Ang, The Oak Father

"He strides through the great oaks, life flourishing around him like ripples in water. Creatures surround him, and sprites dance about his crown of antlers. He is the Oak King, the White Stag, Ang the Earth Father. Giver of life, creator of the mortal races, and master of the wilds."

— from the Teachings of the Great Oak.

Ang, also known as the Oak King, is the primordial deity of life and nature. Revered as the Lifebringer, Ang embodies the balance between the chaotic wilds and the order needed for the mortal races to thrive. His role is to tame the untamed places of the world so that civilization can exist in harmony with nature, ensuring that the land is fertile, safe, and inhabitable. Though he slumbers deep beneath the earth, Ang’s influence remains in guiding those who keep nature’s wilder aspects in check, allowing mortals to live among the natural world.
Ang is depicted as a towering figure with a muscular, humanoid body, standing nearly twelve feet tall. His skin is rough and bark-like, tinged with a deep earthy green, blending seamlessly with the natural world around him. His face is both serene and wild, with piercing eyes that glow like sunlight filtering through a dense forest canopy. His most striking feature is the massive crown of antlers that rise from his head, entwined with vines, leaves, and blooming wildflowers. These antlers shift and grow with the seasons, reflecting the ever-changing cycles of nature. Ang’s body is draped in robes of woven moss and leaves, and his presence is often accompanied by small woodland creatures, symbolizing his harmonious relationship with all living things.

The Divine War and the Slumber of Ang

In the early days, Ang was a powerful and wild deity tasked with taming the raw, chaotic forces of nature into a form that could sustain life. During the Divine War, Ang sought to cleanse the spreading corruption by creating the Great Oak within the Great Grove of Ankesh. This monumental effort drained his strength, and Ang fell into an eternal slumber beneath the earth. Though the Great Grove was eventually destroyed, the acorns of the Great Oak scattered across Tavomia, taking root in the wild places. These sacred groves, remnants of Ang’s power, continue to grow, serving as places of quiet reverence for those who honor the balance of nature.

Estranged from the Elder Fey

Ang’s relationship with the Elder Fey is one of distance and estrangement. Though both are tied to the natural world, Ang’s followers see the chaotic magic of the Fey Wilds as a threat to the balance that Ang strives to maintain. While the Fey are respected for their power, their unpredictability contrasts with Ang’s philosophy of order and harmony. Despite this, there is no open hostility between Ang’s priests and those who follow the Elder Fey, such as Druids, Rangers, and Warlocks. Rather, the two groups coexist, wary of each other’s influence on the natural world.

Guardians of Balance

Ang’s priests, known as The Circle, live close to nature, serving as stewards of his sacred groves and protectors of balance. They watch over the mortal races, ensuring that nature does not overrun civilization, while also defending the wild places from overexploitation. The Circle’s key tenet is maintaining a balance between taking what is needed from the land and allowing it to regenerate, so that both civilization and nature can flourish side by side.
Unlike Druids, who follow the Fey and view the untamed wilds as sacred and free, Ang’s clerics understand that parts of nature must be tamed to ensure that civilization can exist. Where Druids resist the shaping of the wild, The Circle strives to manage and control it, ensuring the safety of mortals and the balance of the world. The Circle includes both men and women, who address each other as Brother or Sister, with those of higher rank respectfully called Elder.

The Verdant Embrace

Though Ang slumbers, his power still flows to his clerics through the Dream, but it comes at a price. This Divine Taint, known as the Verdant Embrace, alters those who draw too deeply on his power, as nature itself begins to overtake them. Some clerics grow antlers, their skin darkens to resemble bark, or their eyes glow with a warm green light. As their connection to Ang deepens, these clerics become highly attuned to the natural world, able to feel the heartbeat of the earth and sense the life and pain of plants and animals around them.
However, the more power they wield, the more overwhelming this bond becomes. Some clerics lose their human consciousness entirely, their minds reverting to something primal, their bodies blending with the trees and beasts they protect. While the Verdant Embrace is revered, it is also feared, as those who succumb to it may vanish into the wilderness, becoming part of the land itself.

Festivals of Life and Nature

The followers of Ang celebrate key festivals that reflect the natural cycles and the Oak Father’s nurturing influence:
Beltane (Spring): Marks a time of renewal and fertility. Priests of Ang bless the fields, ensuring the growth of crops and the fertility of the land. Communities come together to celebrate the return of life after the barren winter, trusting in Ang’s power to bring abundance.
The Reaping (Autumn): A time to give thanks for nature’s bounty. Ang’s priests lead harvest ceremonies, emphasizing the balance between taking from the land and allowing it to regenerate, reminding people to harvest responsibly.

