The Epiphytes of the Green Collective

[mateolog 1551]

The Epiphytes of the Green Collective 

 

History

 

The Epiphytes of the Green Collective where the founders of the order in Hefrumm. In 1742 of the First Age the Folk Council of Hefrumm created the Green Collective pushed by the Epihytes of Hefrumm and other Fae related beings that were living in the village. From the start the epiphytes led the organization as they were seen by the community of Hefrumm as dwarves that were chosen by Anbella to be part of her natural realm. Through the years the epiphytes of the Green Collective grew and prospered, creating families, achieving political ranks in the village, and becoming leaders of dwed. The creation of the Green Collective enabled the legal recognition of epiphytes as dwarves in the lands of Hefrumm, something that years later would lead the wider Urguan to also declate Epiphytes born as dwarves to be dwarves.

 

During the war against the Inferi the first dwarves to lend their assistance in the fight against the Khorvadic spawn were the epiphytes of the Green Collective, despite the Inferi flames being more of a danger to them than any other descendant. While the Green Collective has never shied away from battle the way of Anbella teaches them to seek a diplomatic bloodless resolution and only wage battle if diplomacy has failed.

 

Because of their association with Anbella and the fact that some epiphytes are among the oldests members of Hefrumm they tend to serve as keepers of knowledge and culture, with those that do so becoming Seers of Hefrumm. After the Green Collective the Seers of Hefrumm is the order of the forest dwarves with the most epiphyte members. On the opposite side outside the forest dwarf lands there are a couple groups which declare strongly their opposition to epiphytes, with their members believing a variety of things that trigger their hatred for epiphytes, especially epiphyte dwarves. Despite these challenges epiphytes of the Green Collective have been able to reach positions of prevalence even in Urguan, with the Prophet of Belka and Anbella having been an epiphyte, and the daughter of Grand King Garedyn the Emerald also being one.

 

[!] Depiction of Maggie Cottonwood, former Chief of the Cottonwood Clan.

 

Culture

 

Dwarvenhood and Epiphytehood

The Dual identity of being dwarves and epiphytes brings honor to members of the Green Collective. Being a dwarf is already generally considered by the dwarven race as being the chosen people by Yemekar to keep his balance, which is an honor that all dwarves value greatly. At the same time being an epiphyte that believes in the Brathmordakin gives the foresters the sense that they have been chosen by Anbella to become epiphytes and hear her call in the call of nature.

 

[!] Depiction of a dworc epiphyte.

 

Caretakers

The Green Collective views itself as the protector of the natural balance of Anbella, which is the organization's objective at all times. Because of this, the matter of politics does not matter unless it is to achieve said aim.

 

Wards

Foresters have a close connection to all beings of nature, they share fraternal care for other epiphytes as well, even if they do not believe in the Brathmordakin. These epiphytes are viewed as beings that need to be taken care of as they are often unable to perceive Anbella in the call of nature. Wards that are able to hear Anbella in the call of nature and generally worship the Brathmordakin and seek to help the dwarves attain Anbella’s and Yemekar’s Balance are considered members of the Green Collective.

 

[!] Depiction of Fae creatures

 

Cultural Mixingpott

Due to it being composed entirely of epiphytes the Green Collective cannot reproduce more members through the matting of their members. Instead, the Organization relies on epiphytes, especially dwarves joining. This results in the accumulation of cultures from various clans. Cultural diversity is not seen as something wrong, rather it serves to reflect the wider nature and Hefrumm itself which like the Green Collective envelops multiple cultures united through a uniting characteristic and belief.

 

Religion

Epiphytes of the Green Collective are dwarves and pious ones at that. The order like any other order of dwarves follows the dwarven Brathmordakin and the moral codes of each of the Brathmordakin depending on their trade. Due to most members of the Green Collective being forest dwarves the style of faith of the forest dwarves is prevalent in the way the members of the Green Collective practice the faith, focusing mainly on traditional forest dwarf rituals as seen in Hefrumm.

 

Like all dwarves of Hefrumm the Green Collective members have a close connection to the seers, members of the community that serve as advisors and teachers on matters that relate to culture, history, and religion.

