autumn.
- Mayhem & Mischief
People have been injured or slain by Bottiban pranks and ire. - Shaman Kinship
As natural spirits, Shamans may empathize and commune. - Symbiotic Spirit
Connected to a local Bottan tree, cutting it removes the Bottiban.
Cultural Folk Relics
- Bottiban Fashion
Mythos Folk sometimes wore layers of clothing, imitating Bottiban. - Bottiban Shoes
This footwear allows one to walk on the wind like the Bottiban. - Bottiban Hoods
Headwear was resistant to wind and included scarfs with Bottan balls. - Bottiban-Shaped Reliefs
Carved figures and pots were found depicting Bottiban; held Bottan rations.
Mythos & Culture
Buniru Beliefs
Buniru also had their own legends regarding Bottiban.
Natural Kinship
As wild spirits, Buniru were able to empathize with Bottiban, often securing safe routes through their forests.Buniru Offerings
Buniru offered Bottiban tufts of their tail fur in exchange for food or safe passage.Folk Belief
It was once believed that Buniru and Bottiban were related, but this was a falsely held belief. Until Mythos Folk understood the Sylvan nature of Bottiban, they believed them to be relatives of the Buniru, hunting them similarly for their warmth providing fur.Sylvan Spirits
Aelves correctly identified Bottiban first as Sylvan. To Aelves, they were revered as living conduits to the Anima, guardians ensuring harmony between physical and spiritual realms. They often lived amongst colonized Bottiban, as they cultivated new growths.Aelven Rituals
Seasonal gatherings under Bottan trees; chants resonating through the forest, formed sacred pacts, urging the Bottiban to bless their ventures and fields.Nature's Ally
Aelven Beliefs
Aelven beliefs provided Mythos Folk with a new understanding of Bottiban.
Buniru, Origins of Bottiban
Wrath of the Bottan
Buniru believed Bottiban were natural apparitions due to the Mythos Folk over-expansion of Mystomythia, resulting in their manifestation. There were no links to prove this claim to be true, as little is known about what conditions cause the spirit of a Tundra Bottan to awaken, besides Bottiban nesting and seeding.
Once other Cultures learned of this Buniru belief, Mythos Folk engaged the removal of Bottan trees within their territories. These areas became culling fields, until the forests were affected and stopped producing Bottan or clean water. Mythos Folk reconsidered the Buniru belief and stopped perceiving Bottiban as enemies.
Aelves & Sylvan Affinities
Living in Nature
Among the Aelves, Bottiban are revered as sacred embodiments of the spirit of nature. Bottiban are seen as guardians, maintaining the balance between nature’s fury and tranquility. Aelven legends place Bottiban as manifestations of ancient echoes within the Bottan trees, awakened by profound shifts in natural energy- especially as magical practices advanced.
Rituals dedicated to honoring these spirits involved intricate dances under moonlight, accompanied by melodies from primitive Bottan Flutes that mimic wind whistling through Bottan leaves. Aelves often recount stories of Bottiban appearing during times of environmental strife, offering guidance, enigmatic warnings, or shelter from the storms.
"We must learn from the past- like the Aelves, we must adapt to the Bottiban, accepting them as gifts of nature, rather than a curse of Magic. We can learn from the Aelves in this one regard."
Legacies & Social Impact
The mythos of the Bottiban has left a deep impact within several Cultures, each interpreting these spirits in their own way. For the Mythos Folk, the Bottiban are symbols of natural resilience and caution against overreach. Stories inspire a careful approach to resource use and reverence for the land. The Buniru's belief that Bottiban emerged due to over-expansion of Mystomythia led to eventual Folk sanctuaries, preserving areas rich in Bottan trees and reinforcing sustainable practices.
Aelves, meanwhile, see Bottiban as symbols of unity with the environment, and their presence is considered an auspicious sign that nature's order is upheld. Art and music influenced by these spirits underscore themes of coexistence and resilience in the face of natural cycles. Even beyond these primary societies, the Cultural echoes of Bottiban continue to inspire despite their eventual decline, signifying their role as a universal reminder of nature's enduring spirit and the need to protect vital resources.
Spirit of the Tundra Bottan
Bottiban on the Wind
Mythologia
Origins
Mythos Folk
Epoch
Early Tribes
Mythos Folk
Epoch
Early Tribes
Region
Mystomythia
Established
Ice Age
Mystomythia
Established
Ice Age
Conservation
Chronicled
Chronicled
Discovery
Known
Known
Legendarium
Classified
Folk Lore
Constructed
Uncommon
Related MythsFolk Lore
Constructed
Uncommon
Aelf & Buniru Beliefs
Distribution
Oral
Demography
Folk
EX- Legends
N/A
Oral
Demography
Folk
EX- Legends
N/A
Art History
- Bottiban Dolls, relic
- Songs & Dance of Bottiban, music
Alt History
- Moral: Discovery of spirits residing in nature. Cautionary tales.
TTRPG Statistics
TTRPG
TBD
Statistics: Bottiban
TBD
References
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Species
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