Elven Religion

Elven religion is centered around the worship of a number of different gods and is based on mythology that is thousands of years old. Religion plays a very important role in elven society and priests are called upon to act as judges, as elven law is based on religious principles. The elven pantheon is often referred to as the Old Gods by the humans.

One of the biggest causes for cultural tensions between elves and humans, is the perceived violation of elven religious principles regarding nature, by the humans. Chief amongst these principles, is a respect for nature. Elves strive to live in harmony with nature and their settlements reflect that, with their buildings often being surrounded by plants. According to elven religious beliefs and law, one must plant a tree for every one that is cut down.

The pantheon of the elves consists of several gods and goddesses, chief amongst them being the goddess of life, whom they worship above all else. Evil in elven religion, is represented by the god of death, who is often associated with the wolf god of the humans.

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• Sylmae, Goddess of Life: Sylmae is the elven goddess of life and the chief deity of the elven pantheon. She is often portrayed as a young woman holding a crescent moon in one hand and an olive branch in the other and is associated with nature, forests and the moon. She is viewed as a stern, but kind deity who often intervenes to help those in need. She is the mother of the other gods in the elven pantheon.
• Cythirel, The Huntress: Cythriel is the elven goddess of the hunt and is portrayed as a naked woman with a bow. She is associated with predatory animals and her sacred animal is the mountain lion. Cythriel is viewed as a vengeful goddess of justice, who hands out punishments to sinners, who are sometimes offered forgiveness by Sylmae, the goddess of life.
• Halamar, God of Magic: Halamar is the elven god of magic and the patron of mages. Portrayed as an old male dressed in scholarly robes, who carries a staff and a scroll, Halamar is considered the god of knowledge, wisdom and temperance amongst the elves. Halamar is also the god of peace in elven religion and is often described as being in an eternal rivalry with the god of war.
• Ayduin, God of War: Ayduin is the elven god of war, patron of warriors and protector of the downtrodden. Portrayed as a bald elven male with a sword, he is considered the vindicator of the oppressed and is often described as carrying out violent revenge against oppressors, in the name of their victims. Ayduin is also the patron deity of the poor and his priests' chief obligation is to provide charity. He is considered the rival of the god of war.
• Ilyana, Goddess of Fertility: Ilyana is the elven goddess of fertility, songs and merrymaking. Portrayed as a young woman in a dancer's outfit, she is the patron deity of artists, farmers and married couples. The majority of elven religious festivals are dedicated to her and religious rituals dedicated to Ilyana, consist of singing and dancing.
• The Outsider, God of Death: The Outsider is the god of death and evil in the elven pantheon. Rather than being a child of Sylmae, like the other elven gods, he is described as an outside force who seeks to undo all creation and who must never be named. Portrayed as a faceless man in a loose black robe, with a hood over his head, the Outsider is considered the source of all evil and is often associated with the human wolf god.