The Elven Pantheon
Every elf recognises the existence of the Allfather, whether to worship him, consider him an option or outright rebel against him. Almost all of elven myths have this Allfather as not only the creator and protector of the elves, but also of the whole world. The clerics of other races are quick to reject this notion, but elves do not pay them much mind since they are not too religious themselves, anyway.
The elven deities espouse the ideals of the race in all of its incarnations, with the arts being favoured as often as nature and warfare. Some elven clerics are indistinguishable from druids in their garb and demeanour, while others cannot be told apart from bards. Some of the subraces gravitate towards one or another less important deity as his or her outlook fits with these elves’ attitudes much better but, in the end, they all serve the Allfather in one way or another.
Deity Archetypes
Elves have spread far and wide across the world, and they have developed different tastes according to their culture. Along this long exodus, the names they give to their gods have changed, but their essence remains the same. A deity archetype is the essence behind the masks the gods wear when presenting themselves to their followers. A mask is a name, a visage and a collection of attributes, but the archetype remains constant throughout all its incarnations.
The following is a list of deity archetypes, with the most common themes that appear in an elven pantheon. Games Masters can take any or all of these deities and give them the name most suited to their campaign world.
Elven Allfather (Greater Deity, CG)
Attributed with the creation of the world as well as of the elven races, the Allfather embodies all that his children hold dear, enjoying freedom and laughter as much as a good fight. Like the elves, the Allfather does not let joy distract him from his duty as the protector of life and guardian of elvenkind. His realm in the Outer Planes is the final destination for the elven dead, a natural paradise with titanic trees and great mountains.
Domains: Chaos, Good, Protection and War.
Lord of the Deep (Intermediate Deity, CG)
The Lord of the Deep is usually the Allfather’s younger brother, but they can be unrelated in certain pantheons. This deity is the ruler of the sea and all that transpires in it. Sea elves comprise his main body of worshippers and he watches over them as the Allfather’s sight is set mainly on the surface. The Lord of the Deep is as enigmatic and capricious as the ocean he rules, and loves acquiring and imparting secret knowledge. His palace is deep in the water of the Allfather’s realm in a layer of its own, with many bridges to the Elemental Plane of Water and the deepest oceans of the Material Plane.
Domains: Good, Knowledge, Sea.
Lady of Wind (Intermediate Deity, CG)
Soaring above the mountains and valleys, the Lady of Wind is privy to many secrets but does not care much about them. She is a messenger and scout, moving with great speed and not missing anything that happens on the land below. She is the mistress of birds and several flying magical beasts who are some of her staunchest servants along with the winged elves and, in some measure, the grey elves. She makes her home among the clouds of the Allfather’s realm, with several gates to the Elemental Plane of Air and the highest peaks of the Material Plane.
Domains: Air, Knowledge and Music.
Lord of Mysteries (Lesser Deity, NG)
Dark and brooding, the Lord of Mysteries is the warden of all the things unknown and without answer. He is a god of the night, ruling over the dead and over dreams. He is the keeper of the elven soul and the first who welcomes Ascended elves into their new state, sending prophecies and portents and listening to the whispers of those who have already departed, but wish to remain to lend a hand. He resides in the deepest cellar of the Allfather’s palace, in a subterranean realm that is a palace by itself. In there, he decides where an elven individual spirit should go. He is worshipped mainly by the daoine, as well as by spellcasters and astrologers.
Domains: Death, Dream and Magic.
Goddess of Love (Lesser Deity, CG)
One of the youngest of the pantheon, this goddess is all music and dance, as her responsibility in the Allfather’s court is to watch over all things beautiful and happy, and to remind the elves about the joy of living. She is a love and fertility goddess, honoured in the spring and at festivals. She rivals the Lady of Wind as patron of the arts. She does not have a definite home, but prefers to wander around the woods of the Allfather’s realm, with occasional forays into other Planes where she can leave her mark and make gods and mortals fall in love with her.
Domains: Healing, Love, Music and Trickery.
Keeper of Time (Greater Deity, LN)
Although subordinate to the Allfather, the Keeper of Time equals him in power and influence but, for reasons all his own, prefers to remain on the sidelines and offer his advice. He is the lord of the inevitable and master of fate, knowing what will happen, when and why. He oversees the changing of the seasons with sombre determination and unfl agging responsibility. He has his abode in his own Demi-Plane and visits the Allfather’s court often. Grey elves favour his worship and pray to him for permanence and long life.
Domains: Law, Knowledge, Magic and Sun.
The Trickster (Intermediate Deity, CN)
No pantheon is complete without a Trickster, and the elven one is among the best. This prankster enjoys getting into trouble as much as he loves the faces of his detractors when he gets out of it. He wanders around the heavens and the Material Plane in search of something to do, for he grows bored easily. His practical jokes are sometimes tools of wisdom, but they are just as likely to be just that: jokes. Like the Goddess of Love, he has no residence save for a wing of the Allfather’s palace, where he goes to recover from his latest escapade and plan his next one.
Domains: Chaos, Luck, Travel and Trickery.
The Wyld Hunter (Intermediate Deity, N)
The ambassador to the wood and wild elves, the Wyld Hunter is an imposing figure in any of his incarnations. He feels more at home in the wildest places of the universe than in the placid confines of the Allfather’s realm, and so he is the god most likely to be found on the Material Plane. He is the patron of hunters and survivalists, embodying all that is fierce in nature. He is a powerful masculine figure, and many foresee his rise into a greater deity.
Domains: Forest, Strength, Sun and Travel.
The Spider Queen (Greater Deity, CE)
One of the Allfather’s greatest enemies, all but the Keeper of Time and the Loremaster have forgotten if she was ever part of the elven pantheon and then betrayed them all for the forces of darkness. She is the absolute ruler of the drow, and wages a ruthless and ceaseless war against the Allfather and his followers. Under her rule, only the strong are worthy of living, and she enforces her will without mercy. She lives in her own layer of the Abyss, cast down, exiled or always there, nobody dares to ask.
Domains: Chaos, Evil and Strength.
The Loremaster (Lesser Deity, CG)
Unlike the Keeper of Time and the Lord of Mysteries, the Loremaster is a restless adventurer, not waiting for knowledge to come to him, but charging forward to grab it with both hands. He is the patron of all elves who leave home out of curiosity and wanderlust, and many vagabonds and explorers dedicate prayers to him. He has a very hands-on approach, with his favourite pastime being to send his avatars to the dark corners of taverns around the world, ready to propose a ‘job’ to any group of eager adventurers.
