Seldarine

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The Seldarine (Tel'Seldarine in the elvish language) is the name of the pantheon of the good and neutral elven gods in many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name roughly translates as "the fellowship of brothers and sisters of the wood." The Seldarine are led by the greater deity Corellon Larethian. Their home plane is Arvandor (part of Arborea/Mount Olympus).

The members of the Seldarine are:

Dragon magazine expanded the pantheon to include (though this expansion is not considered canon):

  • Araleth Letheranil—a demipower.
  • Alathrien Druanna—a demipower.
  • Darahl Firecloak—a demipower.
  • Kirith Sotheril—a lesser power.
  • Melira Taralen—a lesser power.
  • Naralis Analor—a lesser power.
  • Rellavar Danuvien—a lesser power, "The Frost Sprite King" and a lesser god of snow elves.
  • Sarula Iliene—a lesser power and patron deity of nixies.
  • Tethrin Veraldé—a lesser power.
  • Tarsellis Meunniduin—patron deity of the snow elves of Greyhawk & the snow elves of the High Ice region of the Anauroch in Faerun. Also called the "Lord of Mountains".

Not truly part of the Seldarine but venerated by surface elves and associated with the Seldarine are:

  • Eilistraee—Corellon's daughter and patron deity of good drow elves (actually a member of the Dark Seldarine). Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.
  • Khalreshaar—primary deity of half-elves and an elven aspect of Mielikki. Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.
  • Trishina—consort of Deep Sashelas.
  • Zandilar the Dancer—a forgotten elven deity of the Yuirwood elves and now an aspect of the goddess Sharess. Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.

Some of the wild elves of the Forgotten Realms also venerate beast-totems known as Bear, Eagle, Raven, and Wolf, all aspects of Deep Sashelas.

[edit] Dark Seldarine

The Dark Seldarine is the name given to the fallen, evil deities of the subterreanean drow elves. They are not truly a pantheon in the same way the Seldarine are, though, as they do not co-operate. The Dark Seldarine are led by Lolth, whose power sometimes forces the others into obeying her. Their planes are various layers of the Abyss in 2nd Edition D&D and is the Demonweb Pits in the Third Edition cosmology.

Including Lolth the Dark Seldarine are:

  • Eilistraee—Lolth's daughter and patron deity of good drow elves (more closely associated with the Seldarine). Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.
  • Ghaunadaur—an elemental deity adopted into the drow pantheon. Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.
  • Kiaransalee—patron deity of undead drow elves.
  • Lolth (once Araushnee of the Seldarine)—primary deity of the drow elves.
  • Selvetarm—Lolth's grandson and Champion. Exclusive to the Forgotten Realms.
  • Vhaeraun—Lolth's son and patron deity of disaffected male drow elves.
  • Zinzerena—a demipower of assassins killed and absorbed as an aspect of Lolth during the Forgotten Realms' Time of Troubles.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998).
  • McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996).
  • Reimer, David S. "In the Frost and the Snow." Dragon #155 (TSR, 1990). Available online: [1]