Arborealism

Arborealism is an ancient polytheistic religion founded deep in the mystical jungles of Ærn (Bazwebwe) in Kylorne.

It is focused around the worship of many different plant and nature spirits. The followers of Arborealist principles (Arborealists) believe that through this worship the spirits may be pleased and grant bountiful harvests, faster growth, crop proliferation and many other natural miracles.

It is the traditional religion of the Woodfae species, however many outsiders who grow to understand the teachings choose to convert to Arborealism and some even choose to become Woodfae themselves in the ancient ceremony of The Change.

Teachings
Arborealists have deep connections to the plant spirits around them and focus on pleasing them in order to better grow the specific spirit's plants. Arborealism promotes farming, cultivation, growth and careful tending of the wilderness.

There are several overtly virtuous and revered actions and activities among the worshippers such as enjoying the pleasures of nature such as good food, good drinks and good friends, planting crops, trees, mushrooms, grass and other natural vegetation, harvesting seeds, saplings and food for planting, spreading natural influence to otherwise barren areas and the protection and natural enhancement of the landscape.

Arborealists will sometimes choose a spirit to focus on and become their patron deity, carefully cultivating their relationship with the spirit in order to deepen their connection. Arborealists can often be found planting huge fields to please their patron deity, throwing grand parties in appreciation for their bounty or hosting rich religious ceremonies dedicated to the spirits.

They believe that the first life on Kylorne developed on the religion's founding continent of Ærn (Literally 'Ours', also known as Bazwebwe), specifically along the southern coast where the current jungle covers the lands. The first Lifesap tree was grown there, the grand river and high mountains bring abundant water and nutrients to their soil. This has lead to a river teeming with river dolphins and fish as well as rolling hills covered in dense forests and shrubbery. There are also many unique and exotic animals, proving the kindness and bounty of the forest's spirits to Arborealist worshipers.

There are several things considered unholy and heretical in Arborealist teachings. Beings of other dimensions such as endermen, piglins, dragons and withers are viewed as sinful. Teleportation by any means is considered unnatural and only naturally occuring teleports in the lifeless voids of those touched by the end are permissible. The careless wreckage of the nature is abhorrent to Arborealists who will protect nature's beauty wherever they can

History
Arborealism is an exceptionally old religion believed to have been founded at the dawn of life in the world of Kylorne. The first plants grew and as they did their spirits awakened, beginning their influence over the world long before animals came to the lands and seas. These spirits witnessed the rise of the animal kingdom and began to change it by bestowing boons of fruits and harvests on those that they favoured, while withering away the very grass beneath the feet of those that wronged them.

The spirits soon realised the usefulness of animals in their ability to move and change, so the ancient spirits decided that they needed a species of their own, one dedicated to their worship, one that could spread their influence far and wide. The Woodfae.

To accomplish this, the great tree spirit Arborea cut a piece of its own power from its body and formed it into something new, a Lifesap tree sapling. This was planted and over a span of a hundred years it grew, grew its roots deep and drew of the nutrients of the earth and grew its branches high and absorbed the rich golden sunlight.

Then, for the first time, a Woodfae was born from its heart. Arborea presented itself to him and grew for him a lavish feast with the wave of its ethereal limb. Then with another, it immediately grew a copse of trees in a clearing, forging their trunks and branches into a shelter for its new-born creation. Only then did it speak to the new Woodfae, naming him Æternius and titling him the First of the Fae. Æternius asked the spirit why it was so kind to him, and Arborea showed him a vision of his own creation, the making and planting of the Lifesap sapling and then one of the future, of a planet teeming with life of all kinds on every surface, one of plenty for all life. Æternius understood. This was the destiny, not only of himself but of all.

From there the Woodfae and followers of Arborealism went forth and brought great swathes of life to the jungles of Ærn, and continue to do so, some even spreading life and the teachings of the spirits further afield to the rest of the lands of Kylorne.

Early in the story of the Arborealists an abnormally big, beautiful rock was found in the jungle, far beneath its roots. It was the first time that they had seen any stone like it. It's oceanic glints mesmerized those who saw it inspiring poems & songs, however the wisest of them were perplexed as to how such a beautiful thing was formed so deep in the bland rock and ore.

Upon questioning, the Woodfae miner Aeleron described the scene of hacking through a vein of coal, blessing Harvesta for their plants that it formed from so so long ago. The very air was hot, and the seam continued downwards until the rock turned black and dense as shadow. The vein seemed complete as were his prayers, but Harvesta themselves guided Aeleron's hand that day. He felt them urging him onwards, further into the rock though there was no ore to be seen. After a mere block of resistance, the seam continued down! On he mined, thanking his patron profusely for her great generosity. She, however, was not done. Aeleron's pick swung and swung until ""CLANG!"". It hit something at the bottom. When the deepest coal crumbled away it revealed, formed from Harvesta's long dead boons buried deep in the pressure and heat in the heart of the jungle itself, the stone.

But it was much more than a mere stone, it refracted rainbows in the daylight and contained the firelight in the night. The people knew that this was a gift from Harvesta so carved it with symbols of her natural beauty, adorning it and adoring it. They named it 'Harvesta's Heartstone'. This was the first relic of the Arborealists and it is believed to contain Harvesta's divine power of growth itself.

Ceremonies
Ceremonies are important to the Arborealists and they often create new ones in celebration or service to nature, specific spirits, new deities or the community of Arborealists.

Feasts are common occurrences in Arborealist communities and tend to focus around one or more deity's specific plant or bounty, for example chests of cake, tables full of bread and barrels of beer for one ceremony, and casks of wine, bowls filled with berries, fountains of milk and towers of cheese wheels for another.

The Change is a powerful Arborealist ceremony, where a being of another species is taken to a Lifesap tree and attempts to join with its spirit. If successful, the person will be absorbed by the tree and undergo physical changes until they are reborn as a true Woodfae. The new Fae's eyes change to a bright leafy, emerald or grass green and the ears become pointed. Some other changes may take place, although these are not certain. They include lengthening of limbs (especially for the short races such as dwarves), enlargening or shape change of the eyes and change of hair colour.

The Joining is a ceremony celebrating great love between two or more Arborealists and many believe that the beings' souls are intertwined with one another during the ceremony. Most joinings are attended by entire settlements regardless of their relations to the participants although some do choose to keep it a more private affair. It is common that the feasting and partying following afterwards can continue for days if not longer for especially lavish affairs.