Solonor Thelandira
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | Keen-Eye, the Great Archer, the Forest Hunter |
| Home plane | Olympian Glades of Arborea |
| Power level | Intermediate |
| Alignment | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio | Archery, hunting |
| Domains | Chaos, Good, Plant, War (also Elf in Forgotten Realms) |
| Superior | Corellon Larethian |
| Design details | |
In the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms, Solonor Thelandira is the elven god of hunting, archery, and survival in wild and harsh places. He teaches his followers the arts of hunting; including archery, moving unseen and hiding in wild places. He watches over the borders of wilderness and farmed land and seeks to maintain the balance between them. His symbol is a silver arrow with green fletching, and his sacred animal is the stag.
In many campaign settings, the elven pantheon of gods (also known as the Seldarine) consists of the leader Corellon Larethian, as well as Aerdrie Faenya, Deep Sashelas, Erevan Ilesere, Fenmarel Mestarine, Hanali Celanil, Labelas Enoreth, Rillifane Rallathil, Sehanine Moonbow, Shevarash, and Solonor Thelandira. Other elven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Publication history
Solonor Thelandira was first detailed in Roger E. Moore's article "The Elven Point of View," in Dragon #60 (TSR, 1982).[1] In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk setting.[2] He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana (1985).[3]
Solonor Thelandira was detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.[4] His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).[5] He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms in Demihuman Deities (1998).[6] He is described as one of the good deities that celestials can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).[7]
Solonor Thelandira's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[8]
Description
Solonor is never in one place for long, as he is always hunting. His magical bow can fire as far as the horizon and his quiver that never empties. He hunts not to kill for killing's sake but to maintain the balance of nature and to destroy evil. He does not close with foes, but tracks them and shoots from a distance. He can create an arrow of slaying, and if this strikes home it will kill all enemies. Many fiends have fallen to a single shot.
Relationships
Solonor is on good terms with his fellow Seldarine, especially with Fenmarel Mestarine. In fact, some say Fenmarel and Solonor are brothers. The Great Archer works with Shevarash to defend elven homelands from the drow but does not have that god's hatred and bitterness of heart. Solonor's advocacy of sport hunting draws him into conflict with Rillifane Rallathil, who believes in hunting for survival only. Despite this, Solonor strongly believes in the balance of nature, and instructs his followers to avoid sport hunting in forests Rillifane protects.
Among the non-elven powers, Solonor is closely allied with other deities concerned with the natural world, including Skerrit the Forester, and the various Animal Lords, particularly those concerned with hunting.
Solonor despises powers that favor despoliation over nature, and actively opposes the efforts of such gods and their followers. His greatest foes are Lolth and the Queen of Air and Darkness and the Unseelie Court.
Realm
Solonor lives in the realm of Arvandor on the plane of Arborea. His domain is near the Pale Tree, a white tree with silver leaves thought to have mystical powers.
Dogma
Walk in harmony with nature and oppose the efforts of those who would disturb her delicate balance. Preserve the wild places from excessive encroachment, and work with those who would settle the land to preserve the beauty that first attracted them. Hunt only for sustenance, culling the old and the weak from the herd so that all species may prosper. Like an arrow in flight, it is difficult to arrest the consequences of an action. Choose your targets carefully, for an ill-considered action can have a long-reaching impact.
Worshippers
Solonor is primarily revered by elven and half-elven rangers, hunters, woodsmen, and fighters. In particular, elven hunters appeal to him for better catches of game and elven warriors trapped in hostile territory call on him for aid. In recent centuries a few humans, primarily hunters, have joined his faith as well.
Clergy
Priests of Solonor dress in elven chainmail and silver, wearing robes with leaf-green hoods. His priests pray and meditate when the moon reaches its highest point.
Temples and rituals
Services to Solonor are conducted in deep forests. Monthly sacrifices of hunting trophies are made to him.
Campaign settings
Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, Solonor is also closely allied with Silvanus the Oakfather, and Mielikki, Lady of Forests, another goddess with which he has been romantically linked.
His greatest foes are Malar and Talos.
Greyhawk
Solonor is worshipped chiefly in elf-ruled lands, such as Celene, Highfolk, Sunndi, and the Duchy of Ulek; or in realms with large elven populations, such as Ahlissa, Geoff, Keoland, and Veluna.
References
- ↑ Moore, Roger E. "The Elven Point of View." Dragon #60 (TSR, April 1982)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary (December 1984). "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Clerics live by other rules". Dragon (Lake Geneva WI: TSR) (92): 22.]
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Unearthed Arcana (TSR, 1985)
- ↑ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
- ↑ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
- ↑ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
- ↑ Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven (TSR, 1999)
- ↑ Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:
- Sargent, Carl. "The Elven Pantheon - Completed!" Dragon #191. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"