The Little Folk

## Religions

The little gods are worshipped by the little folks of western Rassia, throughout the badger isles and over to the tip of the Golden Mountains. It varies from place to place, each with their own principles and practices, but the basic tenants remain the same. The worshippers believe that their place in the world is in the middle, above the lower forms of the bugs and plants and spiders, and below the predators, the dogs and cats and badgers that rule the land from their high castles. They do not worship the predators, but instead see them as a part of the natural cycle, something to be feared and avoided where possible, but to also keep the law.

Occasionally someone will be chosen as a conduit for their power, but for a most part their power is limited. The little folk don't mind however, taking what small blessings they can get. They understand that the world is cruel, and like them, the little gods live beneath the feet of larger beings, true deities who will crush them beneath the heel of their boot if they suspect the slightest treachery or meddling in their plans.

The most important feature of the little gods religion is the burrow. Home is seen as a place of safety. It's risky to stray beyond its walls into the world where at any moment, a buzzard may swoop down, its razor talons grasping, or a fox may slink up through the undergrowth behind, its jaws gaping. The burrow means safety, a fire to warm the hands on a frosty morn, a mug of ale to share with kith and kin. This does not mean isolating one's self within the burrow. After all, bugs need to be tended too, crops sown and scythed, and the various other affairs that everyone has to tend too. The home represents the community, its walls are where the hedges end and where the wide world outside begins. Exile from ones community means almost certain death (or so they believe). Those who leave of their own volition thought of as those who have died. Other smallfolk who are new to a village are treated with suspicion (why ever would they leave the hearth if they weren't criminals, exiled or fleeing from their accusers who might at this very moment be bearing down upon their little hamlet with sword and fang), but predators are met with quiet, simpering servitude when they can't be avoided entirely.

This leads to the second biggest tenant of their belief: predators are dangerous and unpredictable. Contact with them should be minimized, if not outright avoided. They should only be addressed with meek servitude. Of course, there are occasionally heroes who rise out of the ranks of the Little Folk. But these are few and far between, and often quickly crushed beneath the heels of the rulers.

### The Mother of the Hearth

Being one of the core gods of the Little Gods pantheon, the Mother of the hearth is incredibly important. She is the warmth and safety of the home, the god of the house, one of the most important part of a little persons life. She is most often represented as a jolly mouse stirring a pot, over a fire. Her symbol is a pot over a fire.

### The Father of the Wilds

The father of the wilds is the opposite to the Mother of the Hearth, representing the great outdoors, being both revered and feared by the Little Folk. While he does bring the rains to water the crops and provide game and food in his forests, he also hides predators in his undergrowth, brings blizzards, floods and droughts, and swallows careless souls who dare to venture too deep into his domains. He is usually depicted as a mouse with a lightning in his eyes and a huge mossy beard nestled with berries and acorns. His symbol is an acorn wreathed in leaves.

### The Daughter of the Forest

The daughter of the forest is the offspring of the Mother of the Hearth and the Father of the wilds. She is the goddess of the crops the Little Folk farm, bringing them harvest, bounty and fortune. She is born every spring, and dies as the last leaves fall and the world turns to winter. Her form during summer, as a young mouse maid with a wreath of flowers in her hair, is her most common depiction. Her symbol is a crown of flowers.

### The Brother of the Sword

The brother of the sword, also commonly referred to as Martin the Mouse Knight, is the defender of the Little Folk. He represents the law, order, and punishment against those who would encroach upon it. Rarely will the Little Folk go to war, but when they do, it is upon his blessing that they call. He is the most despised of the predators who rule over the Little Folk, as he is most often the one who will cause revolts and uprisings (rare, but something that strikes fear into the bravest of nobles hearts). Martin is usually drawn as a mouse completely suited in armour, sword and shield in hand. His symbol is his trusty sword and shield.

