Orcrest | Naturalists

Naturalists

Overview

All things flow from nature, and to nature all things must flow. Naturalists worship the only true gods, the gods of woods and of beasts, of rot and of rebirth.

The Naturalist faith reveres the delicate balance of life, death, and the emotions that drive existence. Their pantheon is a reflection of nature’s dualities: creation and decay, fertility and barrenness, compassion and wrath. At the core are three deities: Orbus, Parredio, and Patentia, who embody nature, life, and compassion; While their aspects, Ventat, Ortisia, and Fira, reflect decay, fertility, and wrath. Naturalists believe these forces are intertwined, each essential to maintaining the natural order. They understand that destruction and wrath can lead to renewal, just as compassion can guide anger into action.

This faith resonates deeply with druids, tribal peoples, and all those who live close to the land, embracing the cyclical nature of existence. The Naturalist faith teaches that life and death, creation and decay, compassion and wrath are inseparable forces that sustain the world’s balance. Orbus, Parredio, and Patentia represent the nurturing aspects of nature, life, and emotion, while Ventat, Ortisia, and Fira remind mortals of the necessity of decay, fertility, and righteous anger. Together, they guide their followers to embrace the cyclical nature of existence, finding harmony in both growth and decline. Through their teachings, the Naturalists preserve the eternal dance of the natural world.

Worship

Copse Gods: Naturalism is a religion of druids, tribal peoples, and all those who cleave to the natural order. In particular, worship is common amongst the Cretox, Fauns, and Kurnaz, wherever they find themselves.
Holy Renewal: Orbus rewards efforts to preserve nature, while Ventat ensures decay occurs where life has overstayed its welcome. Signs include flourishing growth or the quiet reclamation of abandoned places.
Nature and Nurture: Parredio blesses farmers and healers, while Ortisia aids those seeking to nurture life, such as expectant parents or caretakers.
Burning Fervor: Patentia provides emotional solace and healing, while Fira inspires anger to drive the faithful to survive.

Core Information

Symbol: A tied wreath, joined in a full circle

Major Domains: Orbus (Nature), Parredio (Life), Patentia (Compassion)

Minor Domains: Ventat (Decay), Ortisia (Fertility), Fira (Wrath)

Internal Relations: While many choose to worship one god (or their aspect) above all others, naturalists believe that all their gods make up a more important whole, and unity amongst the faithful is the norm.

External Relations: Naturalists believe their gods are the only true gods, and that other gods are people merely misunderstanding one aspect of the true deities. Some view that with pity, others with wrath, and yet others with dispassion.

Rituals

The Blooming Rite: Worshippers plant seeds and offer prayers for fertility and growth, thanking the gods for their bounty.
The Cycle of Shadows: A solemn ritual where participants leave offerings of decayed leaves and compost, symbolizing acceptance of life’s transience and decay.
The Flame and Tear Vigil: A dual ritual where worshippers offer their sorrows to Patentia for solace, then channel their anger into action through prayers to Fira.

The Eternal Bough • The God of Nature

Lore

Orbus is the living essence of the natural world, a being that embodies the forests, mountains, rivers, and skies. According to myth, Orbus was born from the first seed sown in the fertile soil of creation, sprouting into the vast interconnected web of life. Orbus provides abundance and beauty, nurturing all beings, but also oversees the quiet inevitability of decay, represented by her shadowed aspect, Ventat.

In the tale of The Withering Grove, Orbus allowed a forest to decay under Ventat’s influence, teaching mortals that death feeds the soil for new life to grow. Orbus and Ventat are inseparable, with decay as a necessary counterbalance to growth. Orbus is patient and nurturing, offering guidance to those who protect nature.

Ventat

The Silent Reaper • Aspect of Decay

Ventat is Orbus’s aspect of decay, overseeing the natural end of all things. She represents decay not as destruction, but as transformation, the necessary process that returns life to the earth. Worshippers of Ventat are often misunderstood, yet they understand that death is not an end but a continuation of life’s cycle. Ventat is quiet and impartial, a constant reminder of life’s transience and renewal. Those who worship Ventat before Orbus oft take work in morgues and cemeteries, in elder care, or in medicine. They help to transition people through death - both personally, and the death of loved ones.

The Lifebringer • The God of Life

Lore

Parredio is the embodiment of vitality and creation, breathing life into the world and ensuring its abundance. Born from Orbus’s fertile soil, Parredio brings new beginnings and endless possibilities. Her alternate aspect, Ortisia, represents the focus of this vitality in fertility, ensuring that life continues through reproduction and renewal.

In the myth of The First Harvest, Parredio shared the secrets of planting and nurturing crops with mortals, allowing them to flourish. However, she also reminds followers that life is fragile, requiring care and respect. Parredio is joyful and energetic, bringing life wherever she treads.

Ortisia

The Seedmother • Aspect of Fertility

Ortisia is Parredio’s aspect of focused creation, governing fertility in all its forms, plant, animal, and mortal. She is celebrated in times of growth and rebirth, inspiring joy and gratitude among her worshippers. Her duality reminds mortals of the delicate balance between overgrowth and sustainable life. Ortisia is gentle and focused, ensuring that life thrives in balance. Those who worship Ortisia before Parredio dedicate their lives to natalism, often become midwives, birthing gurus, caretakers, or educators of the young.

The Guide of Mercy • The God of Compassion

Lore

Patentia is the force of love and understanding, soothing pain and fostering bonds. However, her alternate aspect, Fira, reveals that compassion and wrath are intertwined, for anger often rises from love and a desire to protect. Patentia teaches that wrath, when guided by compassion, becomes a tool for justice. Patentia is compassionate and understanding, healing wounds and fostering peace.

In the story of The Weeping River, Patentia turned her tears into a flowing stream, nurturing a dying valley. Meanwhile, Fira descended to strike down those who caused the suffering, demonstrating the harmony between mercy and righteous fury.

Fira

The Tempest of Hearts • Aspect of Wrath

Patentia, in her aspect of wrath, is worshipped as Fira. She embodies wrath as a righteous force, a counterbalance to Patentia’s gentleness. She is the protector of the vulnerable, unleashing fury on those who disrupt the balance of nature or harm others. Followers of Fira seek to channel their anger constructively, using it to defend what they hold dear. Fira is fierce and protective, unleashing wrath against those who threaten harmony or the natural order. Those who worship Fira before Patentia revel in nature's wrath, giving in to the animalist rage that defines so much of the wilds.