Old Prioslevidy

More of a shared set of beliefs than a religion, Old Prioslevidy is a loosely organized collection of spirit worshippers that follow a shared set of gods. A populist religion, the faith is a fluid, living thing, changing according to the whims and superstitions of the peasantry, but always following the lead of spirits. Prioslevidists assert that the various minor nature spirits found in the world are the emissaries of various deities which inhabit realms inaccessable to mortals, and that these spirits are to be venerated and cared for by the people. Much of the worship in Prioslevidy is different from town to town, as it depends on which spirits are present in the area. Powerful spirits may, of course, be venerated by more than one town, such as the mighty river spirits which many towns pray to in a yearly festival. Prioslevidists also believe that there are malevolent spirits, who may have been corrupted by devils, and that these spirits must be driven off. Such spirits are often believed to originate from the cursed forest of the north, but this is mere superstition.
Due to its local and populist streak, Old Prioslevidy has historically been managed entirely by local mediums and spirit guards, who were seens as being much more knowledgeable about local spirits and therefore more well-equipped to manage them and keep them from harming people. Although a higher clergy existed, this was mostly only present in larger cities, where a more centralized system naturally began to arise. Under the Relvetsian Empire, a major reformist movement was implemented by the government in order to centralize the region of Prioslevidy. This saw the appointment of each of the four Relvetsian cultures under their own metropolitan which was to manage and certify all those involved with the spirits. For many of the peasantry and their local leaders, this was seen as a direct assault on their liberty, and was resited mightily. The increasing devotion to the gods by these "New" Prioslevidy was also seen as capitulating to winds of change from the south, and as a conscious choice to bend the Prioslevidy religion to be closer to the other pantheons of Telgren. Many peasants happily adopted the new festivals, but totally ignored that these were supposed to be worship of the gods, rededicating them to local spirits.
Old Prioslevidy recognizes a plethora of different spirit types, but due to poor documentation by most local shamans most unique spirits have been left off the records. They believe that everything found in nature, from people to the land itself, has a spirit, and that this terrain is split between spirits according to their strength. The most powerful of these spirits are the powerful river spirits, closely followed by earth, fire, and air spirits. The Prioslevidy greatly respect and fear these spirits, as when they join together they can cause natural disasters. They also greatly respect spirits of the forest, which are bound to certain places and have their life force attached to the local flora. Also to be respected, but only rarely worshipped, are the spirits of animals, since Prioslevidy believe that each animal has just one spirit and that spirit is the animal. Acknowledging the spirit and releasing it is considered the devout and right thing to do when killing and animal. There are also a number of loose, or unbound, spirits which the Prioslevidy believe exist. These spirits are not attached to any place, nor do they have a power of their own, but when properly venerated they can settle down and become attached to a community or even a single dwelling. Having one of these spirits bless a home by continuing to inhabit it is seen as a great boon by the Prioslevidy faithful. As a side group, and very distinct from the main groups of spirits, deceased spirits are seen as those spirits whose mortal bodies or other concept they were tied to has withered away, but the spirit refuses to move on. Echoes of the past, representing things such as ancient ruined groves, a long-dried lake, or even an anceint person, they cling to their weak existence. It's usually considered a mercy to help them pass on, but occasionally they can be great fonts of knowledge and, in the case of a nature spirit, if a new lake can be filled or a new grove grown from long-dormant saplings, they might even be able to return to life. The final type of spirit are corrupted spirits. Tied to rot, decay, and death, these spirits find their energy from their living, consuming their spirits and bolstering their power. They can grow to be quite powerful, and are very dangerous.