Behruun (God)

## The God of Nature, Conservation and the Hunt

No one knows how old Behruun *(B-eh-rune)* is, or what he is for that matter. A strange man, tall and slender but fit from a life in the wilds of the world, the Horned God is not of any common race. His gaze is harsh but smile welcoming, and as such the Green Witches that follow his Pact often refer to him as the Green Father or the Horned Hunter. The faith of the followers of Behruun is thought to be one of the oldest religions on Lailahn, and like many old sacred things, very little is known about it by the everyday person.

> "Bittersweet is my song, a tune of life, of bounty and growth and also a melody of death. All in nature dies, just as it all thrives. We man-beasts are no different."
>
>

> - Torztehvoc (Behruun)
>
>

What is known is that the Horned Hunter takes pride in the dense and wild forests of Lailahn. Any land not yet touched by civilization is thought to be his domain. When the wilds begin to creep back on cities or villages, some claim it is Behruun taking back what was taken from him. Green Witches and followers of his Pact try to live as with nature as they can and do as little damage to the surrounding wildlife as possible, this results in living in natural formations such as caves our under deep roots - or building within the many grand trees of his wilds.

Torztehvoc is not just the protector and patron of vegetation, but also of wildlife. He favors no beast over a plant, and claims all life is equal. It is commonly accepted that Behruun believes it is only in balancing our appreciation of all aspects of life that we can find ourselves united with it.

## The Teachings of Behruun:

Behruun is the patron of nature and everything to do with it. He is seen as the god of all plant life and the wilderness. He, along with Lataria, is key to the faith of the Green Witches, not to be mistaken with the Mist Witches.

The Horned God, Behrunn teaches the value of life and the importance of adhering to its cycle. Followers of him are known to spend most of their times away from crowded cities where they can be the most connected nature and thus most connected to this god. It is known that Behruun teaches that all life is sacred, both plant and animal, but that he does not view one as being above the other. He teaches that if you are to kill something, none of it should be left to waste away; likewise, should you pick a plant, it should be used and not taken for the purpose of vanity.

This view is why followers of the Horned God usually thank plants for their sacrifice prior to collecting them and often tend to wild growth, ensuring they pay back for what they take. This same practice is down when slaughtering animals, the animal is often blessed by the hunter before being killed and is thanked.

> "To live a life of pleasures with no acceptance of our actions is to condemn all around us to suffer; live a life full of joy and happiness, but harm none in doing so. Do no harm to the world as you would do no harm onto others... Unite yourself with the spring breeze, with the summer sun, with the colors of autumn and with the stillness of winter, and welcome the wild spirit back into your heart; only then will you be whole."
>
>

> - Behruun, on the matter of modern living
>
>

### Symbols of Behruun

There are many symbols used to associate with Behruun, but the two most common ones would be a large oak or evergreen tree or a stag with grand antlers. Lesser known or seen symbols are the seed, symbolic to the cycle of life, and a bone arrow, symbolic to the hunt.

The color most tightly tied to the God of Nature is green, which is clearly seen in the other name he is sometimes referred as - Torztehvoc (*T-orz-teh-voc)*, or the Green-Tree God.