Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HVulpes 02-23-07, 04:04 PM	I have created a couple of elven heresies that could be used by people for certain situations. I admit that these took me only a few minutes to create and could use some more fleshing out epsecially by Elven experts, but it should kick off the discussion. Here it is: The Corelleon's Divine Rule Heresy Domains: Community (CDiv), Elf, Good, Law, Magic, Nobility, War Cleric Alignment: LN, LG, NG Weapon and Weapon of diety: Keen Longsword Looking into the past there are some elves that believe that their society could not emerge from dieties that were inheriently chaotic, that only those of great loyalty and duty could allow the elves to rise to the top of the world they experienced in the past. That the king of the elven dieties had to be a divinity of a just and noble rule who's worshippers have been missed lead by other into the chaotic path that it has taken today. The main statement of this faith path is that Corelleon Larethian is a lawful diety, one of community building and noble virture. They look to the chaotic worshippers of their god as a group of well-meaning but misunderstanding people who must be educated in the truth yet forgiven for their mistakes. This heresy is popular with those of high status like nobles (especially Gold elven higher ups), those that support the laws of the elven nations and a rare oder of elven paladins. Behind the scenes: Corelleon currently ignores this heresy as he believes that as long as they help the elven people and commit not evil acts in his name, that his children are open to their own opinions of him. He knows that chaos is inherited in most elves' natures, so he has little fear at the moment of being transformed into a lawful diety. The little tending that he does with the heresy and the main faith is to keep agreeable with each other. Author's notes: I tried to focus on the aspects of law, royalty and community for this heresy as the first two tend to be connected with law and order and the later seems to be something that can grow out of the former. Community is a domain given to Corelleon in Complete Divine for Greyhawk, but if you do not have the domain in one of your books try replacing it with Protection as that is one of the original domains. The Corelleon's Cleansing Heresy Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Elf, Magic, Suffering, War Cleric Alignment: CN, CE Weapon and Weapon of diety: Keen Longsword This faith believes that Corelleon wants the destruction of the vermin of the world especially those that are known by the name human. They believe that after a time of being ignored by their god the have convinced him that they have the greatest plan of elven safety at their hearts. Plus he has given them better tool for the destruction of humans as well as a method of causing pain to their foes for the pains that they have cause their elven brothers and sisters. This heresy is popular among the Eldreth Veluuthra and a gathering collection of clerics of this faith are gaining divine powers. Their powers tends not to the healing so they tend to learn plenty of cure spells and then convert them to inflict spells to use against humans and their allies. Behind the Scenes: The heresy is not supported by Corelleon and his true priests are tasked to destory all of the alters to this faith as well as to stopping these worshippers by any means necessary. The divine power that is behind this faith is one that is looking to make Corelleon look bad in front of all the other dieties as well as start a war between humans and elves which could spread to other races as they are forced to take sides. Possible dieties behind the this heresy is Lolth, Malar, Talos, Shar or Cyric to name a few. Author's notes: I focused on given this heresy a pain and death message, but with an alteration of switching the Suffering domain for Charm or Domination (Complete Divine, Draconimcron) you could ahve a heresy devoted to forcing elves to accept their message. Another option is try attaching a human bane feature to the Weapon of the Deity spell instead of the Keen ability which is Corelleon's nature weapon of the diety effect.
Renvale999 02-24-07, 03:23 PM	Nicely done. I'm afraid my knowledge of elves is rather limited but I really like what you've done! Keep up the good work! Just a compliment lol.
Khaelieth 02-24-07, 07:24 PM	I don't think they fit too well in, especially the last one. The first one due to the whole lawful thing, the second one due to that the Eldreth Veluuthra's main problem is that it doesn't have clerics.
Lord Karsus 02-24-07, 07:58 PM	-Dan and I were talking about a Lawful Sun Elf heresy the other day... -Anyway, I suggest a sect of Corellites who act very much like Eilistraeeans, believing that all Drow deserve a chance at redemption, since all Elves are the children of Corellon Larethian, after all...
