Erevan Ilesere

Erevan Illesere: The Trickster, The Chameleon, The Green Changeling, The Evershifting Shapechanger, The Fey Jester, The Jack of the Seelie Court

Symbol: Nova star with asymmetrical rays
Home Plane: Arvandor (The Gnarl)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Mischief, Change, Rogues
Domains: Chaos, Elf, Luck, Trickery
Worshipers: Bards, Elves, Revelers, Rogues, Sorcerers, Tricksters
Aliases: N/A
Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, CE
Favored Weapon: “Quickstrike” (Shortsword)

History/Relationships: Erevan Illesere (Pronounced Air-eh-van Ill-eh-seer) is the Elven deity of mischief and change, and the patron of Elven and Half-Elven Rogues. The Trickster's following is not as large as most of the rest of the Seldarine, for Erevan is too unpredictable for most Elves.

Nevertheless, he commands his share of attention from the Fair Folk, particularly by those engaged in thievery or other forms of knavery, those who seek excitement so as to alleviate the boredom of near-immortality, as well as many young Elves who seek a life of adventure and danger. Some members of the Sylvan races, such as Pixies, Sprites, and Leprechauns, also revere Erevan but the majority of such Fey beings revere the deities of the Seelie Court.

The Trickster often seeks the company of similarly inclined powers of other pantheons, for the patience of his fellow Elven powers has been worn thin by eons of endless pranks at their expense. Despite his fickle nature, however, Erevan is fiercely devoted to the Seldarine, and the other Elven powers know that they can count on him to come to their aid should they require it.

Erevan is part of an informal group of mischief makers that includes Brandobaris, Garl Glittergold, and Tymora. He likes to play pranks with them- and on them-, and as a result, he has made a few enemies among the more serious and sober of powers of many pantheons. The list includes, but is not limited to Helm, Torm, Tyr, and the majority of the Dwarven pantheon. The Fey Jester does not much care, though, as long as he is having a great time.

The Trickster's favorite companion is Avachel, an aspect of the draconic power Hlal, also known as Aasterinian or Quicksilver. The Trickster and Quicksilver are almost never separated and their adventures are legendary among younger elves who dream of emulating the mythic duo's daring exploits.

Erevan Illesere has long-standing rivalries with other Rogue powers, including Beshaba, Mask, and Vhaeraun, for their cruelty and greed offends the Tricksters light-hearted nature. He also opposes Lolth, and the Anti-Seldarine, as does his fellow Seldarine members.

Erevan is a fickle, utterly unpredictable power that can change his appearance at will. He is one of the most fun-loving powers in the multiverse, and he seems incapable of remaining still or concentrating on a single task for any extended period of time. The Trickster enjoys causing trouble for its own sake, but his pranks are rarely either helpful or deadly. However, Erevan becomes very dangerous if Sylvan races or weak Elven groups are threatened, as he has no tolerance for that.

The Trickster's weakness for fine wine has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion, but his vows to swear off the grape only last long enough to refill his glass. Erevan's fancies are as fleering as a desert rain, and he is attracted to mortals who make their own luck. He does not appreciate those who constantly rely on his favor to get by, and he abandons those who persistently rely on his unwavering assistance. The fickle Trickster, however, often grants mortals who rely on themselves a helping hand.

Erevan Illesere’s deific realm, known as the Gnarl, is a sprawling, shifting palace, made of various natural resources, such as wood, stone, crystal, gold, and so on. Because the Trickster is so often away, wandering the multiverse, he leaves his palace in the care of his Proxy. If she is not readily available, he leaves it in the care of his petitioners. At all times, even when the Trickster is present, the Gnarl is set with multiple traps and tricks that would confound even the best in the trade.

Dogma: Change and excitement are the spice of life. Live on the edge, unbound by the conventions of society in a spirit of constant self-reinvention. Puncture the self-righteousness, sanctimony, and pretension that pervades orderly society with mischievous pranks that both amuse and enlighten.

Inspire laughter and happiness, giddy silliness, and welcome release from care so that the routine of day-to-day existence does not become worn so deep that it grinds all the joy from life. Celebrate the spontaneous, and practice random acts of helpfulness.

Avatar/Manifestations: The Fey Jester appears as an Elf, Brownie, Aerie, Pixie, Sprite, or other Sylvan creature. But, because Erevan Illesere is ever changing his appearance. Therefore, it is possible to encounter the Green Changling without even realizing it. Erevan always wears green somewhere upon his person, a sign of his love of the woodlands the Fair Folk call home.

Erevan rarely manifests himself directly, instead preferring to dispatch an avatar to any unfolding event that catches his attention. When he does manifest, the Trickster's influence is as often disruptive as it is helpful. Typical manifestations include the gradual appearance of a green haze that creates a temporary wild magic zone or unleashes the effects of a spell such as chaos or chaotic combat or a wand such as a wand of endless repetition or a wand of wonder.

Erevan Illesere normally demonstrates his favor to his followers by blessing them with lucky coincidences, such as discovering lost possessions, or finding lucky trinkets. He demonstrates his disfavor by cursing his followers with bad luck, such as the loss of valued small items, or minor misfortune.

