Ancestors

The wood elves believe their ancestors live in the trees.

### Appearance

Some see their ancestors as tree spirits, others see them as a golden host of warriors welcoming them into halls of feasting and glory. There are many difference conceptualizations of ancestors.

## Symbol(s)

The Othalan Rune

Ancestors are considered the Ninth Divine, all people are careful to honor, worship or ward off their ancestor’s spirits. Ancestor worship is common in Convergence. Shrines are frequently placed in cities or at least nearby. People seek guidance and courage from their ancestors if they have a positive relationship to them. It is more often the case to pray to the entire ancient and mysterious lineage that reached through the ages to place the individual in that time. Druids in particular worship Nature as a great and collective ancestor believing all plants and animals to be connected in lineage. Many feel a direct spiritual connection to nature. Herbalists highly attuned to the natural world can instinctively sense what plants are helpful and for what. Wildshaping, or spiritually embodying various aspects of nature is practiced by most folk who spend a lot of time in the wilderness. The perspective that the natural world is spiritually animated is very common, and much lore about nature spirits is shared. Certain products of nature can be consumed to heighten these sensitivities greatly, though the consumption of some of these is understood to be potentially deadly without guidance and care given by a sage in a carefully developed ritual. More specific nature spirits like undines are understood to be lords of water, giving people incentive to treat water sources with as much respect as possible for fear of retribution.

## Rituals

Great smiths often focus their worship on their Ancestors, honoring the discipline and sacrifice required over the generations to develop the craft. Some holy, legendary smith ancestors are the dwarf Telchar and the elf Celebrimbor.

## Holy Day

Ancestors are worshipped on a range of days personal to each community's individual history. A missed loved one might be honored and grieved on important anniversaries or feared ancestors might be warded against or placated in hopes that they will pass peacefully into the afterlife.

## Associations

#### **Holy Symbol:**

* The Othalan Rune is used for Ancestor worship. It's meaning is inheritance, heritage, tradition, and nobility.

#### **Holy Animal:**

* Dogs or wolves are common representatives of ancestor communion as it is said a spirit dog guides spirits of the dead to their ancestral resting place, and prevents intruders from entering these sanctums.
* Young men of many tribal communities in their coming of age phase, into house hold owning, married warrior men and fathers, wear the skins of wolves, spiritually and physically in their several years in wilderness. These young men serve as spiritual guardians of ancestral tradition in "carnivals" like the Wild Hunt, and as highly mobile skirmishers who harass and demoralize enemies.

#### **Holy Stone:**

* Whatever stone was meaningful to the ancestor can be used in their remembrance.

#### **Colors:**

* Whatever color was meaningful to the ancestor can be used in their remembrance. Family or clan colors have a meaning that is passed on over generations.