_(The Old Song, The Living Memory of the Land)_ > [!infobox|right] > # The Old Song > ![[old_song_sigil.png|cover hsmall]] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
History
Foundedpre-Tul-Dar Era, oral traditions passed through generations
FounderUnknown; rooted in ancient spiritual practices, adapted through time
Belief System
SymbolA spiral carved into stone or tree bark, representing the ever-turning Song
Sacred TextsSpoken verses of the Old Song; Stanzas of the Green Table
Core Tenets
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  • The world is a living harmony; all spirits are bound in the Song
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  • Geasa (spirit-oaths) are sacred and binding
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  • The dead must be buried with song to ensure peaceful return
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  • Rebirth and change are woven into the Song, as it adapts and grows
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  • Corruption arises from forgetting or breaking one's verse
Structure
Seat of PowerThe Tree of Remembrance, Glynmoor
Current Leadershipno central leadership
Orders & Branchesnone
RanksSingers and Eldsingers
Known Heresiesnone
## Origins and History The Old Song predates recorded time, rooted in the land’s first whispered communion with its spirits. It is said that when the Veil first softened in the cradle of the world, the Myrddhin - ancient spirit of knowledge and memory - sang the first verse into the winds. From this breath came the spirits of stone, stream, beast, and bough, who answered in harmony. Together, their echoing voices birthed the Old Song, a melody not just of sound, but of essence. Though once scattered and instinctual, the Old Song rose to prominence after the Shattering, when chaos and silence threatened to consume the land. In the absence of order, survivors turned to the old ways - the voices of wind, tree, and memory - for guidance. Through Myrddhin’s vessels, the harmony was restored, and the people began to listen anew. Passed from voice to voice, the Song has never been written in full. Each generation adds its own stanzas - mourning, honoring, and binding anew - so that to know even a single verse is to become part of a great living harmony. Those who carry the Song are said to be spiritually connected, like threads in a tapestry of memory and promise. Together, they form a soul-weave that transcends death, distance, and even time. ## Doctrine and Beliefs The Old Song teaches that the world is alive with spirits and echoes, all bound together in an endless, evolving melody. It is not a fixed creed, but a living chorus - welcoming new verses, shifting with time and voice. To know the Song is to belong to a chorus of memory, spirit, and transformation. - **The Song of All Things**: The cosmos is a great, unending melody; every life, action, and death adds to its harmony. - **Sacred Oaths (Geasa)**: Pacts with spirits carry power and responsibility. A broken oath echoes harm through bloodlines and land alike. - **The Cycle of Return**: Through remembrance, burial, and song, souls may return - reborn through the Song’s embrace. Neglected spirits fester and lose their voice. - **The Danger of Silence**: Forgetting a spirit, place, or person invites decay. That which is unremembered becomes twisted or lost. - **The Song is Ever-Growing**: Change is not defiance, but continuation. New verses do not break the Song - they _are_ the Song. ### Rituals and Practices ### Burial with Song >[!quote|mark author] The Old Song, 37th Stanza > Let no name be lost > no deed go silent > sing them home through the veil of mist. Death is not an end but a transition into the eternal Song. The departed are laid to rest either in barrows, mounds of earth built by their family or community, or set adrift on the sea, their final journey marked by the gentle sway of the waves. Eldsingers are entrusted with the sacred task of singing the soul into the Song, ensuring its peaceful passage to the afterlife. The verses sung are unique to each individual, recounting their life's deeds, their struggles, and their triumphs. These stanzas help the soul's essence resonate with the land’s spirits, binding it forever to the land. The act of burial is not merely physical - it is a spiritual act, ensuring that the individual’s contribution to the Song is carried forward into the ages. ### Spirit Binding >[!quote|mark author] The Old Song, 5th Stanza >Name the spirit, know its path >match the note, bind it fast. The power to bind spirits is a rare and sacred gift, wielded by the [[Eldsinger]]s who are trained in the deep and ancient verses of the Old Song. This practice involves invoking or calling upon spirits that dwell in the land, the air, or the waters. Through carefully crafted melodies, these spirits are either invited into pacts or asked for protection. Spirits are often bound for specific purposes, such as safeguarding a village or granting blessings during times of war. The binding of spirits is an intricate process, where the Song’s verses must match the spirit’s nature and purpose. For a pact to be true, the Eldsinger must give the spirit something of value - an offering of music, of life, or of memory. Breaking these pacts is considered a severe transgression, as it disturbs the balance between the mortal and spiritual realms. ### Seasonal Rites >[!quote|mark author] The Old Song, 21st Stanza >When sun stands high or shadow long >gather all, renew the Song. The changing of the seasons is a time of deep spiritual significance. The solstices and equinoxes are marked with grand rites and communal gatherings where all are invited to join in song. These rituals, often held in open fields or sacred groves, serve to realign the land’s spirits with the flow of time. The Song of All Things is sung in full chorus, inviting the spirits of earth, sky, and water to join in harmonious communion with the people. These rites are meant to ensure the fertility of the land, the health of the animals, and the prosperity of the community. It is also a time to renew old pacts with spirits, ensuring that the bonds between the people and the land remain strong. The Song itself shifts and evolves with each cycle, welcoming the changes brought by the