Elven Pantheon

The elven pantheon, also known in elven as the Evanuris, comprises five gods and four goddess, whom the modern Dalish call the "Creators." The pantheon is led by Elgar'nan the All-Father, god of fatherhood and vengeance, and Mythal the Protector, goddess of mother hood and justice. There are also references in elven mythology to another race of gods, called "The Forgotten Ones," the enemies of the elven pantheon. It is said that Fen'Harel was the only one able to walk freely between the two clans, and they both thought of him as one of their own.
Interestingly, though the elven gods are responsible for the gifts of the world (and in some cases, for recreating it), they too were created by, and are not the creators of the world, according to elven belief. Unlike the Old Gods, these gods were never claimed to have walked in the mortal world, and have not directly challenged The Maker. Their current location is uncertain, as they do not, apparently, interact with the mortal world. However, elven belief holds that the Fade - or "Beyond" as it is known to the elves - is considered a holy place and the gods are trapped there in the "Eternal City."

Structure

The Pantheon is comprised of nine gods:

• Elgar'nan: God of Vengeance | Elgar'nan, also known as the All-Father, the Eldest of the Sun, and He Who Overthrew his Father, represents fatherhood and vengeance, and leads the pantheon with the goddess Mythal.
  
  
• Mythal: The Great Protector | Mythal, the Protector and the All-Mother, and Goddess of Love, is the patron of motherhood and justice and leads the pantheon with her male counterpart, Elgar'nan.
  
  
• Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, The Guide | Falon'Din is the elven God of Death and Fortune, and guides the dead to the Beyond. He and his twin brother, Dirthamen, are the eldest children of Elgar'nan and Mythal.
  
  
• Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets | Dirthamen is the twin brother of Falon'Din and is the elven god of secrets and knowledge, and master of the ravens Fear and Deceit. Dirthamen gave to elves the gift of knowledge and taught them loyalty and faith in humanity.
  
  
• Andruil: Goddess of the Hunt | Andruil is the elven Goddess of the Hunt, known also as "blood and force" and the "great hunter."
  
  
• Sylaise: The Hearthkeeper | Sylaise, the Hearthkeeper, is the goddess of all the domestic arts, and the sister of Andruil. Sylaise gave the elves fire, and taught them how to weave rope and thread, and to use herbs and magic for healing purposes.
  
  
• June : God of the Craft | June is the elven Master of Crafts. He is variously described as either a brother to Andruil and Sylaise, or as Sylaise's husband. He taught the elves to make bows, arrows, and knives to hunt Andruil's gifts.
  
  
• Ghilan'nain: Mother of the Halla | Ghilan'nain is called the Mother of the halla - white deer-like creatures revered by the Dalish and used to pull their aravel, or landships - and goddess of navigation.
  
  
• Fen'Harel: The Dread Wolf | The Dread Wolf is an enigmatic trickster god of the elves, whose supposed betrayal of both the benevolent Creators and the malefic Forgotten Ones is the only explanation most elves have for the destruction of Arlathan. Dalish clans view him with wariness and seek to protect themselves and their kin from his treachery. It has been said that this could also be a misinterpretation by the Dalish, and instead Fen'Harel was the god of rebellion.

History

In elven history, orbs called "foci" were sometimes used to channel the power of the elven gods for various reasons. These items were usually associated with a particular member of the elven pantheon.
The elven pantheon was revered in the time of Elvhenan, before the humans came to Thedas. Little is known about how the gods were worshiped at this time, except that the gods had temples with guards in specially made armor, the elves worshiped their gods for months at a time, and that worship may have included rituals involving water and kneeling and praying before altars.
Once the elves found that the very presence of the humans, or "quicklings," caused the once immortal elves to age and die, they attempted to isolate themselves. Many believed that the gods had judged them unworthy of their long lives and cast them down among the quicklings. This was discredited by Solas - an elven apostate - who said that the elves had in fact lost their immortality due to the creation of the Veil and not the Tevinter Imperium.
In 9:44 Dragon, Inquisitor Merai Lavellan uncovered the reality that the Elven Gods were in fact phenomenally powerful mages who rose in prominence after the end of an unknown war. Solas implied that the Evanuris started out as generals during the war, then respected elders, and finally were revered as gods. They started out as heroes of the famed war, eventually becoming corrupt tyrants in order to hoard and maintain their own power.

The Evanuris institutionalized a system of slavery using Vallaslin as a brand, with only Fen'Harel (and more subtly, Mythal) challenging their tyranny. Most of the gods were arrogant in their ways, their power and attitudes more akin to the Tevinter Magisters. Eventually, the other Evanuris plotted against Mythal and killed her, prompting Fen'Harel to lead a rebellion against them and later creating the Veil to banish them into the Beyond.

Worship

Vallaslin: Blood Writing

When a Dalish elf comes of age, they are marked with intricate tattoos representing one of the elven gods. The tattooing is preceded by meditation on the gods, and by purifying the body and the skin. It is not known whether this practice was part of the worship of elven gods in ancient Elvhenan, or is a more recent development.
It has been claimed recently that ancient vallaslin is, in fact, a practice that was used by the nobles to mark their slaves in times of ancient Arlathan, with each pattern representing the god favored by the slave's master. Modern vallaslin, however, has different intents, including representing that the Dalish will never surrender their traditions or beliefs.

Sects

The Forgotten Ones

There are references in elven mythology to another race of gods: gods of evil, with whom the gods of the elven pantheon fought an endless war. These gods are now known as the Forgotten Ones, and for good reason, as even the hahren or elven elders, know little to nothing about them. According to legend, they - along with the elven pantheon - were trapped away from the world at around the time of the fall of Arlathan.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Divines

• Dirthamen
• Elgar'nan
• Falon'Din
• Ghilan'nain

Controlled Territories

• Arlathan