Order of the White Tree/Order of the White Tree

Roleplay from Obito Uzamaki

Message sent to everyone in "Order of the White Tree"

Members of the Order,

Several of you have recently joined. It is exciting to see new members in the Order of the White Tree, especially when a few surrounding religions are actively threatening the Lands Ora has given to us, the tribal lands of Nivemus.

New members, some of you know the story and doctrine of Ora, others of you do not. In this letter, I hope to share with you some of the story between Ora and Her people, as well as some of the doctrine behind our faith, what we must do and uphold to be good members of the Order.

Ora has always been, and shall always be. She is the ruler of Her people, and Her people are those who choose to accept her, whose faith comes from those long ago who believed in Her in the tribes. Ora's will eventually came known to the nobles of Old Rancagua, Her will was to tear down the corrupted Church of Rancagua which ruled over these lands to set Her in Her rightful place: the Goddess worshiped by all the tribal lands and all who choose to accept her beyond that. The Church of Rancagua, and the realm Rancagua itself, was torn down and replaced with Old Rancagua. For a time, the people of Old Rancagua worshipped Ora and served Her will, but eventually, the realm of Old Rancagua became corrupted itself. When Ora saw the corruption in Old Rancagua, she both despaired and grew angry. She allowed the enemies of Old Rancagua to defeat and take away the lands She had given us, the lands marked by Her holy White Tree, and sent us into exile in Sirion. There, after some time, Her will and Her justice was dealt by the hand of former Judge Erik Eyolf. The former corruption that had taken hold in the Order of the White Tree was purged, and the Order was resurrected. Soon after that, the path to returning to Her lands and building Nivemus was opened, Fontan was finally crushed, and after some time and preparations, we were allowed to return. We were redeemed through our exile, and we are washed anew through the purge of filth and corruption in the Order.

From there, many of you know the story well. The Sultanate was defeated, the tribal lands restored to Nivemus, and I am currently trying to sway the people in Her lands back to full faith in Ora. It is hard work, but it is good work. It is tough work, but it is redeeming work.

Members of the Order, we are all called to do Ora's will. Our calling is shown symbolically by the White Tree: it reminds us of our faith, of our calling, of our holy Goddess, and of our Order. The roots of the tree is the Goddess Ora, her guidance and her will, as through that we are able to be spiritually enlightened. The trunk of the tree is the High Priest and the Priests, as well as the other wise Elder members of the Order. Through the trunk, the branches receive the spiritual goodness of the roots of the tree. The branches are the nobles and warriors of the Order. The branches protect the trunk from storms of trial, and protect the Order from those who wish it harm, whether outside Her lands or inside Her lands. The leaves are the almost innumerable peasants that are brought to enlightenment.

In this way, the White Tree is symbolic as well as it is holy, and it is a picture of how we should coexist as brothers. Here in the Order, we are not Sirionite and Nivemusian. We are not Dukes and nobles. Here in the Order, we are brothers, and all of us have a part to play in the will of Ora. We must re-establish Ora's name throughout Her lands, throughout Nivemus and to all other regions beyond the Nivemus border who choose to accept her. We are brothers who believe in the Goddess Ora, who promotes brotherhood, peace, and justice to all men who will accept her.

Members of the Order, if you feel so called and so inspired by the story of Ora and Her people that you wish to become a priest and spread the Order, by all means, contact me and you shall receive my guidance so that you may become part of the trunk. If you wish to become a greater part of the Order, by all means, spread the Word of Ora to other nobles, and meditate in Her temples.

Brothers, we all have a part to play. And it is especially important to play our part when religions such as the Flow of the Balance threaten Her lands.

In Ora's name,