The Heresy of Silvanus:

What is nature? Some have said that nature is life, but this is not so. Nature is an endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth. To remove death, and end the cycle, results in stagnation. It prevents evolution and allows corruption to spread unchecked.

Among the gods of nature, there are many who represent the aspect of death and change. They cleave what is old, making room for new life to emerge. However, Silvanus and his worshippers would teach that this is evil. That all life must be protected at any cost.

Consider the Forest of Despair. When the land was corrupted by wild arcane magics, it was also severed from the spirit of Toril. It was imbued with an intelligence unlike anything found in nature. The forest itself became hateful and twisted.

Naturally, the more destructive aspects of nature were drawn to the place, in the form of Malar's worshippers. With their unchecked rage, they might have had the opportunity to kill the abomination, allowing for a new natural forest to grow in its place. However this work has been hamstrung at every turn by those who thoughtfully write off Malar and his kin as evil.

Predictably, the result is that the forest has been left to stagnate, unchanging: prevented from dying as is good and proper, because of a quarrelsome god who would have us believe that death is evil - and that what is evil is unnatural.

Like all gods of nature, Silvanus should be honored - but to take sides in his petty conflicts and narrow vision, is a threat to the balance, and any naturewalker would be wise to rise above them.

The Role of Talona in Nature:

"Let all living things learn respect from Tolona and pay homage to her in goods and in fervent worship. If they do so, intercede for them that Talona will not claim them - this time."

Talona's place in the natural order is routinely challenged by those unschooled in the deeper mysteries. In order to understand the Mother of all Plagues, and her role in nature, one must first carefully observe disease in ecology.

While disease is commonplace among certain animal groups, it is rarely an issue until a breakdown in the ecosystem occurs, which allows the plague to spread. The most common type of breakdown is caused by a lack of ample predators, such as bats, spiders, or cats, to keep the population in line. Plagues can also be the result of natural water purifiers being tampered with, such as soil impurities or the draining of swamps.

So too Talona and her worshippers will often begin to appear when a grave disruption in the balance has occurred. It is highly questionable whether the Talontar, or even Talona herself, is consciously aware of this. Regardless, they act according to their nature, gravitating toward places of unrest in the natural order, and there they will remain until the balance has been restored and proper contrition has been offered.

Talona teaches us respect, and we should be grateful for it.

The wise naturewalker does not wring their hands when Talona spreads her plagues. They do not sound the horns of war. Rather, they give thanks that the Mistress of Disease has called their attention to a serious problem. They do what they must to return balance to the area. And they pray to Talona that she will mercifully rescind her wrath.

And if you do not? Then know this: "Death is true power, the great equalizer, the final lesson that waits for all."

Written by Agonice, 170 A.R.