Corellon Larethian
| Greyhawk Deity | |
|---|---|
| Corellon Larethian | |
| |
| Corellon takes the eye of Gruumsh. Randy the Elf-God, by Todd Lockwood. | |
| Title(s) | Creator of the Elves, the Protector, First of the Seldarine,
Protector and Preserver of Life, Ruler of All Elves, Coronal of Arvandor |
| Home Plane | Olympian Glades of Arborea |
| Power Level | Greater |
| Gender | Male |
| Class(es) | Fighter 19/Wizard 20/Cleric 10 |
| Alignment | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio | The Elven Race, Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Warfare, Poetry |
| Domains | Celerity, Chaos, Community, Good, Liberation, Magic, Protection, War |
| Alias(es) | none |
| Superior | none |
Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the god of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. He is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those things held in the highest esteem among elves. His symbol is a crescent moon.
Description
Corellon may appear as an elf of either gender (though usually he appears as male) often bearing the traditional weapons of the elves, the bow and the sword.
Relationships
Corellon is considered to be foremost among the Seldarine. His consort is Sehanine Moonbow. Some myths claim that Corellon gave birth to the rest of his pantheon in his female aspect, while others claim that he fathered them on Sehanine Moonbow. He raised Ye'Cind to the status of demigod by infusing him with a spark of his own power.
Gruumsh One-Eye, god of the orcs, is one of Corellon's greatest enemies, because Corellon took his eye in an ancient battle. The entire orc pantheon hates Corellon intensely. He also opposes the deities of the goblinoids.
Corellon was also the one to banish the drow goddess Lolth to the Abyss. For this, he can count all evil drow gods as enemies.
Because of his keen friendship with the Seelie Court, Corellon often finds himself at odds with the Queen of Air and Darkness. Corellon's truest friends are the rulers of the other demihuman pantheons: Moradin, Yondalla, and Garl Glittergold. Together, they work to ensure that the gods of the human and monstrous pantheons don't grow strong too quickly.
Corellon is also allied with Cyrrollalee, Ehlonna, Emmantiensien, Oberon, Pelor, Skerrit, and Titania.
Corellon is also on good terms with Vanathor, Bahamut's gold dragon advisor and bard.
Realm
Corellon lives in the realm of Arvandor on the plane of Arborea. Also called Arvanaith in its role as the elven afterlife, Arvandor is said to have been taken from the gods of the giants after a lengthy war. Ruins of giant citadels still dot the land there. The elven gods are thought to have invaded from the plane of Ysgard, hungry for a realm of their own. The realm is a place of deep forests and fey beauty.
Corellon dwells in a magnificent tower of marble in the center of the realm. In Elven, it is called Gwyllachaightaeryll, the Many-Splendored. The art that decorates the tower's many rooms is constantly changing. Only the central throne room is a constant.
Dogma
Corellon desires to protect and preserve the elven race, return to his people their lost artistic heritage, and to thwart the schemes of the drow and the orcs. This also means guarding against the corruption within that resulted in the creation of the drow. Corellon advises his faithful to guard against stagnation as well, continually seeking out new experiences. They seek to bring out beauty through art, craft, and magic.
Corellon is surprisingly humble, for a regent of his stature.
Worshipers
Elves and half-elves (as well as many bards) worship Corellon. He favors those who kill orcs and the followers of Lolth. He blesses those who aid others. He is upset at those who defile the dead, or flee from their foes.
Clergy
Corellon's clerics wear silver circlets and gossamer robes of the brightest azure. They often wear blue cloaks. Corellon's favored weapon is the longsword.
Fellowship of the Forgotten Flower
The Fellowship of the Forgotten Flower is a loosely structured organization made of elven knights dedicated to the recovery of lost elven relics from long-abandoned elven realms. Members must be elven warriors or elven paladins.
Seekers of the Misty Isle
The Seekers of the Misty Isle are an elite order of elves dedicated to finding the Misty Isle which was whisked away by the deities Gruumsh and Kurtulmak.-From "The Complete Divine," 2004.
Temples
In large elven cities such as Enstad, temples to Corellon Larethian may be alabaster wonders with soaring spires. In smaller communities, they may be built among the branches of a large tree such as an ipp. Most temples are happy to lend aid to traveling elves and any other race that plans to do harm to the drow.
Holy days
Most of Corellon's holy days are tied to celestial events and occur only once every few years or decades.
Once per month, when Luna is at its quarter phase, followers of Corellon gather in moonlit glades for a ceremony known as Lateu'quor, the Forest Communion of the Crescent Moon. There, they praise their Creator through song and dance and offerings of beautiful art. The art is not destroyed; sometimes it is physically transfered to the Upper Planes for elves to enjoy in the afterlife, while other times it is used to decorate Corellon's temples. Sometimes the very landscape of the glade is reshaped into a work of art.
Once per year, on the fourth of Richfest, the holiday of Agelong is celebrated. Elves hunt for orcs to slay in memory of Corellon's battle againt the god of the orcs, Gruumsh.
Rituals
Corellon Larethian is worshipped at natural geological formations. His rituals are integrated with the major events of elven life, such as births, coming of age rites, weddings, and funerals.
Prayers to Corellon, which are always in Elvish, begin "Hei-Corellon shar-shelevu," which means, "Corellon, by your grace grant..." Before battle, worshippers of Corellon recite a prayer called the Litany of Arrows.
Creative origins
James M. Ward created Corellon Larethian for Deities and Demigods (1980).
Gallery
Bibliography
- Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- McComb, Colin. The Complete Book of Elves. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- -----.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.
- Noonan, David. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Redman, Rich, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Deities and Demigods. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Ward, James, and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
