Ehlonna

of the Forests, Goddess of Forests, Woodlands, Flora and Fauna, and Hunting

Symbol: Rearing unicorn
Home Plane: Beastlands
Alignment: Neutral good
Portfolio: Forests, woodlands, flora and fauna, fertility
Worshipers: Elves, gnomes, half-elves, halflings, rangers, druids, hunters, farmers, woodcutters
Cleric Alignments: CG, LG, NG
Domains: Nature
Favored Weapon: Longbow

Ehlonna (eh-LOHN-nah) is a very old goddess. She combats those who would harm or despoil the forest of its resources and beauty. Ehlonna has many aspects: hunter, ranger, woman of the woods, protector of elves and half-elves, or goddess of fertility. She is known to the elves as "Ehlenestra." Shown as either a dark-haired human woman or a golden-haired elf maid, she is served by Novelee, a planetar whose heart is so pure it makes unicorns weep. She has a rivalry with Obad-Hai, but is friendly with the elven gods and most good-aligned deities. Her symbol is the unicorn. Ehlonna is a goddess of the balance and cycles of nature. She combats those who would harm or despoil the forest of its resources and beauty.
As the Goddess of the Hunt, Elhonna is often portrayed with a longbow or with a spear. Her quiver overflowing with additional spears and arrows. Ehlonna is gentle and benevolent, but hard against the evil humanoids and the marauders who plunder the wooded regions. She hunts those who despoil the wilderness, or those who would upset nature's balance and cycles. Undead and aberrations are universally hated and hunted.

Appearance, Manifestations

Ehlonna is variously depicted as an elven or human woman, and often associates with unicorns and other sylvan creatures. When in human form, Ehlonna appears as a dark-haired human woman, but as Ehlenestra, she appears as a golden-haired elven maiden. Her eyes are deep blue or startling violet. Her garments may be the practical garb of a ranger or the rich gown of an elven princess. She carries a longbow that always hits its target.

Relationships & History

Ehlonna has an intense rivalry with Obad-Hai. Where the neutral good Ehlonna advocates the beauty and goodness of unspoiled nature, the true neutral Obad-Hai sees nature as brutal and uncompromising. She is an enemy of Karaan, who represents nature's dark side. She is friendly with the Seldarine and most good-aligned deities, and allied with Atroa. She is served by a planetar named Novalee.
Her Herald and steed is known as the Forestmaster, a celestial unicorn said to be the progenitor of her race. She is also served by Uskyeria, an ursinal and Kharash the Lupinal. She has a rivalry with Obad-Hai, but is friendly with the elven gods.
Her human aspect has special powers over horses, while as Ehlenestra she has similar command over unicorns.
Kharash the Stalker: Kharash's natural form is that of a 10-foot-long wolf-like creature who can stand on his hind legs. The Stalker often takes the role of Elhonna's retribution when the balance is threatened and no mortal agents are near enough or powerful enough to correct the problem. Kharash loves and fiercely protects children, but is extremely awkward around them, often frightening those he is defending.
Uskyeria: Uskyeria’s natural form is that of a giant bear with gold-streaked red fur. The Saintly Slumberer and her agents teach mortals how to hunt while respecting the animals they kill and preserving the areas in which they hunt. Insomniacs also pray to Uskyeria to bless them with deep and restful sleep.

Dogma

The wilderness is a beautiful place full of life and danger. There is a natural balance of predator and prey, life and death. The secrets of the wild should be learned and taught so that people can live in harmony with nature. Become the predator, but hunt only what you need. Those who would harm or exploit the balance must be hunted and destroyed. The plants and animals of the forest are things that nature gives as gifts, not things to be stolen.

Clergy and Temples

Ehlonna is the patron of all good-aligned folk who love the forests. She is worshipped by hunters, trappers, foresters, rangers, woodcutters, and more. Brownies, elves, gnomes, and halflings are especially attuned to Ehlonna of the Forests, and will willingly aid her.
Many of Ehlonna's clerics (or Silvicoli, as they are known) live in forests and keep on friendly terms with the local rangers, druids, elves, and fey. They keep guard against encroachments by evil folk, loggers, and others who would exploit and ruin any woodland. When confronting anyone who would despoil a forest, they tend to be gentle but firm, at least at first. If the invaders persist, Ehlonna's clerics can be ruthless in driving them out. Many of Ehlonna's clerics take it upon themselves to teach woodcraft, plant trees, or both.
Each cleric of Ehlonna chooses a species of plant as their special ward. They must see to it that their species flourishes and that its properties are respected by common folk. Clerics of Ehlonna often carry the seeds of their chosen plant with them on journeys.
Most of Ehlonna's clergy are female, whether human, elven, or fey. They live in the forests, are friendly with rangers and druids, and watch for encroaching nonhumans, hunters, and loggers. They educate those who wish to live in harmony with the forest, just as the animals do. They are gentle in their first warning to those who would harm the forest and ruthless in stopping those who persist. They travel to spread their teachings or to protect a forest in danger.
The Silvicoli usually wear practical clothes to roam the woods, women only wearing dresses for certain ceremonies. Whatever the outfit adopted, the dominant color is always light or forest green.

