Order of the White Tree

History

The Order of the White Tree is a religion that was created by the Rancaguans and maintained by the Old Rancaguans. Since the destruction of these two realms, The Order of the White Tree has been maintained by the exilee's of Old Rancagua and preached mainly in the Northern lands of Sirion. At one point, however, Judge Erik Eyolf of Sirion banned the entire Hierarchy of the Order of the White Tree, the power of which was held almost exclusively by a coalition of three families. This mass banning was met by both praise and speculation, depending on how the given person viewed the former hierarchy. With the major hierarchy gone, however, The Order of the White Tree was forced to be reborn in Csopa and was recontructed with the help of Lord and current High Priest Tavius ut Daris.

With some new followers and a new hierarchy, the Order of the White Tree now exists, continuing to proclaim the goodness and righteousness of the religion's goddess; Ora, and the sacred nature of the White Tree.

Ora and Her people

Ora is the goddess of Her people. Her people once had much land and ruled from the Northern city Oroya, East to Csopa, South to Ashforth, and West to Kazakh. Ora is a goddess of peace and brotherhood, but, when this peace is threatened, she will guide Her followers. Her people were mainly Nobles of Rancagua and Old Rancagua, the peasants that resided in the lands they owned, and a few fringe nobles in other realms that had been converted, realms such as the Great Ally of Old Rancagua, Sirion.

Once the people's mainland was destroyed in a bitter war with the Sultanate of Asena and Fontan, Ora's people fled to Sirion and preached in the Northern regions of Sirion and of the Northern Badlands of the Sultanate and that is where Her people remain today.

The White Tree

The White Tree is the symbol of the Order of the White Tree, Ora's symbol of enduring brotherhood that unites Her people, and the unique, extremely rare tree that is found in the temples of the Order. The 'parent' tree once existed in Oroya, but as the last city of Ora's people was being razed to the ground, the huge white tree was burned by the armies of the Sultanate. The priests of the Order escaped with a few seeds given from the tree, and planted them in the existing temples. Currently, there is a young white tree in a temple in Csopa.

These sacred tree's remind us that the Order of the White Tree is a brotherhood which we should never forsake and always protect. Although open to interpretation, Sir Obito Uzamaki, Priest of the Order of the White Tree, describes the symbolism like this:

Roots: The representation of the roots of the tree is Ora and Her guidance. In Her guidance, the rest of the tree lives and prospers, and without Her guidance, the brotherhood will die.

Trunk: The representation of the trunk of the tree are the High Priest and Elder members of the Order. Through them, the branches live and grow.

Branches: The representation of the branches of the tree are the Nobles of the Order. The many branches protect the tree from harm through storms of trial.

Leaves: The representation of the leaves of the tree are the peasants who believe in Ora's name. They grow and prosper from the branches of the tree and serve the tree itself.

Current Priests and Temples

Priests: High Priest Tavius ut Daris, Lord of Csopa Priest Obito Uzamaki, Noble of Sirion

Temples: Csopa, Small Temple