seasons. ### Oath Singing >[!quote|mark author] The Old Song, 33rd Stanza, usually sang to sanctify an oath >By root, by stream, by breath and bone >I bind my word to stone. The singing of oaths, or **Geasa**, is a profound and binding practice for the Singers. When an individual makes a promise, especially one to a spirit or a fellow soul, it is not enough to simply speak the words. To make the promise whole, it must be sung into the Song. The Eldsingers are often called upon to witness these oaths, ensuring that the melody matches the intention behind the promise. These songs are then woven into the fabric of the Song, their verses becoming part of the living harmony that binds all people together. Breaking an oath is considered a serious offense, as it creates a discord in the Song and invites spiritual retribution. Those who break their oaths may be pursued by spirits or cursed to suffer a lifetime of imbalance. ### Naming Ceremonies >[!quote|mark author] The Old Song, 57th Stanza >A name is more than breath >it is promise, place, and path. The arrival of a new soul is marked with great joy and ceremony. Naming a child is seen as more than just assigning a title - it is the first verse in that child’s personal song. The Eldsinger’s role in this ceremony is to create a melody that reflects the child’s destiny, their place in the world, and the gifts they will bring to the Song. The naming is a communal event, where friends, family, and the spirits gather to bless the child with protection and guidance. The chosen name is woven into the Song, ensuring that the child’s path is honored by the spirits and woven into the fabric of the land. As the child grows, their actions will add verses to their personal Song, and the people will be able to hear those verses, knowing who they are by the melodies they carry. ### Duties of the Faithful In the Old Song, all believers are part of the community, and every person has a role to play in maintaining the harmony of the Song. There are no formal clergy - every man, woman, and others are responsible for preserving and evolving the Song. - **Learn and Share the Song**: Each member of the faith is expected to learn the stanzas of the Song, both ancient and newly added, and pass them on to future generations. This communal sharing ensures the Song continues to live and grow. - **Honor the Spirits**: The faithful maintain respectful relationships with the spirits, offering prayers, songs, and acts of remembrance. They are encouraged to live harmoniously with the land and its spiritual inhabitants. - **Observe the Geasa**: Believers uphold the oaths made with spirits - either those of their own making or those passed down. Keeping these promises is vital to maintaining spiritual balance and ensuring prosperity. While every believer shares in these duties, **Eldsingers** are a special case. They hold the unique responsibility of traveling, sometimes far and wide, to gather new stanzas and remember the living verses of the Song. Eldsingers' ability to weave new melodies into the Song and their deep connection to the spirits give them an elevated role within the community. Their travels and recollections ensure the Song remains vibrant and evolves with the times, adding new layers to its ever-growing harmony. Though the Eldsingers hold a special place, the contributions of every believer are essential to the Song's survival and growth, as the Song belongs to all who know it. ### Everyday Life and Community Practices The Old Song is woven into the fabric of daily life, an ever-present rhythm that guides and connects the people of Annwyn. Songs are sung at every significant moment - at meals, during mourning, and at the birth of a child. The act of singing is considered a sacred practice, a way to honor the spirits, the land, and the past while marking new beginnings. Children are taught the stanzas of their ancestors, beginning with the verses passed down from their families and communities. As they grow, they add their own verses, contributing to the ever-evolving Song. This tradition strengthens the connection between generations and helps preserve the living history of the people. ### Temples and Sacred Sites Sacred sites in the Old Song faith are often simple and natural - shrines to spirits can be found by roadsides, nestled in fields, or placed within the heart of homes. These humble shrines are sacred spaces where individuals and communities come together to sing, offer prayers, and honor the spirits that guide and protect them. Every journey, no matter how short, is an opportunity to pause and sing a song to honor the spirits of the road. Unlike traditional temples, many of the Old Song’s sacred sites are groves, barrow-hills, stones, or waterfalls, where the spirits are believed to reside. These locations are seen as portals to the spirit world, places where the land itself speaks and listens. Pilgrims frequently visit these sites to offer tributes, sing praises, or seek guidance from the spirits that inhabit these sacred places. The Tree of Remembrance in Glynmoor is one of the most revered sites, acting as the center for formal training and spiritual debate. Here, Eldsingers and other faithful gather to share new stanzas, discuss the interpretation of the Song, and engage in sacred dialogue about the ever-growing melody. It is considered the spiritual heart of the Old Song and the place where the living and the ancestral spirits meet most clearly. ### Regional Variations The Old Song thrives on its diversity, with local variations emerging naturally over time. Each region adds its own flavor to the melody, reflecting the unique landscapes, cultures, and spirits that inhabit them. In some places, songs are more structured, while in others, they are wild and spontaneous. The rhythm of the Song adapts to the needs and practices of the community, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving tapestry of harmony. Despite these regional differences, the essence of the Song remains intact, connecting all believers in a shared spiritual community. The Song is not bound by uniformity; it celebrates change and the unique contributions of every voice. > [!quote] A common saying among the Eldsingers > Each voice adds to the Song. But forget one verse - and the whole may fall out of tune.