Hanali Celanil

Hanali Celanil: The Heart of Gold, Winsome Rose, Archer of Love, Kiss of Romance, Lady Goldheart

Symbol: A heart of gold
Home Plane: Arvandor (Hanali Celanil’s Crystal Palace)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Artists, Artistic Craftsmanship, Beauty, Enchantments, Fine Art, Love, Romance
Domains: Chaos, Charm, Elf, Good, Magic, Protection
Worshipers: Aesthetes, Artists, Enchanters, Lovers, Sorcerers
Aliases: Angharradh
Cleric Alignments: NG, CG, CN
Favored Weapon: “A Shining Heart” (Dagger)

History/Relationships: Hanali Celanil (Proununced HAN-uh-lee SELL-uh-nihl) is the Elven goddess of love, romance, and beauty. Lady Goldheart is almost always depicted as a female, although, on rare occasions, it is said that she has taken the form of a male. Hanali Celanil is revered especially by gold elves and moon elves. Her followers also include Elven artisans- particularly sculptor-, lovers, performers- particularly Bards and dancers-, and nobles.

Lady Goldheart is also widely revered by Half-Elves born of joyous unions, in honor of the love that brought their parents together. Hanali Celanil is also closely associated with Evergold, a sacred crystal fountain and pool found within her crystal palace in Arvandor. She keeps watch over her followers by using the placid waters of Evergold as an immense crystal ball, and philters of love that are created by Elves are said to contain drafts of this fountain's waters.

Hanali is both an aspect of Angharradh, and one of the three Elven goddesses who collectively form the Triune Goddess. This special bond tightly binds Hanali Celanil with the other two Elven goddesses- Aerdrie Faenya, and Sehanine Moonbow-, and the three collectively serve alongside Corellon in leading the Seldarine.

Hanali has been romantically involved with nearly every member of the Seldarine, particularly Erevan Ilesere, yet she remains amicable with nearly all of her current and former suitors alike. The only notable exception is Fenmarel Mestarine, although he and Lady Goldheart are still formally allied. The Lone Wolf resents the fact that Hanali Celanil spurned him long ago, in favor of Erevan Ilesere. Some believe that it was the Archer of Love’s fickleness that drove Fenmarel Mestarine into the embrace of Lolth.

Hanali shares the waters of Evergold with the human goddess, Sune, as well as the demigoddess, Sharess. A friendly, but intense rivalry exists between Lady Firehair and Lady Goldheart, over the innate superiority of Human beauty, as compared to Elven beauty. Hanali is close to the human goddess Sharess, because the two have similar interests, and because Sharess was once Zandilar the Dancer, an Elven demigoddess of the Yuir Elves.

While Verenestra, the patron goddess of Dryads, Nymphs, and Sylphs, is rather jealous and used to snobbishly avoid contact with other goddesses of beauty, love, or romance. Hanali Celanil’s kind nature has finally won over the Oak Princess, making the two fast friends and allies.

Lady Goldheart actively opposes the efforts of those powers who would destroy beauty and love, such as Talos, or those who nurture bitterness and heartache, such as Shar. Hanali Celanil has a particularly deep enmity for Eshebala, the Queen of the Foxwomen. This is rooted in the latter's exploitation of both beauty and love, for her own self-serving, vain, and hedonistic reasons.

Other allies of the Winsome Rose include Eachthighern, Eilistraee, Cyrrollalee, Isis, Lliira, Lurue, Milil, Sharess, Sharindlar, Sheela Peryroyl, Tymora, and the Seldarine. Other foes include Bane, Cyric, Moander, who is now dead, Shar, Talona, Talos, Auril, Malar, Umberlee, the Anti-Seldarine and the Orc pantheon

Hanali is a being of timeless beauty and benign nature, who always forgives minor transgressions, and delights in rewarding her followers with the bliss of unexpected love and affection. She embodies the romance, beauty, love, and joy in Elven spirits, her only flaws being her own mild vanity and flighty nature. Although she rarely appears to her faithful, Hanali delights in seeing the growth of love among Elves, and her avatar often acts in secret to protect young lovers.

Hanali Celanil’s deific realm, the Crystal Palace, stands at the center of Lake Evergold. The structure, made entirely of glass and crystal, is of perfect design. It is said that it only takes a single beam of sunlight to illuminate the entire structure. At the heart of the Crystal Palace is a magical fountain, containing Evergold. This fountain exists in the human goddess Sune’s realm and the same time, and functions as a portal between the two realms.

Dogma: Life is worth living because of the beauty found in the world and the love that draws twin hearts together. Nurture what is beautiful in life, and let beauty's glow enliven and brighten the lives of those around you. The greatest joy is the rapture of newfound love and the tide of romance that sweeps over those wrapped in its embrace.

