Wildkin Religion

“One World, One Life, One Thousand Heartbeats”

“A Thousand Ways In A Thousand Lives”

“Ask one hundred scholars or one hundred Wildkin tribesmen to explain the tenants and nuance of their religion, and you will receive two hundred different answers.”

Introduction

Such has been written and recorded throughout history, that though many facets of Wildkin civilization are similar throughout all examples, to each individual tribe comes many, many ways to show their faith. When posed the issue of accurately defining Wildkin religion and their worship of spirits, it is not so simple as to make a checklist and a spreadsheet- Instead, one must look deeper, into the Wildkin’s way of life itself.

The Wildkin vary incredibly from one tribe to another. Their cultures, though often intertwined in each other, tend to differ so greatly that religious disputes, territorial wars, and acts of aggression are all too common in the forests and wildlands. However, the exact opposite is true as well; For while aggression is commonplace, many tribes find their beliefs similar and their core tenants amiable with others. To say that the Wildkin are a ‘mixed bag’ is likely understating things, but a few of these tenants find their way within most, if not all, of Wildkin religion.

Wildkin, worship the Spirits that inhabit the world around us, even if they do not openly celebrate or proselytize. How, Whom, and Why they worship are all matters of individual tribes. The important part is that, in totality, the spirits dictate their very ways of life.

Wildkin are strange creatures, magically blessed from the moment they are born in several ways. Many Wildkin step into this world with their animalistic features present, their tails and ears upon their body- And some are required to earn it. To some societies, it is believed that a Wildkin born with these features are destined for greatness, while those without must first prove themselves to the tribe, their Spirit, and themselves to officially join the ranks of a ‘Wildkin’. Other tribes, however, be they more favored by their spirit or otherwise simply believe differently, will find all of their offspring blessed with magical potency and animal-like extremities. Though there are some scant few exceptions, Wildkin tend to view their magic and appearance as entirely important to themselves, as it connects them closer to the world, and to the Spirit that granted them this power in the first place.

The Beast Spirits, and to a much lesser extent all spirits, are what defines Wildkin and, mostly, allows them to continue perpetuating and thriving. Even a Wildkin that lives in an industrialized, urban environment can, and likely will, understand that should anything happen to these Spirits, They- and the world at large- would likely be much worse off. It is also so that one of these Beastial Spirits will occasionally bless a newborn with a different appearance, and is often a boon or omen of things to come. A wolf tribe that gives birth to a newborn with fox ears, for example, may take it as a sign of scarcity or a requirement to hide. A bear tribe that is all black in fur giving birth to a much larger, brown bear may see that child as a portent, someone legendary being born amidst them. These changes, however, often stay within their ‘type’. A wolf to a fox or a hawk to an eagle is common; A wolf to a hawk is undocumented, and does not happen, for example.

It is through these tenants that almost all of the tribes and individuals often serve and exist- Though, to what extremes each group follows is widely varied. Though it is nigh impossible to categorize and list every single tribe’s way of worship, there are similarities and examples that stand strong throughout each of the tribes. Through coexistence, stories passed down from elder to child, the glory of conquest, and wild tales of heroism, Wildkin are as much a force of nature as the very spirits they worship tend to be.

“Trials, Tribulations, Exile”

The Beast Spirits, who are massive and monumental spiritual creatures that claim their domains in great swathes of land, are what afford the Wildkin their magical powers. Though some are born more in tune with their guardian spirits, many of the Wildkin won’t know precisely what their task is, or how to accomplish it, until the nights before their task begins. Often, and though the Spirits scarcely ever commune directly with one singular Wildkin, they will offer to those about to go into their trials a dream. Within these dreams, the more magically attuned will see their tribe’s guardian animal, leading them into the wilderness and showing them what they must do. But not all are so lucky.

To those who have disgraced the clans, or who have spit upon their Wildkin heritage, they will sometimes have dreams to be taken as omens. Those of the Direwolf may see a starved wolf, failing to catch its mark. Those of the Bear could have dreams of their homes burning, being destroyed by the world they sought to protect. Such dreams are often clear and obvious as to their meanings, but even so, passing a trial will reward that individual with their blessings - So long as they can come to terms with what the omen showcased. Though, as to what they will accomplish with them is another question entirely.

There also exists, however, spirits who tend to be more tricky or free willed. These spirits can offer Wildkin dreams that make little sense, but must be interpreted in ways to pass their coming trials. Such a thing can be seen in the story of the “two tailed cat”, where a boy belonging to a tribe of the Golden Lion had his soul severed into two parts- Good and evil. When he awoke and told the Elders of his dream, they attempted a ritual to pull his soul back together- But because he had not accepted that he may have wronged the tribe, the ritual failed, and so did his true trial. His tail split in twain, one brilliant gold and the other murky brown, and he was cast out into the wilderness to wander, forever known as a liar.

These dreams are often entirely up to interpretation, and from one Shaman to another Druid could mean innumerable things. Although it is said that the one who receives the dream will know in their heart of hearts what it means, divination rituals and ceremonies for these deep slumbers are had to invoke the spirits and consecrate them, for it is seen as a direct blessing from their deities.

To fail a trial is not to fail as a Wildkin, however- The Elders of many tribes often say that to fail a trial is only a great sin if you give up. Another quarry, another try, or another attempt can be made- If you live for long enough to attempt it, at least. Although, as everything is when it comes to this subject, this is not always true. In more brutal societies, especially those of the Wolf or the Bear, to fail is to be considered forever a failure, and many will find themselves in exile, second hand citizenship, or becoming enslaved.

To those who pass their trials, however, the blessings of the Beast Spirits are immediately present. Though generations of a tribe will often share the exact same makeup, with wolf Wildkin bearing more Wolves as an example, such is not always the case. There are several scenarios where great and powerful leaders have been born a different ‘type’, though always fitting within their spirit’s primary followers. It is not bizarre, in any case, for many tribes to bear those of Wolves, Foxes, and many other canine species all in one. Under most circumstances, however, the makeup of a tribe’s population will all tend towards one form or another, as they all are within a singular survival scenario.

For a child to be born, then, with different features is to some tribes a blessing, and others a curse. A tribe of black-furred Ursine Wildkin finding one of their own has taken on a larger stature, with brown or white fur, will often take it as a sign of incoming warfare and the need for a much more powerful warlord. A tribe of wolves that find the son of their tribal leader developing fox ears and a bushy fox tail may see it as a sign of weakness, or potentially of harder times ahead, requiring cunning instead of brute force.

Whatever the cause, these blessings are bestowed upon the tribe by their guardian, within their dreams- And such dreams are often directly correlated with challenges they or their tribe may face. Be it their trials, the demand of the spirit for their blessing, or a general warning of things to come, the communion of these Guardian Spirits, and the very genetic form of those worshiping any individual spirit, form a relationship that many outsiders may see as speculative at best. The Wildkin, however, who have put their faith in these spirits, state otherwise- That each individual is able to properly interpret their dreams and blessings for themselves, and that despite the Elders’ divining rituals, the right path will always present itself as long as you truly embrace what you know to be true.

For the Wildkin, their tribe, and the natural world, is their way of life. How each interprets, worships, venerates, or if they do any of these in general,however, is only up to the individual.

Credit

Author: An Mouse https://forum.verdict.dev/showthread.php?tid=3870