Fenmarel Mestarine
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Fenmarel Mestarine (fehn-muh-rehl mess-tuh-reen) is the elven deity of feral elves (such as grugach), outcast elves, scapegoats and solitude. His chief symbol is a pair of elven eyes in darkness, though his savage priests are more likely to use the talon or fang of a wild beast slain without assistance.
In many campaign settings, the elven pantheon of gods (also known as the Seldarine) consists of the leader Corellon Larethian, as well as Aerdrie Faenya, Deep Sashelas, Erevan Ilesere, Fenmarel Mestarine, Hanali Celanil, Labelas Enoreth, Rillifane Rallathil, Sehanine Moonbow, and Solonor Thelandira. Other elven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Publication history[edit]
Fenmarel Mestarine was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.[1] His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).[2] He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms in Demihuman Deities (1998).[3]
Fenmarel Mestarine's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[4]
Description[edit]
Fenmarel Mestarine appears as an elf clad in leaves and scraps of clothing. Like a Cloak of Elvenkind, his skin changes color to match his immediate environment. He is eternally sullen and serious, a perfect counterbalance to fun-loving Erevan Ilesere. He has no interest in communicating with members of other pantheons or nonelves unless absolutely necessary, and when he does speak he is usually bitter and cynical. Although he tries to avoid commitments of any sort, the Lone Wolf always abides by his word, no matter how reluctantly it is given. Fenmarel watches over the elven borders in disappearing woodlands, jungles, and similar environments, not unlike what Corellon Larethian does in more sizable homelands. Of all the elven races, Fenmarel takes a keen interest mainly in the wild elves or grugach, hidden deep within the thickest forests of Faerûn and Oerth.
Relationships[edit]
The Lone Wolf is somewhat of an outcast among the Seldarine, his nominal allies, although he supports them in their endless war against Lolth and the other evil drow deities. Fenmarel was once Lolth's lover, one of the first to be seduced by her dark power and hollow promises, but he turned away from her before he could be corrupted completely. Fenmarel and Lolth have still not forgiven each other. Of the elven gods known on Oerth, he gets along well only with Solonor Thelandira (said to be his brother), Shevarash, Gwaeron Windstrom, and Eilistraee. His relationship with Corellon Larethian is strained by Fenmarel's perception that the ruler of the elven gods still blames him for Lolth's betrayal. Only the kind-heartedness of Sehanine Moonbow can draw the Lone Wolf back to the other Seldarine on rare occasions. He is allied with various animal lords of the Beastlands, beings whose ranks include the Cat Lord and the Wolf Lord, though it is not clear if he is allied with those lords specifically.
Realm[edit]
Fenmarel's realm of Fennimar is located on the plane of Limbo. He has exiled himself there voluntarily, although he has a home in the elven realm of Arvandor if he chose to accept it. No drow are permitted within Fennimar, not even those of good alignment. Physically, Fennimar is a stable area of Limbo covered in woods, streams, hills, and valleys. There are no real settlements or buildings in the realm, only waystations in the wilderness where the less wood-wise can find food and supplies.
Dogma[edit]
Fenmarel teaches that the world is harsh and unforgiving, demanding more from those who, like himself, would abandon society to blaze their own trail. He advises self-reliance, for betrayal is all too common. Followers of Fenmarel are taught to be self-reliant and to use the skills that Fenmarel holds dearest: camouflage, deception, and secrecy. They are expected to be hard-working, for hard work allows people to prove their own worth to themselves.
Worshippers[edit]
The church of Fenmarel consists primarily of outcasts and small tribes of wild elves, and, as such, has little in the way of formal hierarchy. Outcasts from elven society who make their way among other cultures are typically lay followers and not clerics.
The church of Fenmarel Mestarine is seen with some suspicion and hostility by most elven societies, as many of its adherents are exiles and outlaws of various sorts. Only in isolated tribes that venerate the Lone Wolf to the exclusion of other deities are his faithful seen with respect for the skills they practice and the lessons of survival that they teach. Other races view Fenmarel's worshippers as primitives who cling to a god of savages.
Clergy[edit]
Members of Fenmarel's clergy instruct their fellows in the skills first taught by the deity, including how to spy, survive on their own, engage in deceptions and guerrilla tactics, and use poisons to take down enemies with subtlety, but otherwise they have few formal responsibilities aside from ensuring their personal survival. Their favored weapon is the dagger.
Novices of Fenmarel are called the Lost. Full priests are called the Unbowed. They may also create their own titles or forgo titles altogether. They teach their fellow tribe members in the skills favored by their god, including guerrilla tactics and poison.
The ceremonial garb of the Lost and the Unbowed usually consists of plastering their bodies in mud and leaves. In more civilized groups they garb themselves in hide armor adorned with bones, teeth, and drawings of wild beasts.
Rituals and holy days[edit]
Each individual or band worships the Lone Wolf in their own fashion. Fenmarel has no widely recognized holy days. Many elven outcasts observe the day they were banished with private contemplation, while tribes of feral elves observe important events in their own history, often correlating these with easily observable astronomical events.
Reception[edit]
Rob Bricken of Kotaku identified Fenmarel Mestarine as one of "The 13 Strangest Deities In Dungeons & Dragons", commenting: "This minor Elvish deity is the god of the wild elves, who are differ from the other races of elves because they eschew civilisation. As such, Fenmarel is also the god of isolation, which makes sense as wild elves seldom want anything to do with anybody, and outcasts, which is a little weird, because wild elves weren't thrown out of society as much as they just left. Last and presumably least, Fenmarel is the god of scapegoats, which is vastly confusing. Do you pray to him when you need a scapegoat or when you are a scapegoat?"[5]
References[edit]
- ↑ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
- ↑ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
- ↑ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
- ↑ Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
- ↑ http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/the-13-strangest-deities-in-dungeons-dragons/
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