Seek out and care fore love wherever it takes root and bring it to its fullest bloom so that all may share in the joy and beauty it creates. Always give shelter and succor to young lovers, for their hearts are the truest guides to life's proper course.

Avatar/Manifestations: Hanali Celanil appears as a beautiful Elven maiden, clad in a short cut dress, or gown, made of pure white and gold. Her hair is a fiery red-blonde, and is falls freely from her head. The clothing she wears leaves very little of her lithe, voluptuous body to the imagination. She is always barefoot, and wears gold anklets and toe rings. She wears a perfume, it is said, that causes the hormones of any creature to spike, especially those in Elves.

Hanali can also manifest as a rosy-hued nimbus of light that envelops a creature or object. When Hanali's aura envelops an Elf, Half-Elf, Faerie or other creature of the Seelie Court, he or she becomes irresistible to those of the opposite sex, or to those of the same sex who enjoy the company of others of their gender. While Hanali Celanil’s glow usually fades with the coming of dusk, or dawn, an Elven worshiper may, no more than once during his or her lifetime, receive a permanent boost to their attractiveness, often as a reward for creating or preserving a beautiful object, making a great sacrifice, or completing a great quest for the benefit of a loved one. This manifestation of Lady Goldheart also allows the recipient to detect all romantic interests in other Elves and Fey/Sylvan creatures for the duration of the effect.

Hanali manifests in common items, by transforming them into works of art discreetly marked by her symbol. An item so blessed by Lady Goldheart is notable for its grace, beauty, and artistry. Such transformations are permanent, unless the item is question is stolen, defaced, or sold for less than honorable reasons, in which case the transformed object reverts to its normal form. Acceptable reasons for selling such an object include raising money to feed and/or clothe one's family, trading the work of art in exchange for a person's life or freedom, or similar noble pursuits. If the buyer does not meet Lady Goldheart's approval, the item in question may revert back into it’s original form after the seller has departed.

The Archer of Love expresses her favor to her followers by guiding them to places of unspoiled natural beauty, having them hear the tinkling of bellflowers, creating spontaneous rainbows that last only moments, being caught in sun showers, feeling the heat of a lover’s flush and by filling them with orgasmic ecstasy. She shows her displeasure by briefly casting a shadow over an item of great beauty, by creating a fleeting vision of the face of a lost love, or a lost item, and by decreasing their sexual performance.

Agents/Petitioners: Hanali Celanil is served by Aasimar, Aasimon, Agathinon, Ancient Treants, Asrai, Asuras, Atomies, Cathshee, Celadrin, Cooshee, Dryads, Einheriar, Eladrin, Electrum Dragons, Elven Cats, Elves, Faerie Dragons, Firestars, Frosts, Gorse, Hamadryads, Hollyphants, Liholiathra, Lillendi, Mercury Dragons, Nereids, Nixies, Nymphs, Oreads, Pixies, Reverend Ones, Satyrs, Sea Sprites, Seelie Faeries, Sirines, Sylphs, Sprites, Stwingers, Sunflies, Titans, and Tressym.

Henali Celanil has two proxies. Llewellyn and Llyssa Longleaves are two Moon Elf twins of exceptional beauty. They are incredibly attractive to all mortals, including Orcs, who have different standards for beauty. It is said, though, that they pale in comparison to their mistress. Llewellyn has been blessed to be able to turn any smooth surface into enchanted mirrors, while her sister, Llyssa can control any kind of flowing plant she lays eyes on.

The Church of Hanali Celanil: The influence of Lady Goldheart’s church can be found in nearly every single Elven settlement, except for Drow cities. Her church is very popular among Sun Elves, Moon Elves, Wood Elves and Half-Elves. Other Elven subraces still revere her, however. Star Elves and Lythari give her thanks for their extraplanar, Faerie-like realms, Avariel give her thanks for the beauty that living high up in the sky affords, and Aquatic Elves give her thanks for all of the beauty that can be found undersea.

Temples of Hanali Celanil are bright and beautiful, with fountains and springs, exotic gardens, magical effects, jewels of all different shapes, sizes and colors. Most of her temples are designed with young lovers in mind, so her temples always include “romantic” things- babbling brooks, small waterfalls, shady paths, quiet pools, leafy bowers, flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors. Interior chambers are designed to allow sunlight, moonlight and breezes to flow through. Many temples house great works of art, and act as museums. Other times, they are designed like great concert halls, to express verbal forms of art.

Novice priests and priestess’ of Hanali Celanil’s church are called Beauteous. Fully consecrated priests and priestess’ are called Paramours. Titles used in her church include Dove, Suitor, Lover, Libertine, Soft Caress, Heart’s Desire, Fiery Ardor,and Goldheart.

The church of Hanali Celanil is as diverse as is Corellon Larethian’s clergy. Sun Elves and Moon Elves make up the majority of the church, but other subraces that are represented in Lady Goldheart’s clergy include Aquatic Elves, Drow Elves, Half-Elves, Wild Elves, Winged Elves, and Wood Elves. The church is evenly split between males and females, with there being slightly more priestess’ in the church than priests.

