Lands of Tyranny
Day 17 of The Centaur, Year 416
Boggereth
God of Marshes, Travel, Mummification, Preservation, Sloth, Dreams
Symbols: a winding path, a dead tree, a lone monolith
Originally revered as a god of marshes and rugged terrains, Boggereth was believed to guide the lost and protect the wayfarers. His worship was essential in regions where the land itself was a labyrinth of hidden dangers.
It is said that The Preserver leaves curious things to mark difficult-to-find trails or guides people by sending curious birds to them. Sometimes, Boggereth might dispatch faint, flickering lights in the dark to guide those who deserve His blessing. Some believe that the deity can send will-o'-wisps who then show others the correct and safe path. Over time, as civilizations around marshlands grew more settled and less chaotic, Boggereth's domains expanded to embody the more metaphorical aspects of terrain: the mental and societal swamps of corruption, stagnation, inanition, but also the more positives preservation, rest, dreams.
Boggereth's essence is deeply rooted in the concept of stasis and preservation, embodying both the protective stillness of untouched lands and the oppressive inertia of unyielding traditions. This duality is reflected also in the god's shifting portrayal—from a deity guiding travelers through treacherous marshes to a symbol of protection and preservation to, with the spreading of the New Gods’ faith, the embodiment of sloth, decay, and stagnation.
His worshippers often resist cultural changes, including new technologies or ideologies that might disrupt established social orders. They celebrate old festivals, adhere to ancient laws, and follow traditional lifestyles, fearing that losing these would lead to cultural dilution and a loss of identity. They see their deity not just as one of physical and spiritual stasis but as a protector of identity and heritage against the ceaseless tides of change. They worship Boggereth not out of a fear of the future per se but from a profound respect for the past and a belief in the importance of its ongoing presence in the modern world. This perspective makes them vital conservators of the world's cultural and natural legacies, serving both as guardians and guides in a rapidly evolving world.
Mummification is a sacred and deeply symbolic practice among the followers of Boggereth, reflecting the deity's dominion over preservation, stasis, and the eternal. These practices honor the deceased and maintain a connection with them, as their preserved state is believed to provide a stable conduit to the world of dreams and beyond. The ritual bridges the realms of the living and the divine, embodying principles of protection, continuity, and reverence for the past. It signifies eternal rest and protection under Boggereth's watchful gaze, with mummified remains believed to be guarded by the god, safe from decay and corruption. Mummification ensures that the deceased remains connected to the world of the living and the dreamscape, allowing them to communicate through dreams and provide guidance.
Even those who cannot, or more likely do not know how to perform similar procedures, still attempt various methods to preserve the bodies of the deceased, at the very least by neatly burying them in protective coffins or under piles of rocks. Even pets are often given similar treatment, and to a certain degree, even precious but abstract things such as friendships are preserved through the conservation of symbolic or emotionally charged items.
Boggereth's faithful often seek prophetic visions or guidance in dreams, finding in sleep a sacred state that mirrors the god's dominion over stillness and introspection. They believe dreams are a realm controlled by Boggereth where truths are revealed slowly, and understanding comes with patience and reflection. Indeed, Boggoreth's most fervent worshippers turn to this deity for guidance in the most unstable and tricky realm to navigate—the dreamscape. These individuals often venture to sleep in odd, evocative places, be it the middle of nature, a graveyard, a recent battlefield, or even a prison. Sleeping in such areas is thought to facilitate the induction of specific dreams and experiences that the faithful of Boggoreth try to achieve, especially during their rituals.
The use of drugs and other methods to achieve a better dream state has always been debated among the followers of the deity, as either a powerful instrument or as a cheat to avoid, as it may bring bad dreams.
In older traditions, followers left symbols of Boggereth, such as twisted branches or stones marked with his sigil, along safer paths to guide travelers. These tokens were thought to be charmed by the Preserver to ward off the natural hazards of the wilds. Some examples of simple and common rites involved in his worship include the procession of ‘The Safe Path’, where followers of the deity go on short processions across marshlands, forests, or other rugged terrains, seeking to find and follow the signs left by the god as well as always leaving at least a new sign on the same path, often a small pile of rocks, or a rope or twine tied on some tree branch, believing these tokens will contribute to guide other travelers safely.
Finally, some items often associated with the deity’s worship and its sanctuaries, on top of its usual symbols are dreamcatchers, as well as insects trapped in amber.
Authors: Rashan, Maya