HVulpes 02-24-07, 08:27 PM	Khaelieth--- These are heresies, which is a different way of looking at the gods that is not commonly accepted. These are like cults of the same faith, but are basically tools for DM and Pc who want to play against type for a sacrifice of certain abilities (like leadership or diplomacy checks). Lord Karsus--- I was thinking of Dan for the first one, but I am not sure if he would like this. I have sent him a message on Candlekeep when I posted it there. I hope he likes it. I have finished another heresy of a cult to the half-elven power of Hanali Firehair (Who appears as a Sun or Moon half-elf with flaming red hair always). Your heresy might be interesting, I can see using the Renewal domain as it is the closest to redeemption in the common faerunian domains, but I could also use Purification from Complete Divine as well. Just given me some time to think about it. I also have been having a few ideas for non-elven heresies, if this is popular I might make other threads for those. Thanks for the comments and keep thinking heretical.
MarkusTay63 02-24-07, 08:38 PM	I like them Hvulpes. I see nothing wrong with them BECAUSE they ARE heresies, after all. I definately see the second one happening, it's right up Lolth's alley as a spinner of deceit. -Anyway, I suggest a sect of Corellites who act very much like Eilistraeeans, believing that all Drow deserve a chance at redemption, since all Elves are the children of Corellon Larethian, after all...Ohhh... so DO this! If you don't want to Hvulpes, I would take a crack at it. I'd prefer someone else though, because I'm already falling behind with stuff. I'm actually toying with a concept for a group, but not for the Elven Netbook. It's called the 'Eldritch Voluptuous', and I'm pretty sure it would pi$$ off all the Gold Elf lovers on this site. :D
Lord Karsus 02-24-07, 11:27 PM	Lord Karsus--- I was thinking of Dan for the first one, but I am not sure if he would like this. I have sent him a message on Candlekeep when I posted it there. I hope he likes it. -I knew it seemed familiar. ;) Thanks for the comments and keep thinking heretical. -That gave me a good laugh. Ohhh... so DO this! -You know, I used to have the Shevarash mentality concerning Drow- "The only good one is a dead one." Mostly because of you, Mark, I must be leaning left- I actually do think that the Drow/Dark Elves have been given the short end of the stick, and more should be done to "rehabilitate" them back into Elven society.
Gallameed 02-25-07, 01:38 AM	There was a realms novel by ‘Gale A Meed’ that stated young elves are routinely made (after coming of age) to form a line every morning and stick out their chins (goldelf style) and if any of said elves exhibits stubble or facial hair of any kind they are exiled into the forest of Typuber and spat upon.
Soltares 02-25-07, 09:16 AM	Cool ideas, and I like that they add a lot of variety. Evermeet, for instance, is a *very* orderly place, for a race of chaotic people, and I've always wondered how that could be, since the descriptions of elven society always seemed uber-lawful... My own personal 'elven heresies,' presented as opposing schools of thought; 1) Corellon Larethian was married to the one-now-known-as-Lolth, and was a masculine figure, wild and passionate, a god of physicality, but not magic. With his wife's fall into darkness, he absorbed all that was good out of her demon-tainted form (including her mystical and philosophical nature), and became the androgynous figure that he is today, a conjoined figure of both war and magic, with both male and female components. He has never remarried, as he is complete within himself, both father and mother of the elven peoples. A quiet few within this 'heresy' claim that Sehanine Moonbow, Corellon's so-called 'wife,' is 'a plague' upon the elven people, a darkness not unlike that which became the demoness Lolth and fear that it is happening all over again... 2) Corellon Larethian was always married to Sehanine Moonbow, and it was her tears falling upon his shed blood that instilled life within the elven races, so he's not even the elven creator-god, she is. He was never married to Lolth, and he's not at all androgynous, and Sehanine's clergy will scratch the eyes out of anyone who suggests otherwise. (The LGG refers to Sehanine's church as 'a plague' and make note of it's tenets of elven superiority, seizing shared lands and expelling humans and other 'lesser races' from the 'elven lands,' and quietly disappearing any elven leaders, such as the consort of Queen Yolande, who disagree with the teachings of their church. I love the idea of something sinister being at work in this brand-new church that claims to have always been around forever and that are trying to usurp Corellon's place as elven creator-god.) 1) Aerdrie Faenya is one of the lesser Seldarine, a minor figure, also worshipped by Aarakocra and Giant Eagles. 