### The Seer of the Fates

The Seer of Fates, also referred to as the Three-Eyed Mole, is the all seeing god/goddess of time. Their three eyes represent the past, present and future.  The eye of the past on the left, is half open, for while it has already happened, memories quickly become clouded and eventually fade into obscurity. The eye of the present is fully open, for all can see what is right before their eyes. Finally, the eye of the future on the right, is tightly closed, for none but the Mole can see the future. It is said that if the three eyed mole was to ever open all its eyes in their entirety and one was to gaze into their depths, they would be driven mad by the knowledge of everything. This can happen to his clerics who push too deep into the abyss of time, and wise practitioners know to only dip their toes into the pool of eternal knowledge. Its symbol is her three eyes.

### The Shepherd of Beasts

The Shepperd of Beasts is the master of all creatures. He is the god of those who herd beetle, treat with bees, ride spring heels and farm silk worms. A hedgehog, he sits astride a great horned beetle, his trusty jumping spider resting upon his shoulder, and a bee alighted upon his shepherds crook. His symbol is his crook with a spider web nestled in its hook.

### The Guide of the Mists

The squirrel is the guide of the forests and the unknown, providing a leading light to Little folk in need. They guide all who are lost, the wanderers to home, the adrift to purpose, and the dead to the afterlife. With their lantern held aloft, guiding all who can see it to safety. He is represented with a glowing lantern.

### The Wanderer of the World

The wanderer is the eternal enemy of the Guide and is viewed negatively by most of the Little Folk. He is the one who draws Little Folk away from their homes and safety, preying upon the young and foolish. He goes against many of the values held by the little folk, but to his followers he represents freedom and rebellion. Those who follow him are travelling folk, explorers and adventurers, wanting to see the world and delve into its deepest reaches. The Wanderer is seen as a fox by most Little Folk, dangerous and sly, dressed as a laughing jester and juggling merrily. His symbol is a wheel.

### The Luck Bringer

The jolly rabbit is the bringer of fortune and good luck to the Little folk. He brings trade and bountiful harvests, and is found in any small luck that is bestowed upon the small folk. However, the Luck Bringer is fickle. He cannot be relied upon in a bind, and his gifts strike at random as he bounces around the world. He is not worshipped as zealously as many of the other gods, and it is rare to find a shrine to him, but he is thanked if the smallfolk ever strike a spring or happen upon a tasty patch of mushrooms in the forest. His symbol looks like a donut, but it is meant to represent a stone with a hole in the centre, which are considered a good luck charm if one is ever found.

### The Builder

The builder, mostly represented as a stocky beaver with a thick leather apron and a hammer, is the patron of all craftsman of the Little Folk. His shrines always double as workshops, as all priests of the builder are craftsman. At almost all the forges of the Little folk, there is one of his idols and his symbol is scratched into all tools and anvils. His symbol is a diagonal hammer.

### The Concealer

While the brother of the sword is the defender of the little folk, he is seen by most as a last resort. Much more popular is the concealer, the secret defender of the Little Folk. He hides them away from the eyes of predators, concealing them with his long, black cloak. But he cannot hide all. So numerous are the Little Folk that occasionally, out of momentary foolishness or pure chance, one will slip from beneath the safety of his robes. Then is the time to pray to the rabbit or the brother, for once spotted, only luck or strength can protect the unfortunate soul. No one knows, even the other gods, what the concealer looks like. All that can be seen is a pair of glowing eyes from beneath the hood of their black cloak. Their symbol is a black cloak with some small creatures huddled within the folds.

### The Keeper of the Pool

The tranquil pool represents peace and order. It's surface is unblemished by the ripples of war and strife. And when a ripple does pass over its surface, it slowly fades back to calm stillness. The Tranquil Pond keeps itself calm, returning to order and returning to peace for the lives of the Little Folk. While they may be temporarily interrupted, ultimately the woe will pass and the peace will return. The Keeper, protects this pool, preventing any disturbance from marring its surface. He slowly slides across the pool in his small boat with his long pole, and is so gentle that he makes not a single ripple in his passing. Whenever he finds a ripple, he waves his pole and turns it into a Lily, to stop it spreading into other parts of the pool. The keeper is represented as a water shrew sitting on a small boat, eyes on the water with a long pole in hand. His symbol is a lily pad.