Herders of Men
by Eron12 on Hero's Forge
The Herders of Men are a small but rapidly growing subsect of the Testers of Maylar.
Viewed as borderline heretics, the Herders of Men often find themselves attacked by other factions of Testers. The fact that the Testers are not only surviving these attacks but growing in numbers is earning them some begrudging respect from their detractors.
Maylar may be the patron of animal herders and hunters, but most animal herders and hunters historically did not want to associate themselves too deeply with Maylar because Maylar has a dark reputation.
Viewed as borderline heretics, the Herders of Men often find themselves attacked by other factions of Testers. The fact that the Testers are not only surviving these attacks but growing in numbers is earning them some begrudging respect from their detractors.
Maylar may be the patron of animal herders and hunters, but most animal herders and hunters historically did not want to associate themselves too deeply with Maylar because Maylar has a dark reputation.
The Herders try to spread Maylar’s values in a peaceful way and make sure hunters and herdsmen worship Maylar more than once or a twice a year. Most radical of all, the Herders don’t attack people unprovoked and call it a “test.” If you are a hunter, shepherd, or cattle herder that means you work longer hours, endure extreme heat and cold, and periodically fight dangerous predators. Remember in addition to the dangerous animals that real world medieval outdoorsmen had to deal with this is a fantasy world with dangerous fantasy monsters.
The Herders say that if a person survives in a harsh environment, they have already passed Maylar’s test. They have proven they are strong. The Herders actually provide combat assistance, healing, practical advice, and spiritual services to ordinary people living in rugged or frontier areas. They support communities rather than literally try to destroy them.
Many of Maylar’s Testers believe the Herders are weakling heretics that need to die, but when the Shepherds fight the other Testers, the Herders more often than not win these fights. The Herders are recruiting new members faster than their rivals are killing them. One of their major sources of recruits is rebellious favored souls of Maylar who do not want to hitch their wagon to Maylar’s legacy of hate and violence.
As of yet, the Herders remain an almost exclusively human group. Their numbers are not great but they are very widely spread. There are Herder priests in the frontier of Kantoc and Fumaya, some Jórtoca barbarian nomads and small pockets within Penarchia and East Colassia.
Type
Religious, Sect
Training Level
Semi-trained
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Demonym
Herders
Government System
Tribalism
Parent Organization
Deities
Related Traditions
Notable Members
Comments