Faith of the Old Gods

The Religion of the Old Gods: Origins and Beliefs

The faith of the Old Gods is an ancient polytheistic tradition venerating primal deities of nature, craftsmanship, fertility, warfare, and wisdom. Each deity personifies aspects of everyday life, with rituals marking key events such as planting, harvest, marriage, birth, and death. Originating from distant lands, this faith emphasizes a respectful coexistence with nature and the spirits inhabiting it, viewing humanity as stewards rather than conquerors of the world.

Common Old Gods include:

• Eldath, Mother of Springs – Goddess of fertility, renewal, and healing.
• Borin, Lord of Iron – God of crafting, strength, and endurance.
• Morwen, Lady of Twilight – Goddess of transition, dreams, and fate.
• Korrus, the Oakfather – God of forests, nature, and protection.

Followers offer simple sacrifices, prayers, and libations, typically in stone or wooden temples, or sacred natural locations like groves, rivers, or ancient standing stones.

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Early Faith in Ravenshollow

When Ravenshollow was founded, settlers brought varied religious traditions. Some were devout followers of the Old Gods, others worshipped local spirits, ancestral entities, or lesser-known regional deities. Without a temple or clergy to centralize religious practice, the villagers' faith quickly became informal and eclectic, guided more by immediate spiritual experiences within the forest itself than by structured theology.

Over generations, the spiritual beliefs of Ravenshollow blended with the mysticism of Gloomwood, emphasizing respect and fear of its hidden spirits and powers. While most villagers retained some knowledge of the Old Gods, it was increasingly mingled with folklore and superstition, becoming a rich tapestry of ritual, cautionary tales, and traditions meant to protect and guide daily life.

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Mysticism and Folklore: Before the Return of the Temple

Without clergy or centralized worship, village religion became deeply rooted in folklore. Stories emerged about forest spirits—benevolent or mischievous—whom villagers attempted to appease with small offerings at forest shrines or carefully observed taboos. Festivals and rites became seasonal, focused on the forest's rhythm: honoring the arrival of spring, the bounty of autumn, and quiet respect during winter’s darkness. Even villagers claiming adherence to the Old Gods often participated in these customs, seeing no contradiction.

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Return of the Old Gods: A Temple Emerges

Several generations ago, a new family—the Reynes—arrived in Ravenshollow. Deeply devoted to the Old Gods, they saw the villagers' mixed spirituality as lacking structure. Initially cautious but welcoming, villagers helped the Reynes build a modest stone temple near the heart of the village. Gradually, the family gained respect through their kindness, wisdom, and commitment to community well-being.

Over time, the temple and its priests gently pushed back on some of the more superstitious and informal village practices. Yet, they wisely recognized the futility and danger of fully rejecting the deeply embedded mystical traditions tied to the Gloomwood. Instead, they adapted their rites and beliefs, weaving forest reverence into their worship, incorporating natural spirits into their pantheon as lesser guardians beneath the Old Gods' authority.

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Adaptation and Harmony: Daily Life Before the Corruption

Before the corruption, the Old Gods' temple harmonized carefully with village life, serving as a spiritual anchor without undermining the villagers’ established folklore. Priests taught that the Gloomwood, though wild and dangerous, was still a manifestation of Korrus, the Oakfather, and Eldath, the Mother of Springs. They encouraged respectful interactions with the forest, blessing hunters, herbalists, and woodcutters as they entered the wood, praying for safe passage and successful hunts.

Festivals became balanced, celebrating both the Old Gods and local forest spirits. Harvest festivals invoked Eldath and local spirits alike, while rites of passage—births, marriages, funerals—often blended traditional prayers with offerings placed at old forest shrines.

Though their religious rites were structured, the priests embraced practicality. They joined hunting parties to bless arrows, offered prayers for rain during droughts, and conducted protective rituals when forest spirits were restless. Their presence grew deeply trusted within Ravenshollow, becoming vital parts of village life, woven seamlessly with the land and its rhythms.

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Subtle Tensions and Balance

Yet subtle tension remained beneath this harmony. Some villagers quietly preferred their old ways, viewing the temple priests as well-meaning but overly rigid. Conversely, priests sometimes viewed villagers' practices as backward or dangerously close to superstition. Still, for generations, the tension remained manageable, kept in check by mutual respect and shared dependence upon one another in the face of a mysterious and occasionally threatening forest.

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Signs of Change: Approaching the Corruption

As the corruption slowly took root, the temple and villagers found their balance increasingly challenged. Mysticism once seen as harmless tradition began to hold new meaning—some rituals now seemed darker, and spirits once friendly turned malicious. Priests struggled to maintain trust and authority while acknowledging the growing threat, increasingly torn between ancient faith and the unsettling realities emerging from the forest.