[QuackQuackAttack]

Woodland Tradition and Abandonment Principle
By Rossana Oakland, Beastkin

(OOC Note: This is meant to be a historical document of sorts that was made by someone who was not the most impartial judge. This document would largely have been ignored by many of the people in Esshar's urban areas, as they found no reason to communicate with the beastkin once they left. This foundational record is meant to be interpreted by the reader who comes across it, as the Woodland Beastkin Community may have shifted and morphed since its inception.)

In 710 AC, only 12 years after the Bastard Rebellion, people began to view beastkin as a scapegoat for the uprisings and instability in Esshar. Beastkin were subject to derogatory terms on the more benign end, to being denied services for humans and being expected to 'act as an animal should'. Soon beastkin found themselves being evicted from their homes for 'being dirty', and many found themselves homeless and in need of help.
The tipping point arrived with an anonymous publication from a vocal proponent of the division between humans and beastkin, and the anonymous publication gave an ultimatum to the beastkin: Leave, or Die. Despite no proper backing, from other sources, nor proof this event would occur... the beastkin did in fact return to the woodlands, and began life there.

Soon, a new society formed in the woodland, and despite differences between the beastkin themselves, they understood the collective suffering and oppression that arose from humans, and so the Council of Forests was formed. The Council of Forests brought the most elderly male and female of each tribe to discuss the matter of conduct in the forest. The Council of Forests then created a list of edicts that sought to restore and revive joy in the beastkin:

1. The Edict of Song abandons the notion of script and writing as core to society, as the beastkin were slandered by the script, until all was putrid ash.
   
2. The Edict of Distance abandons the notion of hate and resentment, as the beastkin were once hated, now the two wolf packs remain apart, but alive.
   
3. The Edict of Harvest abandons the notion of rich and poor, as the beastkin follow a loving ruler, the rule that reigns over both the greeting to, and farewell from, the world.
   
4. The Edict of Gratefulness abandons the notion of grandiose gestures, as the beastkin find comfort in small things they held onto, like a child to their toy
   

Together, the Oral Tradition from the Edict of Song, Separation Tradition from the Edict of Distance, Life Tradition from the Edict of Harvest, and Innocence Tradition from the Edict of Gratefulness formed the Woodland Tradition, which then informed various policies and rituals that all beastkin would have partaken in:

• The Oral Tradition and Life Tradition gave way to spiritual music, born from both the mount and valley, the air and river. As the moon ebbs and wanes, so too must the mind, and its flow. Acceptance of the flow of mind is vital.
  
• The Separation Tradition and Innocence Tradition gave way to collective guardianship of children, as the child must be carved from a piece of wood slowly, or the wood chips and shatters. Nothing is to be done in haste.
  
• The Separation Tradition and Life Tradition gave way to the Tribe of Adaman or "Tribe of the Muddy Ones", where people who wish to experience the Woodland may live, cutting themselves from the outside world, but only their children will be accepted by the community. Blood will only make the good vine slippery.
  
• The Oral Tradition and Innocence Tradition gave way to the Naive Expectation, a song reminding not only of where they came, but where they must go, for if the Woodland wakes up to the world dark, twisted, and real... They would return in full force back to the cities.