Hey Game Fans, we’re taking a look at some world building ideas and concepts for the home setting i run. If you’ve checked out my other world building articles, this is the setting that focuses on Lakeport and the larger world around it. Today i’m going to take a look at one of the oldest gods for the setting, Grandfather Oak. Before i get started on Oak himself, let me give you a little background for the gods of this world.
Broadly speaking, the gods divide themselves into a variety of groupings and factions, but the grouping i am concerned about today is the old gods and the new gods. The Old gods predate one of the most important conflicts of the setting, the Fey War. These are the gods that originally found this world and shaped it to their designs and interests. They shaped the great forests and mountains, and populated the world with creatures in their own image. The first Gods to walk the world were the gods of Giantkind, the Fey themselves, and the three Elder Wyrms. A few other gods would appear after this first establishment, most notably Ahrimaius, the God of Creation. These are the Gods of antiquity, and they made the world the way it was, for good or for ill.
The Fey War began as internal issue between a small fey enclave and their neighbors. It spiraled out of control to a level of violence and bloodshed that would haunt the old places of the world forever. At the darkest point of the war, when the Me’Ah’Chin hordes looked ready to take the fight to the Gods themselves, the eldest of the Fey Gods, Grandfather Oak, cast the most powerful magic anyone had ever seen. He summoned heroes and champions from across time and space to the Garden where Oak had planted his first seeds. He made them a simple offer. If they would turn back the tide of darkness and save the world, he would bestow upon the seeds of godhood, and make them the new gods of the world.
Heroes to the end, most of these people died during the war to liberate the world. Heroes from thousands of worlds and cultures fought, bled, and died in a distant land to save it from the most terrible monsters they had ever encountered. When the last battle had been fought, and the dead tallied, less than fifty of the thousands of heroes and champions were still standing. A few would succumb to lingering injuries sustained in the war, and their number would be diminished even further by a tragic incident.
The survivors returned to the Garden, and Grandfather Oak kept his word. Each hero or champion became the living embodiment of an idea or a race. One by one, the new Gods and Goddesses organized themselves, and set about the work of trying to heal the lingering damage the war had caused. Some places were never completely healed, and there are distant parts of the world that still think that ancient war rages….but that’s a story for another time.
Grandfather Oak, The Eldest
History
Before the War, Grandfather Oak discovered a blank canvas of a world and alongside his companion, Grandmother Lion, shaped it to create a paradise. They made great forests and open plains filled with plants and animals. They created a profusion of spirits to share the world with, and from these spirits rose the first of the Archfey. They ruled an unending summer, where life was grand and every fey had a role and purpose to play in the hierarchy. Unfortunately, this Summer could not last. The Fey found themselves trapped in a war with an unfeeling, uncaring foe and the war took a dark turn when Grandmother Lion was taken by the Hordes of the Me’Ah’Chin. Grandfather Oak turned to ancient magic and called as many heroes as would answer his summons and begged them to save the world.
During the War,Grandfather Oak served a singular purpose. Within the boughs of his branches and sheltered under his leaves, the heroes used him as their base of operations. His powers were tremendously weakened after the ritual, and he would not rouse from his slumber until the final battle of the war was fought. After Grandmother Lion was freed from the Me’Ah’Chin, he took care of her and sheltered her until she was ready to hunt once again.
After the War, Grandfather Oak gave the new gods their powers and retreated from the world. He doesn’t treat with the other gods frequently, and age seems to be catching up with him. While he slumbers, the world turns around him. His servants watch over what’s left of the ancient Fey holdings and protect his Grove from intruders.When he wakes, the ancient places of power surge with power, and fragments of the ancient past wander the modern world.
Relations with Others
Oak has few friends among the new gods, but Ahrimaius is a constant companion during his waking hours. Grandmother Lion spends the majority of her time with him, and the North Wind watches over the both of them in their slumbers. The remaining gods tread lightly around Oak, as some are concerned that might take their powers away.
Relations with Servants
Oak has few servants left in the world, and most of them are ancient fey creatures that watch over the lost places of the Fey World. Most keep their vigil in silence and go for centuries without seeing another soul. Some of them take pity on mortals and let them take temporary refuge in their guarded grounds, while others torture them to stave off their boredom.
Relations with Mortals
Oak doesn’t interact with mortals outside the descendants of his fey and elven children. He is spoken of in hushed whispers and reverent tones. His few priests spend their lives wandering the wild spaces of the old forests, communing with their spiritual ancestors and looking for signs of his presence.
Unusual Sayings
“The world is more important than any one thing, even a god” Grandfather Oak loves to tell stories and has been known to keep the people who find his grove enthralled with stories and jokes.
No comments:
Post a Comment