Titles:
Gonheda, Inkarna
Inspiration: gr, red willow world spirit, crazy cat lady, omon gon oson
Biography:
The great separation of the continents left Taal alone for the first time in his life. His sister was supposed to bring the emissaries of society to finally bridge the peace between society and nature. But it was the gods of that society who had acted against this peace. They did this. Not Taal. Taal did his duty. He listened to his sister and brought the forces of the natural world together. She never came.
Taal waited. He waited until she was just a memory … and then she wasn’t. Taal lived in the world that was left to him in the ways he and his sister had done so beforehand. Taal stayed the same in every way. He did not age. He lived in harmony with nature and observed its ways. Some peoples observed Taal and lived in harmony with his ways. That is their way.
Taal learned that nature understands displays of forces. This is why they are called forces of nature. It is good to be strong. It is right. And strength in nature is always growing. When nature is attacked, it strikes back. And when it is weak, it either grows or makes way for those who will. There were times when the world around Taal was under attack. Times when nature was not strong enough. Those were the times when Taal and nature lent each other their powers. He and his environment struck back. Struck hard. And Taal was no longer alone. No longer weak. This is his way.
Worshippers:
Explorers, druids, horticulturists, farmers, hunters.
Places of Worship:
Wilderness & dense habitats of nature.
Worship:
Taal is more widely worshipped out of fear than adoration. While he once represented the possible bond between life in nature and the peoples of Eideiri, he now represents the very real dangers of traveling through nature unguided. The first peoples were once able to freely form close bonds with natural life and travel the world in peace. When Taal became separated, he intended to maintain this agreement. Over time with the disappearance of the first peoples and as the boundaries of civilization expanded, this agreement eroded.
Now there are fewer with the ability to form such a bond. Those who can usually do so with already domesticated animals or to serve a greater practical purpose such as hunting or defense. Within the great cities, very few of these people exist and they are seen as archaic and sometimes vulgar. Worship of Taal within the great cities is done in an obligation to include him. Some believe a failure to include Taal in the ritual devotions by the people of the great cities is responsible for the hostility of the natural world.
Beyond the great cities, Taal plays a larger role in the lives of the people. Venturing into the wilds must always be done by a guide who might be able to pacify, speak with, or conceal from aggressive fauna. Those who live in the wilds make daily sacrifices to appease Taal in the hopes of warding their homes from attacks. They know their limits in where not to travel and what not to kill and stick to them. Too many townships in history have fallen to poor awareness of the environment around them. There is a fragile peace but the people know how to maintain it.
In the deep wilds, the relationship is much more one sided. First there are many great beasts scattered through the wilds which are extremely dangerous on their own. In the deep wilds, these beasts roam freely and in abundance. Furthermore, the only people who live in the deep wilds are the druids. To call them zealots would be understating their devotion to Taal. The druids of the deep wilds seek the restoration of an era in which the peoples of Eideiri and the wildlife of Eideiri stood side by side. They guard the deep wilds from unwanted visitors and only venture out to tend to the natural world in crisis.
Although Taal represents a great deal of conflict, worship of Taal in the great cities and in the wilds is generally tempered but consistent. It is not uncommon to meet people who are still able to form a bond with nature but it is more common in the wilds and standard in the deep wilds.
Servants:
Hiakai
Hiakai maintains the cycle of the food chain on Eideiri. It is said that it is by her will that there is always a bigger fish. It is also by her blessings a hunt might be prosperous or a harvest generous.
The Leur
The Leur are living embodiments of their ecosystems. Used as a last resort by the druids of the deep wilds, the Leur represent the greatest ability for the environment to fight back. Often represented by mighty amalgamated beast spirits, the Leur are known for destroying entire towns and maintaining the wilds. All natural habitats host a Leur but they are bound by seals made by early druids and can only be released or resealed by druids.