Rillfane Rallathil

Rillifane Rallathil:

Symbol: Oak Tree
Home Plane: Arvandor, (Oak Grove)
Alignment: CG
Portfolio: Woodlands, Nature, Wood Elves, Druids
Domains: Chaos, Elf, Fey, Good, Plant, Protection
Worshipers: Druids, rangers, wild elves
Aliases: Bear, Eagle, Magnar the Bear, Raven, Relkath of the Infinite Branches, Wolf
Cleric Alignments: NG, CG, CN
Favored Weapon: The Oakstaff

History/Relationships: Rillifane Rallathil (Pronounced RILL-ih-fane RALL-uh-thihl) is protector of the woodlands, and guardian of the harmony of nature. He is often likened by his priests and priestess’ to a giant ethereal oak tree, so huge that its roots mingle with the roots of every other plant in the Realms, that stands at the heart of Arvandor. The great tree draws into itself all the ebb and flow of seasons, and lives within the woodlands of the Green Elves. At the same time, it defends and sustains those lands against disease, predation, and assaults of all kinds. The Leaflord is the patron of the Sy’Tel'Quessir and revered by many Voadkyn, as well. Rillifane Rallathil is quiet, reflective, and enduring. He is the least flighty of all the Seldarine, the least likely to act on a whim, and often grave and self-absorbed.

When the Sy’Tel'Quessir settled the Yuirwood, the Seldarine merged with the ancient gods of the Yuir, transforming them into aspects of the various powers of the Elven pantheon. Both Magnar the Bear and Relkath of the Infinite Branches, also known as Many-Limbed, Many-Branched, and the Old Man of the Yuirwood, became aspects of the Leaflord. Relkath easily merged with, and slowly reinvigorated a primitive facet of the Leaflord's nature that had been slowly overshadowed over the ages by the increasingly tamed way of life of the Fair Folk, even among the Sy’Tel'Quessir.

As a result of this subtle change of heart, in the centuries since absorbing Relkath, Rillifane's primordial spirit has returned to the fore to great effect. Concurrently, the Sy’Tel'Quessir and Cha’Tel'Quessir have rediscovered the ways of their most primitive ancestors and reformed their tribal cultures, eschewing the formation of successors to the great Green Elven civilizations such as Illefarn, Thearnytaar, Eiellur, and Syorpiir.

In contrast to the obvious impact of the absorption of Relkath by the Leaflord, Magnar the Bear was almost totally subsumed after being absorbed, and this aspect of Rillifane is little remembered even among Cha’Tel'Quessir. The Half-Elves of the Yuirwood speak only of Magnar's Great Sleep, a centuries-long hibernation from which the Bear has yet to emerge. Much like Ubtao, Ulutiu, and Uthgar, Rillifane is served by a host of great spirits including the primeval Bear, Eagle, Raven, and Wolf, among others. These aspects of the Leaflord are recognized only by the Sy’Tel'Quessir and very few Cha’Tel'Quessir. Other Elven subraces do not recognize these spirits, nor do they consider the Leaflord a “fragmented” deity. Unlike those other powers' worshipers, however, Rillifane's followers do not venerate any one great spirit exclusively, although they may have done so in the distant past. Instead, the Leaflord's faithful call upon one or more spirits associated with their god as appropriate for the situation at hand.

Rillifane is on good terms with all the Seldarine, as well as most Sylvan and Faerie powers. The Leaflord's primary concern is that all creatures have the opportunity to act out their roles in nature without abusing them, a concern Rillifane shares with Corellon Larethian, the great creator and protector of the Fair Folk. Solonor Thelandira and Rillifane work together closely to preserve and protect the natural world, but they do differ fundamentally on the issue of hunting. In the spirit of the alliance that binds the Great Archer and the Leaflord, Solonor does not permit his priests and followers to hunt within the woods where Rillifane's brooding, forbidding presence cautions against this, unless their need is great. While Rillifane permits hunting for food by hungry folk, he detests hunting for sport.

Rillifane is closely allied with Emmantiensien the Treant-King and Silvanus the Oak Father. The trio's conversations are many and seemingly endless to others, as none of the three is given to hasty thought or expression. Rillifane is always a respected guest at the Seelie Court, and aside from Emmantiensien, he is friendliest with Skerrit the Forester and often romantically linked with Verenestra the Oak Princess. Rillifane Rallathil has a great hatred for Malar, since the Beastlord often makes Elves the object of his hunts. His ethos also is an anathema to the Leaflord.

Other allies of the Leaflord include Baervan Wildwanderer, Cyrrollalee, Eilistraee, Eldeth, Mielikki, Sheela Peryroyl, Oberon, Osiris, Titania, and the rest of the Seldarine. Other enemies of Rillifane Rallathil include Moander, though he has recently perished, Talos, the Queen of Air and Darkness, and the Anti- Seldarine.

