The Druidic Faith
The druidic faith is fundamentally nature worship. While there are some deities that have grown out of this, they are more archetypal than specific. Innate access to nature magic provides one facet of faith, though not a requirement. Talent with Druidry is, however, required of most leaders of the faith. One can technically be a respected elder with little to no magical aptitude, but they tend to be referred to as elders, not priests.
The druids are a wide-ranging and populus group, but the faith has changed very little based on location. Population density of druids per capita varies widely between regions. Once they arrived in Eikeozoa, the druids have spread out considerably, but most can be found in the Midlands (Chaecrya has >60% druid population, Chigroden is about half, and Chailara has only 35%), and only certain Highland clans have any real concentration of druids, for all the druid migration had been pushing north. The Lowlands have fewer druids after historic discrimination, but there are powerful Druid families that have risen in power politically, and the High Queen of Feshaesia is a druid, bringing the religion into the royal family.
The terms Druidic Faith (capitalized or otherwise) and Druidry (usually capitalized) are roughly interchangeable. Druidry does mean the nature magic used by members of the druid faith, but as the terms are not secret, those outside the faith tend to confuse them, and over time the terms became more accepted as synonymous. Druidism is a lesser used term, but it applies. The word 'druid' has different connotations when capitalized in text; a Druid (capitalized) is a priest or a druidic magic practitioner, while a druid (lowercase) is anyone who follows the faith.
The druidic faith is not necessarily mutually exclusive with Eikeozoa's Polytheism; other faiths may disagree with their followers celebrating druidic festivals or undertaking druidic rites, but from the point of view of the druids, as long as one follows the faith, additional beliefs and traditions are not contradictory. The capability for druidic magic, inasmuch as it runs in families, can be found in those who do not profess to be druids at all, but follow other gods; these are still druids in technicality. (Abilities not fostered will usually die out in a generation or two.)
Structure
The faith doesn't have a centralized organizational structure, insomuch that there is no head of the religion, and the often-nomadic priests each have talents and experience of their own. Each is given respect due their station and/or experience, rather than having any detailed hierarchy. Priests and elders lead the community. The terms Acolyte and Apprentice are interchangeable, both meaning a priest in training. (No one apprentices to become an elder, the term is given to those of vast experience.)
There are druid circles, groups of knowledgeable priests who have gathered together to pool their experiences and share new discoveries. These are rare, and not necessarily permanent, but there are usually a few in the Midlands at any one time. Depending on location and historic discrimination, these locations may be secret, or they could be as public as being a known place for those who wish to apprentice as priests to congregate. Often the public sites have a well-known circle of standing stones as a landmark. Secret circles may be near standing stones as well, but, being secret, it's impossible to say for certain. It is merely likely they would wish access to such a site—luckily there are many megalithic sites available.
Public Agenda
The druids rarely have a public agenda, save when there is a threat to their moral code. Their support will back anything for the good of all or to save lives. They will respond en masse to natural disasters, but raise public protest if a deity's followers want to hold a mass sacrifice of numerable animals. In general, the druids are peaceful members of society with little to add.
Assets
There is very little wealth related to the faith. Shrines are usually community-built, and rites are held in community centers, not temples. There are some sacred sites, but they tend to be natural features, not assets.
Priests are often nomadic, though countries that recognize Druidism as one of the predominant faiths often have priests residing among the populace as well, usually in larger settlements. There are clan priests in the Highlands, though the specifics vary much more. Without a central organizational structure, the number of priests isn't known.
History
The druidic diaspora started outside Eikeozoa, leading them from their original homeland. (See History of the Druids.) There is nothing in their oral history that suggests they were forced from their origins, only that they began to spread. That changed as they reached lands with their own beliefs and traditions. Not every place they came to was welcoming, either at first or later on. For example, a sweeping religious push through the Lowlands of the national favorite gods tried to kick out anyone with different beliefs, and resulted in the druids pushing farther north through the Midlands and into the Highlands. Mostly they were able to pick up and move, but unfortunately there were regions where the druids were attacked outright.
Demography and Population
There are some ethnic similarities throughout, as the people can end up clustered within other ethnic groups when they settle in groups. They do freely intermarry with other demographics, so similarities are more of a trend than a rule. The druids should truly be considered an ethnic group as well as a faith, but due to the diaspora, there is very little "pure" druid-blooded anymore. As such, their ethnicity tends to be considered more in terms of where they live (Laranians in Chailara, etc.) with a druid subcategory. Once upon a time this might have been the reverse, but no more.
Divine Origins
The origins of the druid faith are ancient, and the specifics have been lost to time. It is known that there has been an element of nature worship leading back to the days before recorded history, and druid symbols have been found in cave paintings believed to be thousands of years old. What little history has been discovered dating back to prehistoric times suggests the earliest druids were shamans, but the evidence is mostly circumstantial. According to druidic oral history, there have always been druids.
Tenets of Faith
Ethics
The druids are a moral society, focused primarily on positive action and thought and the support and celebration of life. Hospitality for other druids, especially Druid priests, is expected, though no one is expected to do or give more than they are able. It is generally an honor to host a traveling Druid in one's home, but the entire community comes together to support the priest and the family chosen as host. Hospitality has led to charity becoming a side effect of their ethics, but in practice it only extends to others of the druidic faith, for giving more might be more than a person or family is able.
Support of life extends to not killing anything necessary for survival. Druids hunt for food, but would be unlikely to take up farming livestock for the specific purpose of butchering the animals.
Worship
Faithful celebrate the Wheel of the Year with traditional festivities, whether led by a lay person or a Druid priest.
Priesthood
See Druid.
Granted Divine Powers
Most of the Druid priests are strong in druid magic (druidry), but there aren't exactly divine powers granted. One doesn't need to be a priest to have talent in druidry, but talent with druidry tends to elevate the user, or at least provide more opportunities for them.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The druids primarily stay out of politics, though whether or not someone follows the druidic faith can affect how others view them in diplomatic relations.
Sects
There are no recognized sects of the druidic faith, but anywhere a druid circle has been established, it's entirely possible that the traditions vary slightly within a reasonable differential.
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