Baumgesang, a.k.a Treesinging Tradition / Ritual in Edda Revised | World Anvil
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Baumgesang, a.k.a Treesinging

It is natural that lumber is a necessary tool in all manners of architecture and creation, and Magnum Opus is a land of plenty with tall trees and durable lumber. But, as the population grows and modernity continues, lumber is in more and more demand for dozens of different professions. As such, when the wood is taken, it is important that the land is thanked and rejuvenated in return, to keep the resource cycling and the environment healthy. In the modern day, there are specialized circles of Druids who take care of such things, but in the old days of the Seat of Giants, it was a tradition known as the Baumgesang, where a venerated Druid would go with the logging team and sing to the land and the trees to keep everything done in a renewable and sustainable relationship with one another.  While the magical side of the tradition has largely faded with time, it is still common to find teams of loggers letting out shanties, poems, and random scats of music while they harvest the lumber, letting the music keep them focused and energized all the while. 

History

Baumgesang began as a druidic ritual performed in time with logging campaigns. The True Giant's faith honors the sacred cycles of nature and life, and so it is paramount for their faithful to give as much as they take from nature. Thus, when a troupe would go out logging to get materials for whatever reason, at least one of their number would be a druid, who would let out a prayer of thanks and restoration to trees that were felled. The troupes would also know how to uproot and replant a tree so that they could 1) use the stump and roots for various purposes as well and 2) allow new life to rejuvenate in its place.   This practice had been done since the dawn of larger civilizations in the region, as when an entire settlement required wood for housing and other structures, they needed to ensure that they would not be draining the forests. While its use waned throughout the occupation of the land by Atalanta and Afallon, it still remained a cultural touchstone for the native people of the land.   In the modern day, as old traditions and cultures are free to flourish loud and proud once more, it's not seen in the same divine light as it used to be. In the loss of historical context post-occupation, the key fact that is in most people's minds is to sing while they work, which can have a variety of benefits. Those who remember the older reasons for it try to stress the importance of the druidic aspect of it but are generally seen as old souls and far too serious about the whole thing.   Of course, even the simple songs of laborers seem to resonate through the land, although a druidic bit of oomph every now and again always does the world good.

Execution

As a logging expedition goes underway, the team's Druid will sing out to the land, thanking and honoring the forest ahead of time while also knowing if any trees in the area are not to be cut down, either for purposes of divine/magical protection or if they carry something within them. Then, after cutting the tree, they sing to thank it once more and to inspire new growth either from the stump or other forms of life that might use it.   In the cases of mass logging, they also enforce digging up stumps and replanting of saplings, in which their song promotes quick growth and flourishing in order for the resource to be replenished quickly.

Components and tools

While no specific tools are needed for the Baumgesang, for larger missions that cover wider areas, sometimes an enchanted bullhorn is used to increase the range of the song's magic.
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