Hierarchy

The most experienced priests are content to supervise the youngest, while they really get to know the forest, and to coordinate large-scale actions.

Temples

Ehlonna's places of worship often boil down to simple clearings with trees for walls and sky for the only roof. However, small chapels appear here and there in the forest villages, and cabins are camouflaged in the heart of the forest. There are healers and rangers ready to guide visitors safely through the woods. Small shrines often exist in villages near large forests.

Rituals

The religious services include a very simple meal (often consisting of fruit, berries and other foods gathered in the woods), during which one drinks wine and plays the flute, pipeau and lyre. If a bard is available to set the mood, it will be all the better. Typical prayers to Ehlonna feature at least two references to positive aspects of the forest. Her ceremonies take place in the forest where possible and involve the various aspects of fertility. Children take part in the more innocent ones.

Holidays and Festivals

Worshippers of Elhonna celebrate The Four Feasts on the equinoxes and the solstices, celebrating the cyclical nature of the seasons. Births and deaths are celebrated as well. On Fullsun the 21st, the day after Pelor's Glory, worshipers of Elhonna celebrate Elhonna's Hunt. Those able to hunt head into the wilds either alone or in groups, while townsfolk who worship Elhonna celebrate a mock-hunt, where one parishioner hides in town and tries to evade capture for the day. Elhonna is said to grant boons to those who volunteer as "prey" and manage to evade capture.
Turning Ceremony: This traditional festival is still popular in many rural communities. Children aged 7 are taken, separated from each other, blindfolded and barefoot, in the middle of the forest. Everyone must then find their way back to the village where a banquet has been set up, guided only by songs and a huge bonfire. On their return, each child is brought before the fire, to which he must whisper his real name that he is supposed to have discovered during his journey. Rangers, Ehlonna priests, and sometimes elves, discreetly watch over the safety of children in the forest. When a child spots one of these protectors, it is a good omen.
Seasonal ceremonies are important religious holidays for the worship of Ehlonna.
Winter ceremonies (Winter Solstice): These ceremonies celebrate the force of nature that withstands the rigors of winter. It's lambing season, and milk offerings are a must. Like the lamb that has just been born, a new year begins as the sun recovers.
Spring ceremonies (Spring Equinox): These ceremonies celebrate the renewal and the power of the sun to give life. Large fires are lit, between which the common people parade in procession, leading their cattle in front of them and throwing grain. The blazing sun is associated with health and the destruction of disease, and the main purpose of these ceremonies is to provide protection against disease from herds.
Summer ceremonies (Summer Solstice): These ceremonies celebrate the life and beauty of nature. They are the most important of the year and give rise to festivities which mark the opening of large fairs; the common people wear garlands of flowers that will be given as an offering to the deities of nature.
Fall ceremonies (Fall Equinox): These ceremonies celebrate the harvests and give rise to great festivals. All the people come together to offer their first fruits to the Gods. Big bonfires are erected on the highest hills and people drink and dance until the end of the night. The abundance of harvests is supposed to ward off hunger during the winter.

Orders

Ehlonna Druids: Druids share the affection of their goddess for the forests, and especially the fauna and flora which reside there, as well as her hatred towards the evil humanoids who ransack them. They ally themselves with the Sylvan creatures to protect the wooded regions from these invaders. Their alignment, although remaining neutral, shows a certain inclination towards the good (which some other druids frown upon).
Knotty Forest Prowlers: This group seeks first and foremost to protect the Knotty Forest. The organization of this group is anything but strict—there are no leaders, but some members meet every two or three months in order to exchange information they hold about concerning situations and potential dangers. They recruit and train new members and making them take an oath to defend the forest and to worship a deity of good alignment (usually Ehlonna).

Kharash

A werewolf-like creature with topaz eyes steps from the shadows on all fours. Measuring 10-feet-long, its lithe, muscular body is covered in a neatly groomed black and brown fur. It smiles broadly, revealing rows of sharp, pearly-white fangs.
The paragon of lupinals, Duke Kharash (kah-rash) is the closest Companion to Talisid, sharing the Celestial Lions passion for the hunt as well as his love for the untamed wilderness. The two are nigh inseparable except when Talisid chooses to enter a populated area, at which time Kharash usually opts to remain in the wild. Although sly of tongue and not exactly shy, Kharash doesn't care much for large groups or accolades. He adores children but is inexplicably awkward around them, His ability to remain out of sight coupled with his willingness to let Talisid speak on his behalf in public has earned Kharash the moniker "Talisid's Shadow," and the lupinal duke doesn't seem to mind,
An undisputed master of the hunt, Kharash trusts his senses and intuition. He doesn't fall easily into traps, and he studies his enemies carefully before moving in for the kill. He maintains no permanent residence. When traveling apart from Talisid and the Companions, Kharash is usually joined by a pack of his trusted lupinals.
Kharash serves Elhonna, the Goddess of the hunt will often send Kharash and his lupinals on missions to Arith.

Divine Classification

Intermediate God