Solonor Thelandira
Solonor Thelandira (soe-loe-nohr theh-lan-dih-ruh) is always in pursuit of quarry, and he rarely remains in one location for very long. Unlike many hunters, the Great Archer stalks prey only out of concern for the overall balance between the species and to destroy evil-doers, particularly the Drow. His serious, sometimes grim, demeanor reflects the difficulty he faces in forging a workable compromise between the competing forces of civilization and wilderness, instinct and knowledge, and savagery and domesticity. Solonor’s word is his bond, and his pledge is never given lightly. Solonor does not close to do battle with an enemy, but tracks and pursues instead, firing arrows from a never-empty quiver.
Personality
Solonor always keeps his word and so does not offer it lightly. He often comes across as grim due to the complexities of his duty making compromises between those who wanted to exploit nature's gifts and those who wished to preserve nature in an unaltered state.
Possessions
Solonor carries the magical elven longbow Longshot, that can fire as far as the horizon, accompanied by the Quiver of Endless Arrows that nevers empties of magical ammunition. He also wears boots of varied tracks and a necklace of adaptation.
Realm
Solonor's divine realm is called the Pale Tree and is located in the deepest, most dense part of Arvandor's unspoilt woodlands. It is a huge tree, towering far above even neighboring redwoods, with white bark and silver leaves. Solonor's petitioners live among its boughs on platforms, with ropes placed among them for travel between them. Solonor himself spends very little time there. Elves believe that leaves taken from the tree have mystical powers and are therefore very valuable to them.
Clergy and Temples
The church of Solonor is a disparate one, with little communication among groups of clerics except to exchange information. Solonor’s clerics serve as scouts and archers in elven armies, as bowyers, fletchers, archery instructors in elven settlements, and as hunters and providers for far-flung rural communities. Among those Fair Folk who largely eschew the trappings of civilization, members of Solonor’s clergy preside over initiation ceremonies into adulthood. Hawkeyes serve the Great Archer by working to maintain the balance of nature.
Clerics and druids of Solonor pray for their spells whenever the moon is highest in the sky during the day. Solonor’s faithful generally eschew frivolous celebrations, considering them unnecessary distractions to the tasks at hand. Once per lunar month, under the soft light of the full moon, the Great Archer’s faithful assemble to give thanks for the skills Solonor has taught and the bounty thus provided. Hunters sacrifice hunting trophies that cannot otherwise be employed, and unbroken arrows engraved with the symbol of Solonor are fired into the sky to poke holes in the firmament and allow the light of Solonor’s teachings to shine forth on his people (these arrows are never fired in a direction that would cause them to fall where they might hurt someone, including straight up). Each Shieldmeet, known to the Fair Folk as the Day of Corellon’s Peace, the followers of Solonor assemble to compete in great archery meets. The winner of such contests are said to receive Keen-Eye’s blessing. Many clerics and druids multiclass as rangers.
Dogma
Walk in harmony with nature and oppose the efforts of those who disturb her delicate balance. Preserve the wild places fro excessive encroachment, and work with those who would settle the land to preserve the beauty that first attracted them. Hunt only for sustenance, culling the old and the weak from the herd so that all species may prosper. Like an arrow in flight, it is difficult to arrest the consequences of an action. Choose your targets carefully, for an ill-considered action can have a long reaching impact.
History and Relationships
Solonor is well-respected member of the Seldarine, answering to Corellon Larethian. He counts as allies practically all good-aligned nature deities as well as Silvanus and several beast cults. Solonor is particularly close to Eilistraee, of whom he has been said to be romantically linked with at some point. Solonor counts Lolth as his worst foe. Solonor also opposes The Unseelie Court, particularly the Queen of Air and Darkness, and any deity who would despoil nature.
Divine Classification
Intermediate Deity
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
- Keen-Eye
- The Great Archer
Children
Gender
Male
The Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes are considered the elite of elven archers. Trained since they were old enough to hold a bow, these elves of Alyha Elunore are tasked with the responsibility of protecting their woodland kingdom of Tharethiel against Drow and Orc raiders.
The Unseelie Fey
Fey can breed with anything and, except for the pure-blood-minded seelie court fey, often do. The offspring of these liaisons are unusual creatures, blending characteristics of both parents, sometimes able to pass as a parent's creature type. In turn, these half-breeds mate and pass on a blend of features and abilities. After several generations, these mixed creatures often resemble things out of nightmares or a mad wizard's experiment.
These oddities generally are spurned by their non-fey ancestor's society. The seelie court fey view these creatures at best as pathetic half-breeds to be spurned with contempt and at worst as despicable perversions of all that is fey, to be hunted down and put out of their misery.
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