Solonor Thelandira
| Solonor Thelandira | |
|---|---|
 Solonor Thelandira, as depicted in Dragon #60 (1982). | |
| General information | |
| Portfolio: | Archery, Hunting, Survival |
| Home: | Olympian Glades of Arborea |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Gender: | Male |
| Superior: | Corellon Larethian |
| Rules items | |
| Domains: | Animal, Celerity, Chaos, Good, Plant, War, Weather |
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. Solonor 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.
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 is never empty. He kills not for the sake of killing, but to maintain the balance of nature and to destroy evil. He does not close with his 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.
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
Worshippers
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.
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.
Bibliography
- Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Boyd, Eric L., and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- 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:[1]
- Gygax, Gary. Unearthed Arcana. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
- McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
- Moore, Roger E., and Georgia Moore. "The Gods of the Elves." Dragon #60. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
- Sargent, Carl. "The Elven Pantheon - Completed!" Dragon #191. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- -----. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.