Kithairien

[hellspawn]

•Aliases: The Runner, Great Runner, Falcon, Great Hunter
•Race: Wild elf
•Worshippers: Usually wild elves.
•Governs: Hunting Prowess, Quickness of Wit, Strength
•Mantras: Active, Private, Nomadic, Stoic

"My true kin, rely on your strengths and run free. See all that there is to see of this land. With your bonds to one another and your independence, there is no one stronger than you. Let no bond of mortal making hold you back. Rebel against those who seek to bind you. Remember always, the vilest of all prisons is a stale mind and hard heart."
Said to have been spoken in several speeches in his mortal life, these words of Kithairien light the path for his devout. Sometimes spoken with different phrases, alteration to the length or translation, but always the meaning is the same: "Run free. Be true to yourself and your kin. Let no one hold you back."

[hellspawn]

The followers of the Runner prefer the spear, the weapon he carried in life. Because they are hunters, it fits their needs. It is simple to create in addition to being easy to wield. Many priests of Kithairien undertake the carving of a special spear used only in ritual or when speaking directly to Kithairien. These spears often carry tokens of their travels and events of the tribe's life attached to them. Running the lay of the land, stalking their prey and enduring all weathers, Kithairien followers wear hides and cloth to protect themselves. Commonly they wear earthen tones to blend with the land. Those following Kithairien believe fervently that they need no heavy armors, as it would detract from their hunting, slowing them down, and alerting their prey. In times of celebration, they carry their decorated spear and cloths painted with blue and white dyes, the colors of their god.

[hellspawn]

Each tribe has several priests of the Runner. They are often referred within the tribes as the Falcon's Feathers, when spoken about. There is little formal education of the priests of Kithairien. The dogma of Kithairien is well recited in the tribes and all the children of the wild elves learn it in their first years. When one of the tribe priests identify young wild elves who show potential, the young are given a few years training in certain practices unique to each tribe. They are also trained in the basics of healing with herb and salve, along with knowledge of plant and animals. However, as soon as the young prove competent, they are called priest by the elder priest and set to learn the rest of Kithairien's teachings in the land on their own.
A small tribal ceremony is conducted followed by a celebration, which often, but not always, includes tattooing of the new priest with symbols representing that which is close to his heart. In addition, the priest will sometimes take a new name to represent this new stage in his life. These newly ordained Feathers take a pilgrimage out into the wilds. For some it's communion with their patron, for others it's a quest for acceptance by Kithairien. The only thing that each pilgrimage has in common is that the priests vanish out into the world's wild places, sometimes as long as several decades. In life, Kithairien held the open plains closest to his heart. However, his people have spread out across the world and now travel mountains, deserts, woods, and plains. Guided by nothing but their curiosity, it is these pilgrimages that sometimes led to splinter groups moving into new areas. It is also during this time that the priests of Kithairien begin to carve their ceremonial spears for the rare occasions that they might be needed.

Few outsiders ever see wild elves or the solitary priests of the Runner, as they tend to roam far from places inhabited by those not of their race. From time to time however, solitary explorers have stumbled across small settlements or even roaming bands of migrants. As a result, there are a few non-wild elf followers of Kithairien. At first glance, these followers might be treated as less then equals. But if they prove themselves true to the dogma of the Runner, they can achieve respect among the tribes. These followers, however, tend to be extremists to the call of living free. Most converts to the Runner become priests rather then just simple followers. Much of what they learn is from the land itself and rarely from an actual teacher. These zealots to the cause tend not to dodge the non-believers as much as a wild elf might. It is not unheard of for them to stop and share their faith with those who would inquire.

In addition to their outspoken behavior, non-elf followers change much about themselves upon their conversion. They may take up new names and sometimes tattoo themselves as the tribes do; though, the symbols are generally not elvish by nature. Their style of dress also shifts, taking on colors that blend them into the land they inhabit. All of these things in defiance against what ever boundaries held them in their previous life.

There are a few records of supposed wild men living in the more dangerous regions of Layonara who are actually solitary priests of Kithairien. They do not appear as lithe elvish followers, instead these solitary priests are seen as shaggy, unshaven illdressed ruffians.

Elections and Organizations
It is unknown exactly, even to his own people, how Kithairien became a god. Though they were delighted at his ascension and have widely varying legends, they have no explanation. He worked most of his life to establish what he called the old ways for his people. His establishment of the wild elf tribes was an effort to bring the race back to what it was supposed to be in his eyes. He was opposed by many in his mortal life, but a slow trickle of elves began to hear and agree with his message. His life's work resulted in the forming of a large tribe of elves seeking out these old ways. In those days it is said that he called no one higher or lower then himself, that all were brother, sister, kin. It is due to this that his devout consider themselves equal to the rest of their people. While the priests of the Falcon are afforded respect, they never demand better status. Since it was started before the splintering of the first tribe, this tradition is one of the few that remains constant amongst the tribes. When inhibitions are frowned upon, and personal freedom made a tenet of religion, many disagreements occur. However, because of their belief system, they simply splinter and move to new areas rather then dissolving into civil war or other such tragedies. The original tribe, called Runner's Children, led the way for many segments to eventually stretch out and explore many of the continents. Though these elves left the continent of Voltrex, after the destruction of their first, last, and only city, they are still called kin and often referred to as cousins.