The Leaflord’s deific realm, the Oak Grove, is nothing more than a grouping of a few extraordinarily large oak trees. Other than that, there are no other ways to distinguish his divine realm from the rest of Arvandor. No sort of structure mars his realm, nor are there any other kinds of boundaries to separate it from the rest of the plane

Dogma: The Great Oak draws energy from all the living creatures of the world and nourishes, sustains, and protects them from outside threats. Live in harmony with the natural world, allowing each living being the opportunity to serve out its natural purpose in life. As the Leaflord's countless branches, his faithful are to serve as his mortal agents in the natural world.

Defend the great forests from those who would ravage their riches, leaving only destruction in their path. Contest both the quick and the slow death of Rillifane's bounty and hold strong like the great oaks in the face of those who can see only their own immediate needs.

Avatar/Manifestations: The Leaflord rarely sends an avatar to the Prime, disliking direct action and preferring that his priests carry out his wishes. Rillifane's avatar appears only when major destruction of a Tel'Quessir- usually Sy’Tel'Quessir- habitat is threatened. The appearance of such an avatar is heralded by sudden gusts of wind shaking leaves from the trees, a sign unmistakable to his priests.

Rillifane appears as a green-skinned male Elf clad in armor of living bark, armed with a great greenwood staff or longbow. He makes no sound as he moves, speaks very rarely, and fires his bow in silence. Rillifane manifests infrequently, but when he does it takes the form of a green or amber nimbus that envelops a creature or tree.

The Leaflord indicates his pleasure to a worshipper by having them witness the rapid budding and sprouting of a tree, or plant, the color changing of a single leaf, or an entire plant, and the sudden appearance of a wild forest animal that has no fear of being pet. The Leaflord shows his displeasure by causing nearby plants to wither, causing the individual to accidentally step on twigs, causing them to snap in rapid succession, or by, comically, causing a small, solid object, such as an acorn, to fall on top of their head.

Agents/Petitioners: Rillifane Rallathil is served by Aasimar, Aasimon, Agathinon, Alaghi, Amber Dragons, Ancient Treants, Asuras, Atomies, Badgers, Bariaurs, Bears, Belabra, Bhaergala, Bombardier Beetles, Buraq, Cantobeles, Cath Shee, Centaurs, Coo Shee, Dryads, Earth Elementals, Einheriar, Eladrins, Elven Cats, Elves, Ethyks, Faerie Dragons, Feystags, Forest Spirits, Giant Lynxes, Giant Sundews, Grigs, Hamadryads, Hollyphants, Hybsils, Jaguars, Jungle Giants, Jungle Snakes, Kholiathra, Leopards, Leprechauns, Lythari, Mist Dragons, Mold Men, Monkey Spiders, Moon Horses, Mountain Lions, Nature Elementals, Norans, Nymphs, Oreads, Owls, Pixies, Porcupines, Pseudodragons, Quickwood, Ratatosk, Reverend Ones, Seelie Faeries, Silver Dogs, Singing Trees, Skunks, Small Forest Mammals, Sprites, Stag Beetles, Sunflies, Swanmays, Sylphs, Talking Owls, Thornies, Thylacines, Tigers, Unicorns, Vampire Moss, Warden Beasts of the Forests, Werebears, Wereboars, Weretigers, Wild Boars, Wild Stags, Wolverines, Wolves, and Wood Giants.

The Church of Rillifane Rallathil : The church of the Leaflord is generally admired by the rest of the Tel’Quessir, since the preservation of nature is an idea that all Elves espouse. Because of their beliefs that nature should take preeminence, the church of the Leaflord sometimes comes into conflict with Sun Elves, Moon Elves, and sometimes other churches of the Seldarine.

Temples dedicated to the Leaflord are almost always huge oak trees, with platforms and bridges connecting the tree to other trees. Shrines dedicated to the Leaflord as oak trees as well, but trees that are still too small to be considered temples. It is not unheard of for shrines to be transformed into temples after the tree has grown enough to house such a place of worship. Novices of the Leaflord are known as Acorns.

Fully ordained priests and priestess’ are known as Oakhearts. Other titles used by the church of the Leaflord include, in ascending order, Felsul, Silverbark, Laspar, Hiexel, Blueleaf, Phandar, Duskwood, Shadowtop and Weirwood. High-ranking priests and priestess’ all have unique, individual titles. Rillifane Rallathil is venerated by nearly all of the Sy’Tel’Quessir, and they make up most of his clergy. Some Moon Elves, Lythari Elves, Sun Elves and Half-Elves are included in the Leaflord’s church as well. A small number of Voadkyn also are included in the church of the Leaflord. The church contains a very equal number of men and women, with there being slightly more males than females.

