The Treeic Faith

§l§2 Treeic§r §l§2 Faith§r §0 Distributed§r by The Adaron

§2 §r§l§2 Creation§r §0In the beginning there was the Holy Tree, but all around it was void and bare. So the Tree shed bark from its mighty trunk and from its matter, formed the dirt of the earth. The Tree saw that the world was dry, so it§r

dripped a single drop of dew from it’s leaves which buried itself in the soil and formed the rivers, streams and oceans. Then the tree saw that the earth was fruitless so it let leaves fall to the dirt and and all plants and beasts are descended from

these leaves. The Holy Tree looked to its creation and saw it lush and verdant, but without a being to truly appreciate the earth’s glory. From deep within the the Trees branches was released a divine man, The Grand Lorax.

The Lorax looked to the vastness of the earth and knew that he could not hope to tend to it alone, so he beseeched the tree for help promising that he could control whatever the tree sent to him. The Holy Tree heard his plea and his promise,

so the Mighty Tree sent out a flurry of apples which fell to the earth and cracked, from the seed of these apples came humankind. With haste, The Lorax tried to gather the tribes of man to his cause, to put them on the one true path.

Alas, the apples were flung too far and wide for him to control, thus breaking his promise to the Holy Tree and creating the evil of savage men. The Lorax looked to the followers he found and said, “I am the Lorax and I speak for the Tree.

My path is sacred but fraught with peril and danger and I ask that you, the loyal sons and daughters of the Great Tree, journey the path alongside me.” All who were gathered saw the Lorax’s determination to bring the evils of the world to justice and

fulfill his promise to the Holy Tree, carried by his words, they all joined him. With these believers, the Lorax created the town of Holy Tree. The town became a city and the city grew stronger still with the blessings of the Great Tree

and his chosen. More joined the believers and all were happy and at peace.

§2 §r§l§2 The Test§r §0 In the first days of the Holy City, came a messenger who spoke of a powerful empire to the West and of it’s will and purpose. Quickly, the Chosen discussed the possibilities. Some looked to the Empire for guidance and§r

others feared it’s might. The Empire seeked to bring Holy Tree within its grasp with sweet words and brazen promises. All paled when the Empire stated their intentions, the conversion of Holy Tree to a heathen faith. All except the

Lorax. He saw the strength of the Empire and their threat to the people of the nation. He accepted the offer. Believing in his heart and soul that despite the attempts of the heretics to convert the lands of the Tree, the people would remain true.

But the will of the Tree was to take a different path. Time passed, and with the goading of the Empire, the Monuments to the Tree changed colour and the people of Holy Tree lurched into ferocious debate over the faith. The bark of unity

cracked under the heat of debate, then broke completely when the chosen willingly laid down the lash of words to pick up the cold hilt of a sword. As the Empire laughed, the town of Holy Tree tore at itself. Brother struck brother as those

even within the Lorax's inner circle broke with the teachings and decided scripture for themselves. Until at last, exhausted from the strain of the struggle, the people saw the true cause of their torment. It was their

in the philistine Empire to protect them and guide them, when in truth the only being that was fit to do so was the Tree itself in its eternal wisdom and harmony. Seeing the people's lament and satisfied that they would look only to that which created

them for guidance the Tree bestowed on its Chosen a gift. The Tree looked to the nature it had created, full of power untapped, present even in the cities of the heathen. As the people of the Great Tree could no longer fight the menace

that enslaved them, it was the world that they lived in that would fight instead and so, three disasters hit the Empire. Firstly, a great fire purged their homes and warehouses. Then, as the fire died, the crops and streets of the heretics flooded

to the depth of the sea. Lastly, wild men burst from the undergrowth acting as agents of the Tree and purged the remaining non-believers from their Empire. Soon, it was dead.

§l §r§2 §r§l§2The Lorax§r §0The his place as the first created to govern the world of the Tree, the Lorax had lead Holy Tree with a calm mind and a steady hand. He had instilled the teachings of the Tree in all who met him and brought justice to§r

those who would threaten his people. However, he had not forgotten how he had broken his promise to the Tree and was unable to control all the people unleashed upon the world. It was becoming clear that the Lorax could not hope to reach all the souls that

required attention from the walls of the City of the Chosen. Speaking to those who followed him he proclaimed the next step in his mission, “Hear me Chosen! Though prosperous we have become under the shade of the Tree, spreading the word

to those who seek it and repelling those who would seek to destroy it, I can not remain bound to this city. My sin weighs heavy on my soul and the knowledge that war and strife beset those who can not hear the whispers of the Tree taunts my conscience.

I must leave Holy Tree to begin to amend the wrongs I brought to the world, to spread the word in the silence and bring light to the darkness. It is the will of the Tree that the world shall know its creator!”

As the Lorax turned to leave his people the wind rustled the leaves of the many tree shrines and hearing the leaves whisper together the Chosen became aware of their duties. “We too shall spread the word! The burden of the Lorax is the burden of

us all! The world will know unity!” So it was that as the Lorax left the Chosen and the Chosen left Holy Tree. With word of mouth and ancient texts the people who still lived without the gifts of the Tree would become aware of their Creator.

null

§2 §r§l§2 Teachings§r §l§0The Teachings of the Roots:§r Your connection to the world and its riches are strong and sturdy. Lose touch with those around you and you will fall.

§2 §r§l§2 The Teachings§r §l§0The Teachings of the Bark:§r Remain resolute in the face of danger and never give an inch to those who seek to harm. Surrender is abhorrent.

§2 §r§l§2 The Teachings§r §l§0The Teachings of the Leaves:§r You may fall. If you do, fall gracefully. Rely on the Bark and the Roots and the leaves will regrow.