Derun’s faith is decentralized and rooted in the communities that endure hardship, making his clergy less hierarchical than many other religious orders. Most of his priests, known as Stonekeepers, rise from among farmers, laborers, and those who have survived great trials, earning their position through wisdom and perseverance rather than formal ordination. They act as advisors, healers, and laborers themselves, teaching the value of patience, endurance, and the cycles of hardship and renewal. Monasteries dedicated to Derun are often rugged sanctuaries in remote locations, where initiates learn self-sufficiency, meditative toil, and the spiritual significance of working the land. Some Stonekeepers wander, offering aid to struggling villages, teaching survival skills, and sharing stories of resilience.

Followers of Derun strive to embody endurance, perseverance, and self-reliance, seeking to overcome hardship with patience and hard work. Farmers and laborers see their struggles as sacred acts of devotion, while rebels and exiles draw strength from his teachings to endure oppression. Worshipers often take personal oaths to never abandon their people or land, seeing hardship as a trial meant to be endured rather than avoided. Many of Derun’s faithful also work to restore blighted or abandoned places, turning ruins into homes and barren land into fertile soil. To them, every hardship is a stone in the foundation of a stronger future.

• Persevere through adversity and never give up in the face of hardship.

• Work the land with respect and patience.

• Aid those who struggle to survive, offering guidance and strength.

• Honor the scars of labor and endurance as marks of resilience.

• Abandon land or community in times of hardship.

• Exploit or abuse the land for selfish gain.

• Show cowardice when faced with struggle.