Aerdrie Faenya
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, Aerdrie Faenya is the elven
goddess of Air, Weather, Freedom, Impulse, Fertility, and Birds.
Her symbol is a cloud with a bird silhouette.
's article "The Elven Point of View," in Dragon
#60 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
setting. She also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
Aerdrie Faenya was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
(1992), including details about her priesthood. Her role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996). She received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
in Demihuman Deities
(1998). She is described as one of the good deities that celestials
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Aerdrie Faenya's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
(2002).
s, 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.
Aerdrie Faenya is also great friends with Phaulkon
and Syranita
. She is allied with Stillsong
.
; sometimes it is found in Arvandor and sometimes in Alfheim. Flying processions of eagles, falcons, and other flying creatures can fill the sky around her palace for hours, and when they find perches they can fill entire forests.
, lammasu
, aarakocra
, and avians. A small number of air genasi
close to elven communities also take her as their deity. She is the primary patron of the avariel, or winged elves. Aerdrie particularly loves, and is loved by, the avariel, although many elves who wish for the prospect of good weather and gentle winds also worship the Winged Mother.
A few aarakocra revere Aerdrie Faenya, leading the goddess to have a great friendship with Syranita
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game, Aerdrie Faenya is the elven
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
goddess of Air, Weather, Freedom, Impulse, Fertility, and Birds.
Her symbol is a cloud with a bird silhouette.
Publication history
Aerdrie Faenya was first detailed in Roger E. MooreRoger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
's article "The Elven Point of View," in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#60 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting. She also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
Aerdrie Faenya was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about her priesthood. Her role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996). She received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
in Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities is a Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition: Forgotten Realms campaign accessory, published by Wizards of the Coast. The book was designed by Eric L. Boyd...
(1998). She is described as one of the good deities that celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Aerdrie Faenya's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002).
Description
Aerdrie appears to be a tall, elven woman with feathered hair and eyebrows. A pair of large bird-like wings, with feathers that constantly change color, sprout from her back. The lower half of her body vanishes into a misty whirlwind, so that she never appears to touch the ground.Relationships
In many campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, the elven pantheon of gods (also known as the Seldarine) consists of the leader Corellon Larethian
Corellon Larethian
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the god of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. Corellon is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon. He is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those...
, as well as Aerdrie Faenya, Deep Sashelas
Deep Sashelas
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Deep Sashelas is the elf patron deity of aquatic elves. He is also a god of creation, knowledge, beauty, and magic...
, Erevan Ilesere
Erevan Ilesere
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Erevan Ilesere is the elven deity of Mischief, Change, Rogues and Changelings. Erevan is a fickle, utterly unpredictable god who can change his appearance at will. His symbol is a nova star with asymmetrical rays.-Publication history:Erevan Ilesere was...
, Fenmarel Mestarine
Fenmarel Mestarine
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Fenmarel Mestarine is the elven deity of feral elves , outcast elves, scapegoats and solitude...
, Hanali Celanil
Hanali Celanil
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Hanali Celanil is the elf deity of Romantic Love and Beauty. Her symbol is a gold heart.-Publication history:...
, Labelas Enoreth
Labelas Enoreth
Labelas Enoreth is an elven deity in many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings. In the Forgotten Realms, he is the Lord of the Continuum who governs the orderly passage of time and guards against those who would alter the path of history. Together with Sehanine Moonbow he oversees the long life...
, Rillifane Rallathil
Rillifane Rallathil
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Rillifane Rallathil is the elven god of Nature, and patron deity of wood elves. His symbol is an oak tree...
, Sehanine Moonbow
Sehanine Moonbow
In many Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings, Sehanine Moonbow is the elven goddess of the moons. She is one of the more powerful members of the Seldarine. The Lady of Dreams actively opposes the nefarious schemes of the Spider Queen and the other drow powers. She is said to be the wife of...
, and Solonor Thelandira
Solonor Thelandira
In the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms, Solonor Thelandira is the elven god of hunting, archery, and survival in wild and harsh places. He teaches his followers the arts of hunting; including archery, moving unseen and hiding in wild places. He watches over the borders of...
. Other elven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Aerdrie Faenya is also great friends with Phaulkon
Phaulkon
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Phaulkon is the Suel god of Air, Wind, Clouds, Birds, and Archery...
and Syranita
Syranita
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Syranita is the aarakocra deity of protection and watchfulness, and is the patron deity of the aarakocra.-Publication history:...
. She is allied with Stillsong
Stillsong
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stillsong is a mysterious god undergoing a complex elemental transition. His symbol is a translucent, golden sphere of crystal.-Publication history:...
.
Realm
Aerdrie's realm, a floating palace called the Aerie, shifts across the border between Arborea and YsgardYsgard
Ysgard is the Outer Plane of Chaotic Neutral / Chaotic Good alignment in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is also called Asgard, Gladsheim or The Heroic Domains...
; sometimes it is found in Arvandor and sometimes in Alfheim. Flying processions of eagles, falcons, and other flying creatures can fill the sky around her palace for hours, and when they find perches they can fill entire forests.
Worshippers
Though a member of the Seldarine, Aerdrie Faenya is also worshiped by ki-rinKi-rin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the ki-rin are magical beasts. They are based on the mythological Qilin .-Publication history:...
, lammasu
Lammasu (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, the lammasu are a race of good magical beasts.-Publication history:They are based on lammasu of Mesopotamian mythology, being winged, leonine champions of good....
, aarakocra
Aarakocra
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the aarakocra are a race of bird-like monstrous humanoids dwelling in high mountains...
, and avians. A small number of air genasi
Genasi
Genasi are creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:The air genasi, the earth genasi, the fire genasi, and the water genasi first appeared in second edition as player character races for the Planescape setting in the Planewalker's Handbook .The air genasi,...
close to elven communities also take her as their deity. She is the primary patron of the avariel, or winged elves. Aerdrie particularly loves, and is loved by, the avariel, although many elves who wish for the prospect of good weather and gentle winds also worship the Winged Mother.
A few aarakocra revere Aerdrie Faenya, leading the goddess to have a great friendship with Syranita
Syranita
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Syranita is the aarakocra deity of protection and watchfulness, and is the patron deity of the aarakocra.-Publication history:...
.
Clergy
Aerdrie's clerics dress in sky-blue robes, wearing a single feather in their hair, and conduct worship services on open hilltops. Any bird can be her sacred animal.Holy days and rituals
Aerdrie's holy days are on the spring and fall equinoxes, and sacrifices of beautiful feathers are made to her semi-annually.Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online: http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"