Corellon Larethian:The Protector

Corellon Larethian is the supreme god of the elves, their creator and their guardian. He is their ideal, and their leader. In some areas of elven habitation, worship of this shining one has reached almost monotheistic import. However, the epitome of elves often calls attention to the “lesser” gods amongst elven and humankind, reminding his people that even these races may be learned from.

One of the most famous of elven myths reports one that seems common to many faiths: The Division of Land. In it, the gods of the various humanoids all vied for territory with each other, eventually reaching an agreement assigning each race a homeland. However, for one reason or another, the orcs were cut out of the deal. Their god, Gruumsh, protested violently, and the elven creator Corellon intervened, cleaving out his eye with his magical sword. The blood that Corellon had spilled was then turned into elves, with the help of the moon. Many say this is the source of the orcish strikes against the other races, and, especially, their hatred of elves.

Other tales of Corellon exist. He seems to appear whenever there is a great event in elvish history as the figurative head of the elven race, such as when the Drow were banished to the underdark.

Corellon is a gentle, caring god, often representing that curious elven androgyny that many scholars find so intriguing. It is interesting that the almost phallic spear of Gruumsh wounds the creator and, when mingled with “tears from the moon” (perhaps a reference to the monthly reproductive cycle of many females), creates the elves, who are raised by their “mother,” Corellon.

Though perhaps that carries the analogy too far. As it remains, Corellon is simply the epitome of elvishness: brave, creative, noble, friendly, and delighting in moonlight and discovery. He is also the closest thing that the elves have to a god of war, or of material goods (being regarded as quite the craftsman, in many myths crafting the sword that he used to carve out Gruumsh’s eye, not to mention the elves themselves), and so comes across as a bit more dangerous than most elves are, though usually in a protective stance.

As an interesting note, while most gods have more than their share of ego, Corellon seems to be oddly one of the few humble members of his often cocky race. Corellon serves to remind the elvish people that even divine powers can have a thing or two left to learn.

Corellon, as can be expected, gets along famously with sylvan and woodland deities, who almost universally loathe orcs anyway. However, Gruumsh of the orcs and Lolth of the drow absolutely loathe him, and Moradin of the dwarves isn’t very friendly, considering Corellon’s craftsmanship “pretty, but useless.” The human gods consider him an admirable, if a bit timid sort of god, and many war gods deride his peaceful, flower-power message. He can get along passably with most other gods, being either harmless enough or nice enough not to hate. He is especially friendly with Athena of the Olympians and their band, being of a largely similar mindset (though even Athena thinks Corellon could stand to be a bit more aggressive).

[This god was converted from the Player's Handbook, On Hallowed Ground, and Monsterous Mythology.]

Omens are given to the priests in the form of inspiration and artwork. They have pledged to always protect the elven communities they live in from harm. They tend to dress in silver and green.