Pilgrim

A Pilgrim is a person who undertakes a religious expedition in some part of Olderand. The most common Pilgrimage will involve visiting Olderand to experience the effects of Natural Order. Often Pilgrims will wonder the paths and roads of Olderand in groups and perform activities such as prayer and shrine construction. Pilgrims will travel to experience the effects of Sleep Sickness, often believing that the sickness is the mind opening to the Natural Order.

Pilgrimages often involve becoming willfully lost in Olderand, as the roads and paths merge into one, and people begin to lose their way. Pilgrims will often not fight the effects of Sleep Sickness, instead embracing it, and allowing it to direct their journey through the wilderness. This is in contrast to groups such as Rangers, who are in Olderand for work and must work their minds to avoid the Sickness. Most Pilgrims eventually perform the duties of Rangers or visa versa, as it is generally believed that both practices are necessary for the correct administration of Olderand.

Activities

Pilgrims in Olderand will take part in a number of activities. Normally after arriving in a port town, they will spend a few days getting used to their surroundings, before journeying deeper into the island. The effects of Sleep Sickness are lessened in the port towns, so the pilgrimage does not properly begin until they have journeyed deeper.

Primgrims rarely journey alone, instead preferring to travel in groups. This is mostly to help protect against danger while under the effects of Sleep Sickness. It is also common for a Ranger to accompany the group to ensure everyone remains safe. There are still cases where pilgrims travel without support, and often a member of the group will take turns to focus their minds and perform a role similar to a ranger.

Shrine Building

One of the main tasks while on a pilgrimage is constructing shrines. Shrines are constructed at agreed locations by the pilgrims. They are built to express some deeper meaning or religious idea, although generally the act of constructing simple shapes with stones is just as much a part of the religious process.

Expeditions

Prilgrims will walk the paths and roads of Olderand, specifically trying to lose themselves in the island. Expeditions are well resourced but often Pilgrims will know how to forage food and resources. Upon finding places of interest, they will allow themselves to fall into sleep, and experience the island through the dreaming mind.