Wardens of the Wild and Hearth

Adventuring Clerics of Ang, known as the Wardens of the Wild and Hearth, are often called to protect the natural world from forces that threaten its balance. Whether combating corruption, healing ravaged lands, or standing against the chaotic influence of the Fey Wilds, these clerics serve as defenders of both the wilderness and civilization. Their adventures take them deep into forests, across mountains, and into places where the land has been wounded by exploitation or chaos. While their power is a gift from Ang, clerics of the Oak Father must constantly manage the risk of Divine Taint. The more they channel his energy, the more they are changed by it, and their deep connection to nature can become both a strength and a burden.

The Ethos of Ang

Ang teaches that the natural world and civilization must exist in harmony. His followers are instructed to respect nature’s gifts and avoid exploitation.

• Preserve balance between civilization and nature. Both are essential to life, and neither should overwhelm the other.
• Take only what is needed from nature’s bounty. Exploitation leads to imbalance and loss.
• Protect the wild places. The natural world must be defended from those who would harm or misuse it.

Ang is Neutral Good, as his focus lies in maintaining the balance between life and nature, fostering growth and harmony while opposing exploitation and destruction. His nurturing presence guides his followers to respect the natural cycles and the delicate equilibrium that sustains all life.

Domains and Worship

Clerics of Ang draw their power from the Life, Nature, and Healing domains, representing their role as nurturers and protectors of the natural world. Worshipers of Ang participate in rituals that celebrate the natural cycles of life and the seasons. They offer prayers during key moments such as planting, harvesting, and times of renewal, seeking Ang’s blessings to ensure balance between the land and its people.

Titles: The Oak Father, The Oak King, Lifebringer
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Life, Nature, Healing
Symbol: An oak leaf or entwined antlers
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff

Of Oak and Grove

"From one seed, life springs eternal."
Ang’s final act before falling into slumber was the creation of the Great Oak within the Great Grove of Ankesh. This was no ordinary tree but a divine beacon of life, planted to heal Tavomia from the corruption unleashed during the Divine War. Ang poured all his divine power into this tree, and for a time, it held the corruption at bay. However, the Great Grove was eventually destroyed, and Ang fell into eternal slumber. The scattered acorns of the Great Oak took root across Tavomia, forming smaller groves. These sacred sites serve as living reminders of Ang’s sacrifice, where his presence lingers most strongly.

The Betrayal

"Not all wounds are visible, nor can all be healed."
Ang’s role in the Divine War was marked by a profound betrayal. The dark goddess Dashiva, disguised as Rashida, whom Ang deeply loved, seduced him. From this union, the god Saitas, the Tyrant, was born—a being of dominance and control, the very antithesis of Ang’s beliefs in balance and freedom. This betrayal shattered Ang’s bond with Rashida, leaving a deep scar on his soul. His guilt over this deception and the birth of a dark force weighed heavily on him, contributing to his decision to pour his remaining strength into the creation of the Great Oak as both redemption and a final effort to save Tavomia.

Of Acorns and Health

"The smallest seed holds the power of the forest."
After the destruction of the Great Grove, the acorns of the Great Oak became more than mere seeds. In rural Tavomia, they are seen as powerful symbols of life and health, imbued with Ang’s lingering power. People carry acorns as protective charms, especially in times of illness, believing they draw on the Oak Father’s blessings. To the faithful, the acorn is a reminder of resilience and renewal. Just as the Great Oak was lost but its seeds continued to grow, the acorn symbolizes life’s enduring power to heal and thrive, no matter the adversity.

Sanctuaries of the Oak Father

"In the silence of the grove, Ang still listens."
The sacred groves where the acorns of the Great Oak took root are flourishing sanctuaries, untouched by the chaos of the world. Within these groves, time seems to slow, and the land flourishes under Ang’s care. At the heart of many groves lie wellsprings of pure water, believed to carry the Oak Father’s blessings. Tended by The Circle, these groves serve as places of healing and refuge for those in need, where Ang’s presence is most strongly felt.

Oak Father’s Blessing

"Carry an acorn, leave an offering, and the Oak Father will guide you."
Throughout Tavomia, it is common for people to carry acorns as symbols of Ang’s protection. Farmers place these acorns at the corners of their fields, trusting in a bountiful harvest. Shrines, adorned with leaves and berries, dot rural landscapes, where offerings ensure balance between what is taken from and given back to nature. Travelers leave stones and acorns at wayside shrines, seeking Ang’s blessings for safe journeys along Tavomia’s roads.

The Trials of the Circle

"The wilds test not only your strength but your soul."
To join The Circle, aspirants must endure the Trial of Balance. For one year, they live off the land, learning to forage and hunt without disturbing nature's balance. Only those who return with wisdom and respect for the natural order are welcomed as full Brothers and Sisters, their connection to the Oak Father affirmed through the trial’s lessons.