Religion of The Wanderers

“…The Divine set no boundaries, nor set no laws, those were set by the folk of Saxum yet they tell us we don't worship right, we live by The Divine! Free under the sky!....” - Unknown, printed in a Fortune City news article "Folk on the edge".'

The Church of the Wanderer

‘The Church of the Wanderer’ is a misnomer, an attempt by the Church of Saxum and Saxum Federal state authorities to formalise and group the multitude of practices under one name. Often used interchangeably as an insult and a warning to those not practicing in the formal recognised churches of Saxum, the Church of the Wanderer does not in fact exist, nor is there any interest in creating one.

The reality is that the folk of Saxum who don’t follow the prescribed religious authority of the Church of Saxum practice their worship on a deeply personal level. Family groups and small communities may share similar practices, but they are universally informal. That does not mean they are without leadership or ceremony, but rather each community follows their own beliefs, ceremonies, and practices entirely unique and varied from the next.

The Wanderers' practices are often viewed as folksy and simple, or misguided and foolish nonsense, but they can vary from ancient forgotten customs to experiments in new practices. Communities who wish to follow The Divine without the direction of the Church of Saxum, or who have been worshipping since before the Union of Saxum was signed, follow these practices. Isolated communities naturally develop practices practical in origin from living off the land, and others are formed around charismatic cult leaders. One and all share a rejection of the Church of Saxum for one reason or another, but are no less devout followers of The Divine.

Beliefs and Practices of the Wanderers

Many are the beliefs and practices of the Wanderers. There are too many variations to list, and examples used are taken from witnesses and rumours about the recognised wanderer camps found in each state. Even within these camps, the varieties of beliefs and practices are multitude.

• In the Highlands of Wheatstan, it is said the Wanderers of The Trappers Trail camp believe in animal spirits and talking stones, dancing in animal skins around large fires and reading the “bones” to speak to The Divine.
• In Hangman Woods in the mountains southeast of Fortune City, it is said they gather in glades dressed in robes, singing eerie songs to The Divine and holding rituals by candlelight under full moons.
• A witness lost in the camp of Whisper Falls to the farthest east of Tamarillo tells of naked riders leaping through flames and revellers gathering in temples carved out of the rock face.
• A trader visiting Moonshiners Run in Goldrock tells of carved statues representing different aspects of The Divine and large drums beaten long into the night.

One journalist writes of a time, whilst deep in their cups, speaking with an individual who believed and lived by the twenty-seven articles of The Divine, allegedly given to them by another individual who, on their deathbed, passed on the articles in the hope they would be able to complete them and find the truth of the Divine.

Travelling troupes reveal nomadic traditions spoken of in historic texts of the Golden Empire. Charismatic leaders gather folk to establish chapels, preaching unique interpretations of the Church, following closely to established practice with bizarre clothing and altered prayers. Lone wanderers spread the word of The Divine through strange tongues, blessings, and rites, capturing the imagination of the easily led.

Hierarchy of the Wanderers

There is no hierarchy regarding the religious practitioners of the Wanderers. They may have leaders and organisation at the community or family level, but there is not a singular leader or group bringing them together. Wanderers are a catch-all term for "the other," those who reject the state authority, and this is reflected in their religious practices. Geographically speaking, the disparate communities, groups, and individuals are too widely spread across Saxum to form an organisation.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been tried, just that the reality of it is far from practical. Where Wanderers of different beliefs do gather, some have tried to appoint a representative. However, where this has worked for a short time, the role is more of an emissary than that of a leader, and less to do with belief and more to do with community representation.

The Wanderers and The Divine Church of Saxum

The Divine Church of Saxum would love nothing more than to abolish all practices outside of the state-authorised practices and often tries to drive out any outside influence or attempts to draw followers away. It is not unknown for Wanderers to be driven out of villages or threatened with violence. Many tales of heresy and dark pacts are spread about these folk, and most folk instantly distrust those not practising the "right" way.

This is all part of a campaign the Wanderers believe the Church and the state are funding to monopolise all faith in The Divine. There are no representatives on the choir for this disparate group, nor would they want one. But there is a section within the Church tasked with monitoring and reporting practices that start to gain ground, responsible for dissuading folk from those paths.

Religious Festivals

As with their beliefs and practices, there is no one religious festival amongst the Wanderers. Each group or individual celebrates their faith in their own way.

Religious Clothing

Clothing among the Wanderers can range from conservative, as seen in the states, to flamboyant and extensive. Each community or individual dresses as they see fit to reflect their beliefs and ceremonies. Some may wear head-to-toe furs, dresses made of feathers, suits of the finest silks, headdresses, and painted faces. There are no limits to the variety of religious clothing amongst the Wanderers of Saxum.