"If you stay very quiet, and very still, you can feel the forest breathing. The life is overwhelming, palpable in the very air you are breathing now. You were merely conditioned to ignore it even when it surrounds you."

-Mother of the Yaleheart Druid Circle, Rechenza Willowsbeak

Wodan Culture

Protectors of the Forest

There are many magical and sacred places in the world, though few are so plentifully suffused with magical energies as the Yalewood. It is rumored, though it is difficult to know whether this is true, that the Yalewood is the place where fey creatures first entered the world. It seems at least plausible, as the forest is inhabited by many fey creatures, and does have active gateways to the Feywild. The people that first arrived in the forest believed that it was magical, and that it was sacred. These people took it upon themselves to live among the creatures of the forest, and meditate in order to gain a deeper understanding of and harmony with the universe. These were some of the first druidic peoples, discovering they could draw magic from the Wode (their word for the forest), and use it to create powerful effects. When non-druidic peoples came to the forest to hunt its game, cut its trees, or plunder its people, these druids with nature magic would fight back against them. They would use enchantments to trick them, block their path with natural impediments, and if need be, kill them. While those who meant harm to the forest were purged, those who wanted the sanctuary of its plentiful boughs were welcomed, and people pitched in to form communities that could provide for newcomers. settlements developed in the surroundings of the Yalewood, offerings were made to promote friendship, but warnings were made against abusing the forest. In the history of the Wodan people that had formed, no single nation ever fully dominated the forest. Even when the Arissians occupied all the areas south of the Running River, they never fully incorporated the villages and communities of the Yalewood. To do so would be costly, and provide little benefit. These people barely noticed the fall of the empire, and worry not for the future of the borders to the north. They live in controlled isolation, allowing others to enter their communities when they are known to be friends to the forest, and blocking or purging them when they are known not to be. So far, this has kept the Wodan people safe and happy. However, being so separate from any nation state could mean that no help will be given, when it is sorely needed.

          The Wodan, by their nature, are one big happy family. That is not to say that the communities of the Yalewood are tightly interwoven, because they are not. It is also not to say that everyone within the Yalewood knows everyone else, like a small town, because the Yalewood is a vast territory with many small and some larger communities. Instead, there is a general sense of communion over the common life, the love of the forest, and the dedication to its protection and preservation. Therefore, it is fair to say that the people of the Wodan culture are deeply conservationist by nature, as well as protective to living creatures of all kind. This spirit does extend to kith as well, though often kith are viewed as able to protect themselves, whereas many of the creatures of the forest are not. Wodan are also communal, sharing and giving what they have to those in need, and rarely hording much in the way of material wealth. In fact, they are famously terrible with money, not understanding the basics of trade or transactions, and sometimes not knowing which coins are more valuable than others. They are also, generally speaking, a grounded people. It is true that they tend to love all living creatures, but the Wodan are indisputably people of the forest, and have trouble with boats, or even often with swimming, though there are notable exceptions to this, particularly to the Wodan that live near the Glittering Sea coast. All things considered, the Wodan are a kind and gentle people, with few in the way of glaring vices. However, there are weaknesses that members of this culture tend to exhibit. In particular, Wodan are warm, and rarely suspicious of others. This means that it is easy for the cunning to trick, cheat, or betray them. Their naivety extends to the world of politics as well, where Wodan are often surprised to hear of the Machiavellian schemes of their neighbors. Furthermore, their introspective focus on the Yalewood means they tend to miss threats to nature at large, a criticism that many travelling druids have made of the culture over the years. However, even with such criticisms, there are few people that have such a positive influence on the world as the Wodan do.

          The Wodan people are most highly concentrated in the Yalewood, in Zaltia. Even the druids of the forest, who would normally be members of the druidic culture, in this case consider themselves to be Wodan. The races of the Wodan peoples are a mishmash of races from across Adra, as people are welcomed into the fold each year, however, there are notably large human and kobold populations within the forest, with many gnomes as well. The most popular pantheon in the pantheon is by far that of Gökotta, but there exists no centralized religious authority, so there are other gods praised by the Wodan as well. Wodan peoples tend to be warm, welcoming, and conservationist. They also tend to be naïve, insular, and gullible. While Druidic is spoken by many within the Yalewood, it is forbidden for any but Druids to learn, so you may still only know the language through the Druid Class. However, Wodan Speak is the universal language of the forest, some saying that even the plants understand it if you speak slowly enough. Many others also learn Low Arissian in order to speak to outsiders, and Sylvan to speak to the fey creatures of the forest.

If you choose the Wodan Culture, you gain the following:

~A +1 to your Wisdom score~

~Either a -1 to your Dexterity score or a -1 to your Strength score~

~As a known language, either Wodan Speak, Low Arissian Common, or Sylvan~

~A Sub-Discipline in every knowledge skill on checks relating to Wodan Culture~

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