 

[!] Depiction of High Chief Karl Blackroot doing a Seer ritual.

 

Yemekar’s Balance

Yemekar’s Balance is an important concept for the dwarves. It is in a very real way the essence of their existence, this applies to all organizations created by dwarves like the Green Collective. According to the dwarves it is their duty to achieve and protect Yemekar’s Balance. This means that it is the duty of the dwarves to ensure that creation remains in order in accordance to the will of Yemekar by following the teachings of the other Brathmordakin to be able to achieve the broader balance.

 

Anbella’s Balance

Apart from Yemekar’s Balance another important concept to the Green Collective is Anbella’s Balance. Anbella’s Balance is highly important to the forest dwarves and it is seen as an essential section to be able to achieve the broader Yemekar’s Balance. Anbella’s Balance stands for the balance of nature in accordance to Anbella’s teachings and hence in accordance with Yemekar’s will for creation.

 

Chosen of Anbella

It is a common belief in the Green Collective and in the larger forest dwarf culture that those dwarves that become epiphytes have made a pact with Anbella where they serve her and dedicate their soul to her. In this process Anbella claims the soul of the dwarf and takes it to her realm directly after the death of the dwarf, ensuring the dwarf that in the after life they will go to Anbella’s realm and not any other Brathmordakin.

 

Epiphytes also hear the call of nature, something that epiphyte dwarves of the Green Collective interpret as Anbella’s call. Because of their belief of dwarves being chosen by Yemekar to keep the balance they view their interpretation of the call as correct interpreting any Fae related thing as somehow being subjugate to Anbella’s will. This perception of the Fae has allowed multiple dwarves of the Green Collective to become druids, and to befriend elves and other groups that revere the Fae.

 

[!] Depiction of epiphytes of the Green Collective.

 

Ranks and Organization

 

Wanderer

Dwarven epiphytes that do not play a formal role in the Green Collective are classed as wanderers, due to their position as dwarves and citizens of Hefrumm and/or Urguan they receive full protection, representation, and vote from the Green Collective.

 

Pupil

A pupil is an Epiphyte that has decided to learn the teachings of the Green Collective, this includes the teachings of the Brathmordakin, the role of the Epiphytes in Yemekar’s work, and the protection of the Balance of Anbella.

 

Mentor

Mentors are those that have learned the teachings of the collective and are able to pass on the knowledge to new generations. Mentors have the ability to vote and run to become Chosen.

 

Chosen

The Chosen is the elected representative of the Green Collective, they represent the collective in official meetings with other groups and institutions.

 

[!] Depiction of a Wanderer Epiphyte.

 

“Ranks” outside the organization

 

Outlander Epiphytes

Members of other epiphyte communities are considered outlanders. These epiphytes are granted the support and council of the Green Collective as despite not working for the goals of the Green Collective their goals do not go against the Green Collective’s own.

 

Wild Epiphytes

Wild epiphytes are those epiphytes that do not believe in the Brathmordakin and do not belong to any epiphyte community. These lone epiphytes are protected by the Green Collective as they can be educated to serve a neutral or positive role in Anbella’s balance by stopping them from becoming feral.

 

Feral Epiphytes

Feral epiphytes are those that broke away from Anbella’s Balance and serve a Khorvadic corruption of it. The most wellknown examples of feral epiphytes are those that serve the september prince.

 

[!] Depiction of a Feral Epiphyte.
 

Previous posts of the Green Collective

The Green Collective Act :

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/196376-the-green-collective-act/

 

The Green Collective:

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/204297-the-green-collective/

 

[Interested in becoming an epiphyte? Interested in joining the Green Collective? Message me in discord at: mateolog. You can also try to join the Hefrumm discord if you are interested in joining the community: https://discord.gg/tZyec7JTU ]

[Papa Rock 387]

"Who is spreadin' deh false texts of heresy?! You cannae change the true faith!" Grumbles a dwarf

[Aesopian 1125]

The name for epiphytes that served the September Prince were Sporophytes, they typically had a fungal aesthetic.

 

 

Great post, also.