Silvanus (Forgotten Realms)
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| Forgotten Realms Deity | |
|---|---|
| Silvanus | |
| Title(s) | Oak Father, Forest Father, Treefather |
| Homeplane | House of Nature |
| Power Level | Greater |
| Alignment | True Neutral |
| Portfolio | Wild, nature, druids |
| Superior | |
Silvanus, the Forest Father is a fictional deity of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting devised by Ed Greenwood. Silvanus is considered the god of wild nature and druids, one of the most prominent and eldest deities in Faerûn, and the wilder counterpart to Chauntea the Earth-Mother. His worshipers protect places of nature from the enroachment of civilisation with vigour and are implacable foes of industrious peoples.
Like Oghma, Loviatar, Tyr, Mielikki, and others, Silvanus is among the deities described in the 1st edition AD&D book Deities & Demigods. Like Oghma, Silvanus is taken from the Celtic pantheon described in that book, supposedly having been active in more than one plane of existence. See also Silvanus (mythology), though he is more primarily based on the Celtic Sucellos, who was assimilated into Silvanus in Roman times.
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[edit] Overview
Silvanus is a True Neutral Greater Deity. His symbol is a green living oak tree leaf, his divine realm is the Deep Forest in the House of Nature, and his Third Edition D&D domains are Animal, Plant, Protection, Renewal, and Water.
Silvanus appears to mortals most commonly as a withered, timeworn, bearded man, usually levitating amongst scenes of nature, like trees, possibly springing from an old, large oak tree. As the Young Strider, however, he appears as a long-limbed young man covered in an armour made of oak leaves. He carries an enchanted maul hammer, "The Great Mallet of Silvanus", and mauls are his clergy's favored weapon.
[edit] Worshippers
The Church of Silvanus is a pervasive influence, especially across the continent of Faerûn. Non-worshippers often do not view the Church favourably due to its tendency to disrupt expansion into woodland, sometimes with violence. Examples of rituals for worship are entreaties for spells at sundown or in moonlight. The 'Dryad Dance', is a replenishing ritual of wild, wayward dance that calls out dryads to join the ritualists for mating. Most Silvanite clerics (sometimes referred to as Forest Masters) also function as druids or rangers.
[edit] History & Relationships
Silvanus has no superiors. Silvanus is a long-time ally of Chauntea, despite their clergies' differences. He is also allied with Lathander. He is served directly by Eldath and Mielikki, whom some call his daughters, and indirectly by Gwaeron Windstrom, Lurue and Shiallia. Silvanus resents the destructive nature of the storm lord, Talos, and the Lady of Poison Talona, who encourages disease beyond what is natural. Silvanus reserves his greatest hatred for the Beastlord Malar and its followers, and works against his insatiable bloodlust at every opportunity. Silvanus despises life-threatening impulses in anything.
Among the Celtic pantheon from which he emerged, Silvanus has no allies or enemies. He dwells in Tir na Og, the Celtic realm, alone in a place full of dense vegetation.
[edit] Beliefs
Silvanus believes in the preservation and balance of nature. He is one of the most observational and detached gods, yet quite philosophical, believing that one should examine the whole situation of things, rather than resorting the most efficient or popular solution. He is an environmentalist, believing that all forms of nature should be preserved, and any attempts to destroy nature must be vigorously opposed. Most of his followers work to preserve Balance between all opposing forces outside of nature too, leading to most being True Neutral in alignment, like Jaheira from the computer game Baldur's Gate II.
[edit] References
- Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
- Martin, Julia, and Eric L Boyd. Faiths & Avatars (TSR, 1996).
- McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996).
