Elven Pantheon

The Fey Folk of Arith worship a pantheon of deities known as the Seldarine, a complex term that can be roughly translated as the fellowship of brothers and sisters of the wood, implying the wide diversity in interests that exists among the gods of the elven pantheon and their desire for cooperation. They act independently of one another, but the elven powers are drawn together by love, curiosity, and friendship to combine their strengths, to accomplish a task, or in the face of outside threats.   Corellon Larethian, the acknowledged ruler of the Seldarine, reinforces this freedom of action and compels none of the Seldarine to perform any task. Instead, the gods of the elven pantheon seem to sense when something needs doing, and they simply gather when necessary. With the exception of Fenmarel Mestarine, the Seldarine reside in the realm of Arvandor.   Relations ascribed to the various powers of the Seldarine vary widely from culture to culture; some legends hold them all to be brothers and sisters, others believe Corellon (and sometimes Sehanine) created the other powers from the natural environment of Arvandor. Other sages link the Seldarine in various romantic relationships. In most representations, the elven pantheon includes more gods than goddesses, but every member of the Seldarine can appear as either male or female. The androgynous nature of the Seldarine reflects the gender equality found in most elven societies.   Aside from disagreement over the nature of Angharradh, there is general agreement among the elves as to which powers make up the Seldarine. Each elven realm and subrace places its own emphasis on the relative importance of various powers to the point where some members of the Seldarine fade from memory in some isolated elven cultures.    

The Seldarine

• Corellon Larethian, God of Change, Beauty and the Arts

• Sehanine Moonbow, God of the Moon and Death

• Aerdrie Faenya, God of the Air

• Angharradh, God of Spring, Fertility, and Wisdom

• Deep Sashelas, God of the Oceans

• Erevan Ilesere, God of Mischief

• Fenmarel Mestarine, God of Outsiders

• Hanali Celanil, God of Beauty

• Labelas Enoreth, God of Longevity and Time

• Rillifane Rallathil, God of Nature

• Shevarash, God of Vengeance

• Solonor Thelandira, God of Archery and Hunting

   

Corellon Larethian

Creator of the Elves, God of Change, Art, Beauty, and Magic   The Creator of the Elves embodies the highest ideals of elvenkind, and he is the patron of most aesthetic endeavors, including art, magic, music, poetry, and warfare. He is venerated by all the Fair Folk, except the drow and those who have turned to Lolth, Ghaunadaur, Vhaeraun, and other dark powers. Corellon is especially popular with elf and half-elf mages, musicians, and poets.   Corellon's domains are Arcana and Light, and his favored weapon is Sahandrian, his longsword.    

Sehanine Moonbow

Daughter of the Night Skies, Goddess of Moonlight, Dreams, Prophecy, and Death   Sehanine Moonbow (SEH-ha-neen MOON-boe) is the elven goddess of the moon or, more specifically, the full moon. She governs divinations, omens, and subtle magics and protects against madness. She watches over the dreams of the elves, keeping them from harm while in reverie and sending omens to protect them from future dangers. Sehanine watches over the passage of elven spirits from the world, and she is protectress of the dead.   Sehanine's domains are Grave and Knowledge, and her favored weapon is Moonshaft, a quartersatff.    

Aerdrie Faenya

The Winged Mother, Lady of Air and Wind, Bringer of Rain and Storms   Aerdrie Faenya (air-dree fain-yuh) is the elven expression of freedom and impulse, and she dislikes staying in any one place for too long. She delights in the sound of wind instruments and in creating unpredictable atmospheric conditions, including fairly severe or violent thunderstorms on occasion, but her primary joy is simply feeling the air rush past her with the ground far below. The Winged Mother is a somewhat distant deity who rarely involves herself in elven culture, and she is far more chaotic than the rest of the Seldarine. She is also known as an aspect of Angharradh, the Triune Goddess.   Aerdrie's domains are Nature and Tempest, and her favored weapon is Thuderbolt, a javelin.    

Angharradh

The Triune Goddess, the One and the Three, the Union of the Three, Queen of Arvandor   Angharradh (ON-gahr-rath) is the face of the power who is both three separate goddesses-Aerdrie Faenya, Hanali Celanil, and Sehanine Moonbow who are collectively known as the Three-as well as a single goddess-the One-who subsumes their separate aspects. The Triune Goddess presents many different faces, depending upon circumstances. In spring and during harvest time she is a fertility goddess. She watches over the planting of crops, blesses births, and keeps the land green and growing. In wartime, she is a grim warrior deity who wields a red sword and mercilessly slays the enemies of the elves. When wisdom is required, the One and the Three is a source of guidance and council.   Angharradh's domains are Knowledge and Life, and her favored weapon is Duskshaft, a spear.    

