Avis, the Huntress

Domains: Hunting, Labyrinth, Speed, Travel, War

Description

Avis is depicted in two forms:   The Horned Hunter. A huge saber-toothed feline with viciously curved antlers and spikes along its spine, and overlong limbs that easily bound across the forest floor and dart between trees. Sleek and supple in movement, with ebony fur matted with blood, which also drips endlessly from their talons and fangs. Slitted eyes glow with scarlet radiance.   Master of the Hunt. A tall, genderless humanoid of some Elvish bent, lithe, slender and graceful, wearing a thick black cloak matching the pelt of their other form. Above their glowing red eyes was a large rack of wickedly sharp antlers, and their angular face bears a sharply fanged mouth. They are depicted wearing bark-thick leather armor, sewn from the hides of their prey.

Personality

Wild and unpredictable, much like nature itself, Avis is chiefly concerned with maintaining the cycle of life, notably the dynamic between predator and prey. This may lead some to view Avis as heartless.   They hold great distaste for the over hunting of prey, domestication of wild animals, and care little for those who lead an urban or sedentary lifestyle. Avis holds a special hatred for those who kill predatory creatures not out of need, and those who use fire or similar evocation magic carelessly, or with deliberate intention to cause destruction of the wilds.

Activity

Avis is never in one place long, and is always hunting some quarry or another.   Avis has both clerics and druids in their faith, though their presence may vary. Rangers, barbarians, hermits and wilderness dwellers alwo worship them.  

The Wild Hunt

A ritual and holy day for Avis. A vicious hunt where a captured creature of some intelligence is released, and for the next day and night attempts to survive the prowling predators; Avis' huntsmen, revelers, intelligent predatory creatures, and any poor souls caught up in the frenzy of the Hunt. If the target creature manages to survive, they win their freedom as well as the favor of Avis, as well as, perhaps, other things.

Tenets & Ideals

Followers typically exhibit some of the following behaviors:

• For the predator, runs the prey.
• Honor Avis by making one's killing bloody, but not unnecessarily long.

Relationships

History

Wildgarde

The twisting forests of Avis' home domain where the Wild Hunt is not restricted to a holy day.

Shu Sulthail (The Green Knights)

Avis' huntsmen. Knights bedecked in green plate armor stylized to blend into the forests, their faces obscured by horned helmets, differentiated only by the different horn shapes and styles. They ride bareback, astride large, carnivorous elk mounts.