The Flan people long ago mastered the techniques of fermenting honey from beehives into a potent and tasty beverage that is popular across the Flanaess even today. Though the meads vary a little from region to region, the general theme is the same. Honey is harvested and prepared in the autumn and allowed to ferment over the winter, reaching maturity in early spring and brought out as part of the Growfest festivals. For most creatures drinking this beverage, it is simply a thirst quenching and slightly intoxicating elixir.
For the faithful of Bralm, however, there is a potent effect to be gained by drinking these meads during Growfest as part of their festivities. In game terms, any character who raises a toast to the Hive Goddess before consuming their mug of ale will be healed as if they had imbibed a lessened strength Potion of Healing, recovering 1d4 points of damage. This benefit may only be gained once per day, and may only be used during relatively calm, quiet moments of introspect and piety, thus the drinking of honey mead during battle will have no beneficial effects.
It is important to point out that although the faithful of Bralm know of this blessing from their matron, they do not explain it to persons buying or trading the mead from them. They prefer that people discover Bralm's gift through an honest and sincere display of faith and respect, which in many cultures of the Flanaess is expressed in the form of a toast or dedication of libations to the nobles and deities important to the local people. _________________ What would Raxivort do?<br />
It's worth mentioning along with this article that I have lent the Old Faith pantheon a few gods from other groups, especially the suel.
Bralm is a naturistic enough goddess to have many worshippers among the druids of the Old Faith, and thus I've decided that although most known as a Suel Goddess, she has always been a minor part of the Flan pantheon as well. Her affinity with insects leads the druids and their followers to placate her to keep the nasty bugs like roaches away, and the beneficial bugs, like Honey Bees, healthy and active. The Flan druids have long understood the symbiotic relationship between some insects and plants, and honor Bralm to ensure it remains strong. In addition, the industriousness (not industry) and community aspects of Bralm's faith are well recieved by the small Flan communities that rely on every person doing their part to keep the whole community thriving.
Llerg is sometimes revered by the Flan as well, but not as a "king" of beasts, per se. The Flan strongly believe in 'beast lord' gods, like Rexfelis (the cart lord), and Llerg is seen as sort of a liason god, acting to promote relations between the beast gods and the human gods (and their followers). In regions like Geoff, where the Flan culture is largely left alone by the descendants of the ancient suel, Llerg sees some worship, but in other areas, like the Great Kingdom, where the Flan have been oppressed, his worship is rare at best. Unlike Bralm, who is seen as one of their own, Llerg is seen as a Suel god even when he is revered by the Flan, so in places the Suel are unpopular, his worship wanes.
Lydia is the last of the major Suel gods that is now worshipped by the Flan. Although not originally part of the Flan pantheon, in the centuries since the migrations, her followers have grown somewhat distant from their ancestors and their peers who adhere to the old Suel traditions, finding much more in common with the rustic, simpler living Flan. Since the Flan pantheon lacks a true knowledge or music god, Lydia has been adopted into the Old Faith by most of the Flan in the Flanaess. _________________ What would Raxivort do?<br />
Here's a little bit of background on how the Flan celebrate Growfest, to help explain this item:
In the traditions of the ancient Flan people, and the so called Old Faith druids, Growfest is the high festival of spring, celebrating the melting of the snows and return of animals from hibernation. Rituals are often held during this time to honor the nature gods and ensure that the crops planted in the coming weeks will provide a bountiful harvest when autumn comes.
In these rituals and ceremonies, it is tradition among the more traditional worshippers to do no hunting during this time, instead using up the last of what was stored over the winter and whatever new berries and nuts can be found. This honors the animals who share the Flanaess as a home, and is aimed at ensuring productive hunts throughout the coming year. The lack of long term storage options for food products among the people of the Flanaess in 570 cy however means that there is little meat to be had, and breads, vegetable stews and jellies made from the previous autumn's fruits are the primary fare during the spring festival. The variations and local favorites are myriad. _________________ What would Raxivort do?<br />
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