Day-to-Day Activities: Hanali Celanil’s priests and priestess’ are flighty bunch, and are somewhat vain, given to dancing and wild revels at any time. The hierarchy is loosely organized, and Clerics are free to join or leave the church as they wish. Paramours preside over marriage and rites of passage ceremonies for young elves, although they are not required to marry, for Hanali's concern is love, and not necessarily marriage.

Members of Hanali's clergy spend their days cultivating beauty and love in all their forms. Many of Lady Goldheart's priests tend fine gardens, white others amass personal or temple-based collections of gems, crystal sculptures, and other fine works of art. While things of gold and crystal, particularly jewelry and statues, are favored, beautiful art in any form is admired, collected, and displayed. Hanali's Clerics are always finely dressed, and displaying one's personal beauty to its best advantage is a requirement of every priest and priestess of the Heart of Gold.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: While Hanali Celanil’s priests and priestess’ are given to frequent impromptu revels, their greatest celebrations are held every month, beneath the bright light of the full moon. These holy days are known as Secrets of the Heart, because it is on these nighttime revels that romantically involved participants are said to experience the full bloom of their affections on such nights, allowing them to evaluate the strength of their feelings. Likewise, the inner beauty of all celebrants visibly manifests as a rosy glow in their cheeks and eyes for days thereafter.

Offerings of objects of great beauty are made to Lady Goldheart during such holy festivals, some of which are swept into Arvandor, while others are returned to be shared among all of Hanali's followers. It is not uncommon for artists to unveil their latest work at such holy days, nor is it rare for young lovers to either pledge their troth secretly or proclaim it to all assembled, for doing so is said to invite Hanali's favor.

Major Centers of Worship: The Vale of Evereska is a wide, alpine valley with an inner ring of knolls surrounding the center of the valley. The three highest hills, known as the Sisters, form a fairly even triangle around the city of Evereska. The highest hill of the three, Bellcrest, is the site of Hanali's temple, an enormous structure of white marble and moonstone, surrounded by gardens that bloom year-round, with rare flowers and exotic fruits. The Fountainheart of Shimmering Gold, as the temple is known, has housed countless Evereskan weddings, revels, and dances, and in addition to displaying works of Evereska's greatest artisans, it holds many greatest artistic treasures from other Elven civilizations, such as Ascalhom, Eaerlann, Illefarn, Myth Drannor, and Sharrven.

A beautiful statue of Hanali Celanil within the city of Evereska itself is also the site of many pilgrims. Until recently, very few were aware that the statue, which was located roughly in the center of the city, had a very special purpose. This statue also served as the anchor of Evereska’s Mythal. The war against the Phaerimm, and the reweaving of the city’s Mythal marred the beauty of the statue, but it has since been repaired, and the sculpture of Lady Goldheart looks as ravishing as ever.

Affiliated Orders: The Chaperones of the Moonlight Tryst are a fellowship of romantically inclined Rogues and Rangers who discretely safeguard young Elven lovers from those who would take advantage of their distraction and/or innocence. Members of this merry band are also called on occasionally to facilitate secret meetings between lovers of rival houses, or to aid them in eloping against their family's wishes. Chaperones of the Moonlight Tryst usually work closely with the priests of the local temple of Hanali Celanil, as those who serve Lady Goldheart often receive the confidences of those struck by the arrows of the Archer of Love. The Chaperones of the Moonlight Tryst also often receive aid from followers of Erevan Illesere. The lighthearted tricksters particularly enjoy aiding the Chaperones in facilitating secret marriages, or in aiding young couples in eloping.

Priestly Vestments: Hanali Celanil’s priesthood prides themselves on the stunning beauty of their clerical vestments. Paramours wear golden robes, sprinkled with gold dust. They wear their hair long, and unbound, without any covering. Gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and earrings are common adornments on a paramour’s body. The holy symbol of the faith is either a miniature gold rose or a miniature gold stylized heart. Both forms of Hanali's holy symbol are often worn as a brooch or necklace.

Adventuring Garb: Hanali's priests and priestess’ are drawn to romantic quests like moths to a flame, and thus they take to adventuring a lot more often than one might otherwise expect. In dangerous situations, Hanali Celanil’s followers must strike a balance between beauty and pragmatism. Clerics favor weapons and armor that are a beauty to behold, emphasizing the natural Elven grace of their bearer. Yet at the same time, they make sure that these arms and armors also guard against any weapon strike or spell that might mar their natural beauty.

As such, the priesthood of Lady Goldheart prefers Chainmail- especially that of Elven make, if it is available-, shields, and weapons unlikely to bring them into melee combat, or to disfigure the appearance of an opponent.