Melora, God of Wilderness |N|

The Wild Mother

Melora is the god of nature. Eschewing a permanent realm, Melora prefers to wander the planes to oversee natural life. She claims dominion over the whole of the natural world, particularly the seasons, hunting, and protection of nature. She is often found among the unearthly beauty of Arborea's infinite expanse of deep woods, hunting unnatural things that corrupt the woods. 
Mortals over many lands pray to Melora when they rely on hunting or nature's whims for their livelihood. Her most ardent followers are races with strong connections to nature, including elves, satyrs, and centaurs. She blesses those who are kind to animals, considering such acts as wordless prayers. Those who must kill a dangerous animal or cut down trees often pray to Melora for forgiveness, sometimes leaving food for other animals or planting new trees as atonement. 
Immortalized through wooden reliefs and carved idols in hidden, overgrown groves and rural shrines, the Wild Mother is shown as a beautiful woman with olive skin nearly swallowed by a wild, tangles wreath of hair, leaves, and vines that dwarf her lithe form. 

Melora's Influence

The realms of Melora extend to wherever the seas shift and the land grows wild. As the keeper of the wilderness, Melora represents the wild creatures of nature, the rush of the angry rapids, and the heat-heavy stillness of the desert. Elves worship her, as do hunters, accepting her guidance to exist harmoniously within savage lands. Those seeking safe passage across dangerous waters pray to her to guide them. Druids of Melora the Wild Mother and clerics of her lover, Erathis the Law Bearer, work together to preserve the balance of nature and civilization. 

Melora

Melora's Goals

Above all else, Melora stands to protect the untamed wilderness from exploitation and destruction. She understands the need for natural resources for mortals to survive, but the exaggeration and overuse without regrowing are what she stands against. This continues into unnatural threats, where she wishes for the destruction of abominations and other mockeries of nature. The undead and reconstructed creatures fall into the category that Melora wishes to be destroyed. But this line doesn't go too far and the Wild Mother embraces and respects the savage nature of the world. We must all exist in harmony with it.

Divine Relationships

The most tempestuous relationship exists between Melora and her lover Erathis. It is a furious and powerful love that is tempered only when civilization and nature are in balance. This relationship is the most looked after by the mortals. The druids of Melora and the clerics of Erathis are in constant work throughout Taridad because when the lovers quarreling influences the world, small battles between settlements and nature break out.
A smaller connection exists between the Raven Queen. Followers of the Raven Queen also show respect to the Wild Mother as the caretaker of what remains when the Matron of Death's work is done. In another direction, Followers of Melora respect the natural process the Raven Queen clerics protect. 
Iroas and Gruumsh are harbingers of warfare, which is always devastating to the natural world. Melora is virtually incapable of distinguishing between the "noble" and "brutal" aspects of their shared bailiwick, considering all forms of war a senseless waste of life and energy.