Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

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Chapter III: Wood Elf Religion Ch a p t e r III: Wo o d El f Religion “It is sung that the indolence of our ancestors was punished by the wrath of Mathlann. The God of Storms darkened the skies and swelled the oceans, with each breath he washed away our sins. Now some neglect our duty to the forest and the day will come when we suffer once more for the acts of a few” “The Sundering” by Kaia Stormwitch The chief pursuit of Asrai spirituality is Yenlui, or balance in the natural order. Elven personalities contain both light and dark aspects, both of which must be nurtured to achieve spiritual harmony. Wood Elves whose souls are imbalanced must restore Yenlui through Bran-wa-shin meditation, or risk being ousted from their Kithbands. Oftentimes, the spiritual journey is described as letting one’s old self die, so a new self can be born. This cycle of birth, death and renewal is central to Asrai religion. As r a i Ye n l u i High Elves (Asur) of Ulthuan and Wood Elves (Asrai) of the Old World both subscribe to similar beliefs regarding their place in the world and their relationship with the gods. However, the two races have been separated for so long that in practice, the original Asur understanding of Balance no longer suits the Asrai very well. In the Asrai worldview, natural balance replaces the more static spiritual balance of light and shadow. The Yenlui of Wood Elves is unquiet, passionate and dynamic. Highborn Elves at the court of the Phoenix King whisper that Asrai practices have more in common with the Cytherai gods than with Isha, whom they profess to revere. Conversely, Wood Elves consider many Asur practices but empty rituals, devoid of the vital force which pulses through sacred glades. The Wood Elves’ gods are living, breathing entities with whom they share the forest. Isha the Life goddess is the head of the Asrai pantheon and every tree is part of her body. Second only to Isha is Kurnous the Beast god, existing within every animal. Loec the Trickster is also a frequently venerated god, reflecting the Wood Elves’ passion for music and laughter. In magical forests, Elven gods can manifest through physical avatars that rule the woodland realms as kings and queens. In addition to the common Elven pantheon, Asrai recognise numerous spirit-gods believed to have fallen from the sky when the world was born. These fallen gods, or “Brúidd” as they are called in Fan-Eltharin, rule the sacred glades. The Brúidd also guard entrances to the Otherworld where departed Elven souls linger before their eventual return to the forest in the bodies of animals or trees. Ne w Ta l e n t: De v o t e e Description: You are spiritually attuned to the forest and devoted to the worship of all Asrai gods. By spending a Fortune Point you can cast a spell from the Petty Magic (Divine Asrai) list as though you have a Magic Characteristic of 1. Once you have entered the Anointed Priest Career and learned a Divine Lore, you may purchase spells from any Divine Lore at a cost of 100 XP per spell. This Talent can be learned by any Wood Elf. Although priests are important figures in Wood Elf society, Asrai religious orders are not strict hierarchies. All earthbound magic comes through Isha, and therefore Spellsingers are also considered priests of a sort. It’s not uncommon for mages to also be devotees of a god. Wood Elf priests are intensely devout, but they also recognise that a god’s will sometimes needs to be compromised for the greater good. Sa c r e d Gl a d e s Wood Elves perform their rituals not in temples, but at sacred forest glades of unmatched splendour. These mystical sites can range in size from a small grove to a tract of woodland miles across. Sacred glades are places of prayer, pilgrimage, meditation, divination and purification. To the aethyrically-attuned Asrai, sacred glades are sources from which their goddess Isha’s essence permeates the forest. In fact, the ambient magic saturating these locations is so concentrated that the arcane mists, will-o-wisps and rays of colour are often observable even to those lacking Witchsight. Because sacred glades are so important, they are specifically targeted by despoilers such as Beastmen or Goblins. To defend these natural shrines, the Asrai build their settlements around them or conceal entire glades behind powerful illusions. Sentient forests such as Athel Loren actively conceal their own sacred glades by diverting trespassers onto wayward paths. Sacred glades are often home to forest spirits ruled by powerful entities known as the Brúidd. The god Kurnous makes his will manifest at sacred glades through the Brúidd and the Council of Beasts. 15
Divine Auras Priests and Wizards channelling magic in a sacred glade receive bonuses ranging from +1 to +1d10 on their Casting Rolls when using a relevant Spell Lore (Forests, Isha etc.). Additionally, a sacred glade can be imbued with 0-3 Divine Auras: Inspiration: Praying here attracts a Divine Blessing (WFRP pg. 146) or a conditional Fortune Point relevant to the specific god, usually lasting 1 day. Divination: Images of distant happenings can be observed in scrying pools or the theatrical re-enactments of Spites. Healing: A spring of crystal-clear water restores 1d10 Wounds to anyone who drinks it. Healing glades are also common sites for fertility rituals. Purity: Asrai who aren’t Isha’s Orphans (pg. 7) can meditate here for 1d10 days to lose an Insanity Point. Extended Bran-Wa- Shin meditation (see sidebar) can even cure an existing Disorder besides the two listed. Sanctuary: Servants of Chaos must pass a Hard (-20) Will Power Test to enter the glade. Chaos Daemons failing the test become unstable. Wo o d El f Pr i e s t s The Asrai are spiritually inclined because of their soul-bond to Isha and their lifelong pursuit of Yenlui. For this reason, Wood Elves may enter the Priest Career through other avenues besides starting as an Initiate, as humans normally do. Wardancers, Hunters and