Day-to-Day Activities: The church of the Leaflord generally keeps to itself, extending only to help fellow Elves and other Sylvan beings. The church hierarchy is organized regionally and divided into branches, as each type of priest serves a specific role. The Druids who compose the bulk of Rillifane's clergy tend to the health of the forests, and those who dwell within, fiercely contesting any attempt to further reduce those forests that remain.

Many Clerics serve as ambassadors of the faith, working outside the communities of the Sy’Tel'Quessir, to educate other races and even other Elves about how to better dwell in harmony with nature. The few Wizards and/or Sorcerers found within the clergy act much as individual Druids do, eschewing the formal organization of the circles. In times of war, however, the leaders of each region unite the branches of the faith and the Sy’Tel'Quessir warriors into a single force.

Rillifane's priests and priestess’ are deadly enemies of those who hunt for sport, or those who harm trees maliciously and unnecessarily. In particular, all priests and priestess’ of Rillifane have a great hatred for the priests and priestess’ of Malar, since the followers of the Beastlord often make Elves the object of their hunts, and their ethos is an anathema to those who serve the Leaflord. Rillifane's priesthood is charged with rooting out and destroying sentient plants whose nature has been twisted by external forces into a warped perversion of nature. In particular, they seek to destroy Hangman Trees, Obliviax, Death's Head Trees, Black Willows, Serpent Vines, and any form of evil Treant.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Rillifane Rallathil’s faithful gather twice a year, at the vernal and autumn equinoxes, to hold celebrations in large groves of oak trees deep in the heart of great forests. The Budding is a joyful celebration of new life celebrated through dance and song and preceded by an extended period of fasting. A ritual hunt of an ancient and noble deer is undertaken on this day, from which the venison serves to break the fast of the Leaflord's faithful. This ritual honors Rillifane's bounty and reminds his followers of the natural cycle of life that plays out beneath the Leaflord's boughs.

The Transformation marks the arrival of autumn and the vibrant hues that bedeck the canopies of the Leaflord around this time. The Sy’Tel'Quessir and Elves of other subraces who seek a form of spiritual rebirth or a major change in their lives gather to celebrate Rillifane's eternal promise that the trees will bloom again and that life is a process of continual renewal.

Major Centers of Worship: The Moontouch Oak is the name of both a gargantuan oak tree over 300 feet tall, and the temple of the Leaflord nestled amidst the forest giant's boughs. Located at the heart of the Tangled Trees region of Cormanthor, on the northern bank of the Elvenflow, where Moontouch Creek joins the River Duathamper, the temple tree is believed to be the largest living oak in Faerun.

Some Elven legends claim that the tree is actually the still-living remnants of an avatar of the Leaflord that led several clans of the Sy’Tel'Quessir eastward, away from the devastation of the Crown Wars, many centuries ago. Moontouch Oak has housed approximately two score Wild and Wood Elven Druids of the Circle of Emerald Leaves in its branches since the early days of the Sy’Tel'Quessir settlement of Arcorar, as the Elven Woods were then known.

From -982 DR, with the coming of Venominhandar to the Emerald Vale, until -206 DR, when the Green Wyrm was finally slain, the Druids of Moontouch Oak were sorely besieged, as were their kin, but the temple-tree was never abandoned, despite numerous attacks by the Wyrm and its minions. With the death of Venom, as the dragon was known, the Sy’Tel'Quessir set about reclaiming the woodlands, now known as the Tangled Vale, under the direction of the Druids of Moontouch Oak. Nine centuries later, when the Army of Darkness ravaged Cormanthyr, and eventually destroyed Myth Drannor, the Druids of Moontouch Oak again stood firm in the face of the Nycaloth-led assault, and the temple tree of Rillifane was never violated.

Nine millennia after the conclusion of the Crown Wars, Moontouch Oak stands unbowed. The temple consists of a network of platforms sculpted from the tree's branches and hollows cultivated in the great oak's trunk, all of which are linked by bridges of woven vines. Hallucinatory Terrain spells and the thick leaf coverage mask the religious community's very existence from the outside world, but the influence of the Circle of Emerald Leaves is felt throughout the Tangled Vale and beyond.

Affiliated Orders: While Rangers are not included in the church hierarchy of Rillifane, many such Elven warriors do serve in loose fellowships, affiliated with individual Druid circles as the militant arm of the faith. Each such band of rangers has its own name, but collectively they are known as the Order of the Oakstaff.

Priestly Vestments: The ceremonial garb of the Leaflord's priests includes a laurel wreath worn on the head, and armor fashioned of tree bark. Dark green dyes are rubbed into the armor, to show rank within the church, with the darkest hue reserved for the high priests of the faith. Tree bark armor provides about as much protection as leather armor, but the wearer is, obviously, a lot more flammable. The holy symbol of the faith is an acorn enclosed in amber.

Adventuring Garb: When adventuring, members of Rillifane's clergy favor armor and weapons made from natural materials, such as wood and animal parts, including those with or without magical enhancements.