2) Aerdrie Faenya predates the Seldarine, and was the primary diety of the 'creator race' that has since degenerated into the Aarakocra. Like Jergal, she remembers days when the elves and their gods were new and starry-eyed, and her own people are long in decline, but she remains. Other branches of this quiet faith indicate that she wasn't a primary diety of her ancient race, but is merely the sole survivor of her dead avian pantheon of pre-human / pre-elven dieties, just as Jergal is possible the sole survivor of his own pre-human insectoid pantheon. 1) Solonor Thelandira and Elistraee are unrelated dieties with widely differing spheres of interest. 2) Solonor and Elistraee are brother and sister, and while he took up the bow, she took up the blade, each competing with each other to outdo the other in the eyes of their indulgent parents. Their competitions grew ever less playful during the wars against orcs and worse, and soon grew serious, and even, in some cases, downright grim. It is whispered by some that Elistraee's dancing style of fighting has less to do with artistic expression, and more to do with twisting and turning unpredicatably to avoid the flight of her brother's incoming arrows... Those who speak of this claim that the only reason the good-aligned Eilistraee fled with the outcast Drow was to escape the endless conflict with her brother. 3) Solonor and Eilstraee are brother and sister, but history has forgotten their true natures. Solona Thelanadir is *sister* to Eilistraen the Blade-dancer, but as punishment for their endless bickering and strife, Corellon cursed them to walk a thousand generations in the shoes of their sibling, and switched their genders. This heresy is popular among surface elven blade-dancers in particular, who claim Eilistraen as their patron.
HVulpes 02-25-07, 09:41 AM	Here's a couple more including one that was asked for. I hope you enjoy it. The Corellon's Children Heresy Domains: Chaos, Drow, Elf, Good, Magic, Renewal, War Cleric Alignment: NG, CG, CN Weapon and Weapon of diety: Keen Longsword This faith is rare among elves in that the believe in the reunification of the elven races including the drow, which has caused this part of the church of the king of the elven gods to remain underground from the main faith. Most elves can not believe that there are some of their people who believe in the redeemption of elves and just places these rumours as tricks caused by the drow. Instead of gaining support from the main church, this sect gains aid from Eilistraee instead with occational aid from some human gods who believe in their cause or who just want to cause damage to Lolth's strungle hold on the drow. The resources of the sect is placed towards finding places for the drow that escape the underdark as well as giving them aid in resisting the evil taint of Lolth that lurks within their blood. They have also been working at a secret transportation system with the worshippers of Eilistraee to take those dark elves who wish for a better life out of the cities of their dark gods. They also try to spread word about Eilistraee to the surface elves, even if it is rejected by those listeners who believe it to be lies created by the Spider Queen. Drow worshipers tend to preach that Corellon wish to return his children together, while they risk their lives to do it in the cities of Lolth. Behind the Scenes: Corellon and Eilistraee both want to support this heresy, but for Corellon it is not possible at this time as most of his worshipers would reject this idea out right. Eilistraee has an easier time as it is part of her dogma to unite the different races. Author's notes: I used Corellon's natural diety block as a base, while removing the Protection and adding the Drow and Renewal domains. Renewal is the closest to a redeemption domain as it has the Atonement spell which is an in-game reason for converting a person's alignment, which is helpful for changing the alignments of drow. The Hanali Firehair Heresy Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good, Magic, Protection, Sun