Deep Sashelas

Lord of the Undersea, the Dolphin Prince, the Knowledgeable One, Sailor s Friend   Deep Sashelas (DEEP SA-sheh-lahs) is the Lord of the Undersea and the patron of sea elves, whom he created long ago by modifying Corellon's land-bound creations. Sashelas is a powerfully creative deity who is forever changing the environments below the sea, creating islands and reefs by altering continental rifts, tinkering with undersea volcanoes, and the like. He is also said to create the deep undersea caverns that the sea elves can use for air-breathing when they wish. Sashelas is known as the Knowledgeable One, for he provides advice as to where food can be found or the enemies are hidden.   Sashelas' domain is Nature, and his favored weapon is Trifork, a trident.    

Erevan Ilesere

The Trickster, the Chameleon, the Green Changeling, the Evershifting Shapechanger, the Fey Jester   Erevan Ilesere (air-eh-van ill-eh-seer) is a fickle, utterly unpredictable deity who can change his appearance at will. He is one of the most fun-loving deities in the multiverse, and he seems incapable of remaining still or concentrating on a single task for any extended period of time. Erevan enjoys causing trouble for its own sake, but his pranks are rarely either helpful or deadly. However, Erevan becomes very dangerous if sylvan - races or weak elven groups are threatened, and he is always championing the underdog.   Erevan's domain is Trickery, and his favored weapon is Quickstrike, his shortsword.    

Fenmarel Mestarine

The Lone Wolf   Fenmarel Mestarine (FEHN-muh-rehl MESS-tuh-reen) is the eternal outsider, the solitary god who holds himself aloof from his fellows. He is venerated by outcasts from elven society, many of whom have withdrawn voluntarily in response to perceived slights, as well as by elves who have been isolated from the main body of their race and who live in wild, relatively uncivilized rural groups. Although he does not actively seek the worship of mortals, Fenmarel serves as the teacher and protector of those who turn to him, one who is silent and subtle, instructing his people in survival, spying, camouflage, deception, and secrecy.   Fenmarel's domain is Trickery, and his favored weapon is Thornbite, his dagger.    

Hanali Celanil

The Heart of Gold, Kiss of Romance, Lady Goldheart   Hanali Celanil (han-uh-lee sell-uh-nihl) is a being of timeless beauty and benign nature, who always forgives minor transgressions and delights in rewarding her followers with the bliss of unexpected love and affection. She embodies romance, beauty, love, and joy in elven spirits, her only flaws being her own mild vanity and flighty nature. Although she rarely appears to her faithful, Hanali delights in seeing the growth of love among elves, and she often acts in secret to protect young lovers. She is also known as an aspect of Angharradh, the Triune Goddess.   Hanali's domain is Life, and her favored weapon is Shining Heart, a dagger.    

Labelas Enoreth

The Lifegiver, Lord of the Continuum   Labelas Enoreth (LAH-bay-lahs EHN-or-eth) is the elven god of longevity and time. At the creation of the Fair Folk, Labelas blessed the elves with long lifespans and decreed that their appearances would not be marked by the passage of time. The Lifegiver cooperates with Sehanine in overseeing the lifespan of elves and their growth away from and beyond mortal realms. He measures the lives of the Fair Folk and decrees when they should be ended, allowing passage to Arvandor. As Lord of the Continuum, Labelas governs the orderly passage of time and guards against those who would alter the path of history.   Labelas' domains are Arcana and Knowledge, and his favored weapon is the Timestave, his quarterstaff.    

Rillifane Rallathil

The Leaflord, The Great Oak, The Many-Branched, The Many-Limbed   Rillifane Rallathil (RILL-ih-fane RALL-uh-thihl) is protector of the woodlands and guardian of the harmony of nature. He is often likened by his priests to a giant ethereal oak tree, so huge that its roots mingle with the roots of every other plant in the Realms, that stands at the heart of Arvandor, the High Forest of Olympus. The great tree draws into itself all the ebb and flow of seasons and lives within the woodlands of the green elves. At the same time, it defends and sustains those lands against disease, predation, and assaults of all kinds.   Rillifane's domain is Nature, and his favored weapon is the Oakstaff, his quarterstaff.    

Shevarash

The Black Archer, the Night Hunter, the Arrow Bringer   Shevarash (SHEV-uh-rash), who embodies the hatred the Fair Folk hold for the drow, is the elven god of vengeance and military crusades. He is venerated by Elves and Alfar who have suffered the loss of loved ones through violence, particularly those who burn with revenge against the drow, and by those who have sworn to destroy the Spider Queen and the other evil gods of the dark elves.   Shevarash's domain is War, and his favored weapon is The Black Bow, his longbow.    

Solonor Thelandira

Keen-Eye, the Great Archer, the Forest Hunter   Solonor Thelandira is the elven god of hunting, archery, and survival in wild and harsh places. The Great Archer's prowess with the bow is unmatched by any other power venerated in the Realms. Solonor is concerned with the integrity of nature and the balance between exploitation and agriculture on one hand and fallow, wild terrains on the other. Like Corellon Larethian and Fenmarel Mestarine, the Great Archer watches over the boundaries of elven lands. He instructs the Fair Folk in the art of hiding in and moving through natural foliage so as not to be detected as well as the art of archery and hunting. Solonor is primarily revered by elven and alfar rangers, hunters, woodsmen, and fighters.   Solonor's domain is War, and his favored weapon is Longshot, his longbow.