Ehlonna

Ehlonna

Title(s)
Ehlonna of the Forests, Goddess of the Woodlands
Symbol
A rearing unicorn
Alignment
Neutral Good
Portfolio
Forests, Woodlands, Plains, Flora, Fauna
Favored weapon
Longbow

Ehlonna (eh-LOAN-nuh) is commonly depicted as a a dark-haired half-elven woman, and often associates with unicorns and other sylvan creatures. 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.

Dogma

Ehlonna teaches that the animals and plants of the forests are gifts, and not to be stolen. She is often the goddess of rangers and druids and opposes those who would rape the land for fun or profit. Her relationship with Beory is strained.

Clergy

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 fae. 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.

Vestments

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 green.

Rituals

Ehlonna's services involve vessels of horn and wood, the playing of pipes and flutes, and various herbs. Ehlonna’s ceremonies take place in the forest when possible. Most cover various aspects of fertility, and children figure prominently in many.

Holy days and observances

• 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.

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.

Drømmen

A small cabin at the edge of town, known locally as the Silvicoli Seat, is a permanent shrine to the Goddess of the Woodlands. There is no permanent priest at the shrine but its upkeep is done by local worshipers and traveling rangers/clerics in the area who also perform services.

Of late there have been tensions due to the increased clearing of the forest for the barrel industry. Defenders of this practice say new trees are planted at the same rate as they are being cleared.

The most frequent visiting Silvicoli is Valter Sattob, a young human priest who is something of a firebrand and known for his skills with the ancient longbow "Clutch", which was bestowed upon him by his late mentor.

Kolinet

Forestview is a small wooden church built on the edge of the village in the style of an amphitheater with the open side towards the forest. When services are held the faithful look out at all the Goddess of the Woodlands has to offer.

The only permanent priest at the temple is Gayrlana Morim, a human woman of advanced age who is famed locally for the pies that she bakes.