Artisans are able to join the priesthoods of Loec, Kurnous and Vaul based on past devotion to their gods and inherited knowledge of divine principles. Wood Elves who wish to switch between different priesthoods must complete the Initiate Career as normal. A complete list of alternative Priest Entry Careers can be found on page 51. Co u n c i l o f Be a s t s In Asrai religion, nature spirits and spirit-animals are venerated as servants of the Elven gods and minor gods in their own right. Whenever the Elves form pacts with nature spirits (e.g. the Great Council of Athel Loren), the animals and spirits assemble an independent Council of Beasts to make decisions on the forest’s behalf. The most influential spirits at these gatherings are the Brúidd, but every creature has a voice. Malla-room-ba-larin is the forest’s native tongue, therefore only Elves versed in the language may participate. Elven demigod avatars such as Orion, Ariel or Torothal are the ambassadors who voice Asrai concerns to the sylvan host. Typically, mortal Elves attend the Council of Beasts only during times of crisis. However, Spellsingers and Priests routinely negotiate local Kinband matters with individual spirits. Sy l v a n Pa c t s When Elves and forest spirits reached accord at the Great Council of Loren in -1125 IC, a distinct Asrai culture and religion took form. Although the original colonists from Ulthuan had built their settlements within sight of the forest’s edge, the first sylvan pact provided them access to powerful magic from the sacred glades, allowing them to move deeper within the woodland sanctuary. Ne w Ta l e n t: Br a n-Wa-Sh i n Description: You have been taught meditative techniques to erase painful memories from your mind. Once per week, in exchange for 50 XP, you can attempt a Will Power Test to remove a number of Insanity Points equal to the Degrees of Success (WFRP pg. 89). Should you succeed by 3 or more Degrees, you can remove either the Venomous Thoughts or Host of Fiends disorders. This Talent can be learned by any Wood Elf, but only at a sacred glade, and only from mentors who are trained in Bran-wa-shin techniques themselves. Each individual Asrai realm is defined to some extent by its sylvan pact. Typically, the local Brúidd grant Elves hunting rights and magical lore in exchange for services… or sacrifices. While the long centuries within the forest depths have made the Asrai dependent upon their spirit patrons (see Isha’s Orphans, pg. 7), most accept the principle that committing their souls to Isha offers their best chance for salvation from Chaos. Th e Br ú i d d Ancient spirits called the Brúidd rule the world’s magical forests. As the spirit-lords are diverse in both appearance and behaviour, there is no consensus on the Brúidd’s origins amongst Elves of different cultures. Asrai priests believe the Brúidd are divine 16
Page 2 and 3: Defenders of the Forest Cr e d i t
Page 4 and 5: Chapter I: Playing Wood Elf Charact
Page 10 and 11: Chapter II: Kindreds Ch a p t e r I
Page 12 and 13: Chapter II: Kindreds Ve n g e a n c
Page 14 and 15: Chapter II: Kindreds Beastfriend Pr
Page 18 and 19: servants, fallen gods or aspects of
Page 20 and 21: Viydagg Viydagg, the Laurëlorn Br
Page 22 and 23: Principles • Give thanks to the s
Page 24 and 25: Outdoor Survival +20, Perception +2
Page 26 and 27: To r o t h a l , Wi t c h Qu e e n
Page 28 and 29: Pr i e s t s o f Va u l The Asrai o
Page 30 and 31: Ch a p t e r IV: Wo o d El f Ma g i
Page 32 and 33: Chapter IV: Wood Elf Magic Spellsin
Page 34 and 35: Chapter IV: Wood Elf Magic Forecast
Page 36 and 37: Chapter IV: Wood Elf Magic Ri t u a
Page 38 and 39: Chapter V: Armoury and Equipment Ch
Page 40 and 41: Aoilym Fruit The Aoilym fruit (pron
Page 42 and 43: Chapter VI: Careers Ch a p t e r VI
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Page 50 and 51: Existing Ad v a n c e d Ca r e e r
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5. Meadow Glades Navigation: Easy (
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Chapter VII: The Forest of Athel Lo
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Ot h e r Lo c a t i o n s Athel Lor
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Lost Heir of Dukae Tancred II: Einh
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Treachery in the Wildwood: Last yea
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Chapter VIII: The Laurëlorn Forest
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Chapter IX: The Hinterglades Ch a p
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Chapter IX: The Hinterglades Pl a y
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Chapter IX: The Hinterglades Pl a y
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Chapter IX: The Hinterglades harmle
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The pure of heart are allowed to wa
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Chapter X: Friends of the Forest Dr
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Chapter X: Friends of the Forest Pa
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Gr e a t St a g (New) Wood Elves re
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• Luminescents: These odd Spites
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Chapter X: Friends of the Forest Th
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(see Wood Elf Magic pg. 30). • Te
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Chapter XI: Flora, Fauna and Foes o
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Special Rules: • Thorns: The Deat
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Ma n-Fl e s h Centigors have a grea
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Chapter XII: Revolutions in Progres
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Ot h e r w o r l d Po r t a l s Mis
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missing party (false) and that he w
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Loba...............................
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