Cleric Alignment: NG, CG, CN Weapon and Weapon of diety: Flaming Dagger or Whip The church of Hanali Celanil and Sune Firehair have been locked in a friendly conflicted that has continued for centuries, while members of this sect have realized the true behind these two dieties. That Sune and Hanali are two aspects of the same goddess, a half-elven diety that they have decided to call Hanali Firehair. Hanali Firehair is a half-elven maiden that combines all of the best traits of the two goddesses including their extreme beauty into one form that usually appears as a half-elf of sun or moon blood that has feiry metallic red hair. She is also seen as a diety of the sun as her beauty is so radiant that it cause the life giving rays that are needed to make the plants grow and for people to survive. Many sages believe that this aspect of the sect's belief was influenced by the connection that Sune has with the Sun Soul Monks, but followers of the Flame of Love believe that the Sun Soul must have discovered the truth behind the true goddess. The goddess's followers work to promote conflict resolution without any bloodshed, bring love between all people no matter the race as well as showing that beauty can come from any sources. Behind the Scenes: Both goddess ignore this heresy as it gives an alterntive view on the conflict of beauty that have been troubling each other churchs for centuries. Some monks believe that the two goddesses have allowed this to occur in case the need arises for one of them to step down from their divine powers and surrend their power to the other one for when the pantheons merges. The goddess remain silent on this fact. Author's notes: I just combined the two goddesses, which was kind of easy as they have most of the same domains. I focused on the fire aspect as I was keeping the name Firehair, but did not add the Fire domain as it didn't seem to fit as much as the Sun aspect. It also links with the Sun Soul monks who follow Sune in small numbers.
MarkusTay63 02-25-07, 10:09 AM	Great stuff Hvulpes! :D Now you're making me want to finish my article entitled "The Tablets of Destiny". In those 'heresies', it turns out Corellon had a twin brother some 50,000 years ago, named Gilgallon. They had different fathers however, even though they were born together, and Gill's dad was the leader of the Unseelie elves, Malachai Wa’Niie. Where Corellon was a gentle soul who learned combat techniques with grace and style, his brother was a ferocious fighter who savage brutality during matches earned him the nick-name Grü’mass, or 'Feral Spirit' (as in Grü’agach, or 'feral tribe'). Eventually the two brothers had a falling out (thanks to Corellon's half-sister Lilith), and Titania was forced to banish Grü’mass Wa’Niie from Fäerie, taking all of his beastial followers with him. And now you know the 'real' story behind why the Elves and Orcs hate each other so bitterly. This 'myth' is considered a Heresy by worshipper's of the Seldarine, anti-Seldarine, and Orc/Goblinoid Pantheons. These groups might even work together if even a hint of this ever started to spread. :D
Khaelieth 02-25-07, 10:19 AM	The two last ones were good=) The reason I didn't like the two other ones is that they just didn't seem right for the Faerûnian elves, but they might fit into some campaigns.
Nocci 03-07-07, 04:05 AM	This is great stuff! I would absolutely love to try my hands at some for Sehanine Moonbow, as she is one of my favorites in The Seldarine. .. but to find the time .. :rolleyes:
Stigger 03-07-07, 06:32 AM	Interesting... like them very much. Nice work HVulpes. :)
HVulpes 03-07-07, 07:21 AM	Well one of the best ways that I have found to create a heresy is to do one of four options: One, Combine the worship of one or more gods. Examples: Hanali Firehair or Dark Moon Two, Focus on one of the aspects of a god. Example: Three-Faced Sun Three, Alter an aspect of the diety. Example: Corellon's Divine Rule Four, create a false god that acts as a front for another god. Example: Talso using the Mayak (SP?) the god of wild magic as a front for gaining power. For example using non-elven gods would be the combine of certain Faerunian gods with Mulhorandi gods in Uther. (Sorry for the spell, mostly doing it from memory and that is not my best skill). Than you select the domains, alignment, weapon and weapon of the diety addition (basically a weapon magic type with is usually at +1 addition, like Flaming or Keen). Perhaps that will help.