Those who pledge their lives to the Falcon are looked upon as great achievers within the tribe and believed to have the Falcon's prowess. No priest is respected more or less than the other unless he himself has achieved some great feat or folly in his life that the tribe may judge him for. Occasionally, the feat or folly will be known to several of the tribes. A final duty of the Falcon’s Feathers is to attend to the tribe’s well being. There are times when they are called upon to be more than hunters and act as diplomats—this happens when disagreements occur and the tribes turn to those who have the Runner's ear and call upon them to settle differences.

[hellspawn]

As with all religions of the world, there are always splinters of faith that do not practice as the rest. However, in the case of Kithairien, all of his tribes are splinter sects. Each has many of their own traditions, their own customs, and each holds certain aspects above other aspects. No particular sect is held more in favor than any other, at least as far as the tribes will admit. Rarely is there conflict over these issues when the tribes themselves meet. Each tribe respects the other for its uniqueness and independence.
There are two tribes that treasure one portion of the dogma far over the others: "Let no bond of mortal making hold you back, rebel against those who seek to bind you." These defiers of the laws often go out of their way to strike out at those who would restrict them. One of these tribes is on Mistone and the other is on Belinara. Each small sect of these intense warriors strikes out indiscriminately at those who move in to their paths and territories. Their chief complaint being that where men come, so too come laws and restrictions. Therefore, they seek to stop the ways of man as much as stop their expansion. In truth, these two tribes have been blamed for the deaths of many humans who have sought to carve out a piece of the wild places to make their own. It is due to this that relations between wild elves and humans are tumultuous in a few areas of Mistone and Belinara. Oddly, it is also this part of the Falcon's following that has the highest non-elf population.

[hellspawn]

There are no temples to Kithairien as most would think of them. To these roamers of the land's hidden places, the most appropriate areas to commune with their patron are those naturally occurring, hard-to-find locations. These untouched places speak to their souls better than any place that could be created. From time to time some of Kithairien's people will take up residence in these areas, for as long as it suits them. This is both in defense of as well as attraction to the place. With no organized structure, these are the best places to find a priest of the Runner for those seeking one.
While there are no temples, there are small shrines to Kithairien in various places all over the lands. These are built in places where tribes have wintered, where solitary followers have taken up temporary residence, or where other important events have taken place. Once built and blessed, they are left to remain for any other who would seek them. The shrines are always built from materials from the surroundings, such as a carved stump in the woods or a stacking of rocks in the shape of a falcon in the desert. These simple tributes hold more then symbolic power however. They call to Kithairien just as the wild places that serve as temples to his people. They do not seem out of place because the builder always takes great pains to mesh the small carving, stacking, or placement with the land around it. They are usually quite difficult to differentiate from the lands themselves. Many times other followers will stop at these places, if they notice them, and offer up devotions to the Runner, both out of respect to him as well as to acknowledge the discovery of the shrine itself.

[hellspawn]

Prayers
Prayers to Kithairien are usually for the hunt but are rarely asked for. Kithairien largely respects those who ask little of him and rely upon themselves first and foremost.
A priest of Kithairien, however, may pray something like this before an important hunt: "Oh Great Hunter, I ask that my wisdom be enough so I may know the moment to act. May my speed and agility be as the Great Runner. That I may act swiftly when the time comes. That my strength shall be enough for my prey to fall easily, suffering little."

Priests of Kithairien offer worship before a battle, a hunt, or at times when great strength may be needed. As all of his people are roamers and hunters, they tend to offer worship at dawn. Worship for these followers does not include asking for great boons or prowess, simply acknowledging their faith and a personal reassertion of their commitment to live as he did.

Holy Days
Until recently, followers of Kithairien did not celebrate widely recognized holy days. The tribes of wild elves marked anniversaries of important events in the group's history and celebrated them in Kithairien's name. Anniversaries of births, important hunts, and discoveries of new places are all important events as are unions between their people and times where they have worked together with other tribes. With each celebration comes a feast, with the telling of tales, music, and dancing. These events were important to the tribes to build strong bonds among its members.

However, after the fall of Sinthar Bloodstone, many of the tribes took up a ceremony to mourn the passing of the starlit sky. In the beginning, it was an attempt at comfort for the tribes in the growing cold months. Then, it became a plea for the return for normalcy. While Kithairien's people still roamed, explored, and lived life as they would, the hard times wore the tribes thin. Eventually, this ceremony became one of mourning, a dance of remembrance. Each tribe has its own parable, its own message, and its own dance to accompany the ceremony. At the root of it all however, the sentiment was the same. They mourned for their lost kin due to the darkening of the skies. The ceremony seemed to fill a void in the tribes. Even now that the Dark Ages have ended, the ceremony remains.

[hellspawn]

•Allied:

◦Aeridin
◦Ilsare
◦Katia

•Friendly:

◦Az'atta
◦Mist
◦Prunilla
◦Xeen

•Neutral:

◦Beryl
◦Branderback
◦Deliar
◦Folian S'pae
◦Lucinda
◦Shindaleria

•Unfriendly:

◦Aragen
◦Goran
◦Grannoch

•Enemy:

◦Baraeon Ca'Duz
◦Corath
◦Dorand
◦Grand
◦Pyrtechon
◦Rofirein
◦Shadon
◦Sulterio
◦Toran
◦Vierdri'ira
◦Vorax

[hellspawn]

•Alignment:
◦Chaotic Neutral



•Cleric Alignments:
◦Chaotic Good
◦True Neutral
◦Chaotic Neutral
◦Chaotic Evil



•Domains:
◦Animal
◦Strength
◦Travel
◦Trickery