The Bark Vows

All around the continent of Kibitann, the Briarhood of the Botanical Deities has a strong influence on the lifestyles of its inhabitants. This control is exemplified by the Bark Vows, a series of commandments designed to enforce the belief in the Botanical Deities.

Purpose

The Bark Vows are meant as a way to uphold the faith of Kibitannian people in the Botanical Deities and by extension, the Briarhood itself. These Vows are the basic elements on which new Briars are raised and the essential rules for a pure, religious life the way the Botanical Deities have meant it.

Historical Details

Background

After the Florali were released to Kibitann in 2093, people learned about the origins of the continent they lived on and the Deities that created it.
The Briarhood of Botanical Deities, who prior to the release were ostracized for their belief in a seemingly non-existent pantheon, quickly released the Bark Vows, new documents that they claimed were also the words of the Deities.
These Bark Vows were quickly accepted by the new believers, and the Briarhood gained renewed respect around the continent.

Legacy

The Bark Vows are meant as a way to control the behavior of the Kibitannian people, mostly through the idea that not following them meant eternal repercussions. It was an easy way for the Briarhood to take the role of leader around the continent.
After the Second Warring Era ended, and Blomaria was once more graced with the presence of the Deities, it became known to the people that the Briarhood didn't deserve all the attention when it came to worship of the pantheon. Thus, compliance with the rules of the Bark Vows waned.
The Briarhood fiercely tried to regain the control they once had, but a power shift was inevitable, and after Botanical Angels intervened, the Bark Vows were largely retreated from the lifes of Kibitannian people, who no longer were influenced by the wills of this organization.
The Bark Vows have been rewritten and solely serve as rules for budding Briars or moral guidelines for followers of the Botanical Deities, who can interpret these as they please.

Read the Document

The Bark Vows

The Old Bark Vows, enforced from 2095-6300

The masters of nature have created your lives, and thus have the right to control it. By decree of the Botanical Deities, these are the expectations of your choices in life, lest they make them for you.

Thou shalt not ever doubt the words of the Briarhood, for they are final and the extended word of the Deities.
Thou aren't permitted to ever enter the sacred places touched by a Deity's presence, for only Briars have the right to witness divinity.
Never is the deliberate or accidental harming of natural life seen as excusable, and shall be punished accordingly before or after death.
The fate of Life or Death is for Mendow Plan to decide, and any attempt that a mortal utilizes to make that decision themselves shall be punished severely.
Thou hast been created by the Deities, and if thou denounces this fact and/or faith will be brought forth to judgment by the Entmother.

The New Bark Vows, released in 6325 to the continent

In your life, always respect the nature that the Botanical Deities have brought forth with their love. Your life has been created with the same thought as the ant colony you might step on.
Life or death is for the Deities to decide, but any person who respects the wishes of the passed and the Deities has the right to make a similar decision.
Remember that your life has many possible paths, and the path of the weapon has as much use for the Deities as the path of the quill or the shield.
The Entmother is the one true Botanical prophet, and her words are the only mortal ones to be perceived as that of the Deities

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Type

Text, Religious

Medium

Papyrus