Agents/Petitioners: The Seldarine normally calls on Agathinon, Asuras, and Ancient Treants as their preferred servants, but Erevan Illesere is also served by Aasimar, Asrai, Atomies, Bacchae, Bariaurs, Cath Shee, Centaurs, Change Cats, Chaos Beasts, Chaos Imps, Coo Shee, Copper Dragons, Crystal Dragons, Dopplegangers, Dryads, Einheriar, Eladrins (Coures), Elven Cats, Elevs, Ethyks, Faerie Dragons, Faerie Fiddlers, Feystags, Firestars, Firetails, Frosts, Grigs, Gorse, Hamadryads, Hybsils, Kenku, Kholiathra, Korred, Leprechauns, Luck Eaters, Magebanes, Mercury Dragons, Monkey Spiders, Nixies, Nymphs, Ooze Sprites, Oreads, Pixies, Pseudodragons, Raccoons, Ratatosk, Reverend Ones, Satyrs, Sea Sprites, Seelie Faeries, Sprites, Sunflies, Sylphs, Tressym, Vortexes, and Weredragons.

The Trickster has a single proxy, a Moon Elf by the name of Filane Mantrap, and a Chosen, Fox-at-Twilight. Evervan has blessed her with the ability to accurately appraise all objects within a few feet. While roaming, she often likes to unnerve others by telling them how much they are carrying, and how much it is all worth. She can also Shadow-walk at will, to escape stick situations.

The Church of Erevan Illesere: Erevan Illesere represents all that is chaotic and free in the Elven psyche. They share these ideas with many other Sylvan creatures. As a result, the Chuch of the Trickster includes many Sylvan creatures, besides for Elves. Elves make up the majority of the faith, however. Moon Elves and Wood Elves are the most common, but Half-Elf priests and priestess’, Sun Elf priest and priestess’ and other subraces exist, though they are much less common. There are slightly more males in his clergy than females, but the number is very close to being split evenly.

Because of the capricious and erratic nature of the Trickster, he allows no shrines or temples of himself in Faerûn. Of course, some of his followers have disobeyed him, and have erected shrines and temples in his honor. Erevan either does not care, or is secretly pleased with these followers for disobeying his orders.

Day-to-Day Activities: Priests of Erevan Illesere are wild, mischievous, independent, and utterly unpredictable, playing tricks on others for the sheer joy of it. They oppose settled interests of all sorts, and delight in upsetting both the rule of law and the powerful people who enforce it, and generally creating mayhem. They have little in the way of formal duties, and minister to the faithful primarily through example and instruction in the skills required of mischievous rogues.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Followers of Erevan gather monthly for a Midnight Gambol, which is held in a Sylvan glade beneath the light of the full moon. The exact location of each Midnight Gambol is a secret that is passed among the faithful by word of mouth in the days leading up to the event. Anyone who manages to discover the festivities through his or her own ingenuity is welcome to participate.

The mischief-loving subjects of the Seelie Court, particularly sprites and pixies, often join Erevan’s followers in their revels. Each Midnight Gambol includes the sacrifice of beautiful objects- most of which are “borrowed”-, dancing, wine drinking, tale telling, and endless prank playing.

Major Centers of Worship: Given the faith's restriction prohibiting followers of the Trickster from ever worshiping their god in the same place twice, it is not surprising that few temples of Erevan exist in the Realms. However, a few sacred sites, scattered throughout Faerûn, serve as the foci of pilgrimages by Erevan's most daring followers.

Overlooking the head of the Arglander River in the heart of the High lies a hidden cavern complex known as Quicksilver's Lair. Said to have once been the abode of Avachel, Erevan's Dragon companion, the legendary site is now the home of a clutch of mercury dragons, believed to be the descendants of Avachel.

The caverns house a vast store of beautiful objects, most of which were brought there by followers of the Trickster. The resident Wyrms guard the objects with care. If the tales of the Fair Folk are to believed, the greatest collection of relics from the ancient Elven realms of Eiellur, Syorpiir, Orishaar, and Thearnytaar is hidden here as well, assembled as those realms crumbled before the armies of Ilythiir.

All priests of the Trickster aspire to pray to their god once in their lives at Quicksilver's Lair, but the route to the site is a secret that each petitioner must discover separately. The High Peaks are said to be strewn with the lost treasures brought as offerings by those who failed to find the lair.

Affiliated Orders: While no formal military orders are associated with Erevan's church, countless bands and guilds of Elven and Half-Elven rogues have been founded in honor of the Trickster. A notable example is the Knaves of the Missing Page, a fellowship of Elven Spellfilchers (mage/thieves) based in the Vale of Evereska, but active throughout Faerûn. The Knaves specialize in the recovery of Elven magical artifacts, spell scrolls, and spell tomes that have been acquired by other races, particularly humans.

Priestly Vestments: The ceremonial garb of the Trickster's priesthood emphasizes the practical over the ornamental. His priests wear black leather armor and black leather caps, though their armor is often concealed by clothing, or cloaks. The holy symbol of the faith is a stolen trinket of some sort, which has been blessed by another priest or priestess, or the cleric him/herself. Each such holy symbol must be replaced by another stolen token at least once every tenday, though it pleases the Trickster if this is done more frequently, if at all possible.

Adventuring Garb: Priests of Erevan Illesere outfit themselves as is common for Rogues, favoring black leather armor or Elven chain mail for protection, and weapons such as clubs, daggers, darts, knives, lassos, long swords, short bows, slings, short swords, and staves. Magical items that facilitate thieving skills, as well as those that allow the wearer to alter his or her appearance or form are also highly prized.

Silenced Elven chain mail has each link of chain armor wrapped in thin leather or light cloth bunting. This to some extent silences the armor, at the cost of increasing its encumbrance by one-third and increasing its price significantly as well. And, of course, it is also much less common than ordinary Elven chain mail.