Aerdrie Faenya, the Winged Mother, is an elven goddess of air and weather from the Elven pantheon,[3][4] also known as the Seldarine, in the crystal sphere known as Realmspace.[6][1][2] Aerdrie Faenya embodies the elven expression of freedom and impulse, and is an aspect of Angharradh, the Triune Goddess, along with Hanali Celanil and Sehanine Moonbow.[9][1][2]
Overview[]
Aerdrie Faenya is the elven goddess of the air, weather and birds, and as the bringer of rain, she is the closest thing they have to a fertility goddess. She is the patron of the avariel, a winged off-shoot of the elven race, and is popular with elves who possess flying mounts, such as asperii, dragons, giant eagles, griffons, hippogriffs, and pegasi. She is also revered by all non-evil birds and avians, such as the aarakocra. She is a somewhat distant goddess and rarely involves herself in elven culture. Her primary interest lies in creating unpredictable weather conditions, including violent thunderstorms, but her greatest joy is feeling the air rush past her with the ground far below.[1][2][3]
Description[]
Aerdrie appears as a tall, slim elf-like female with sky blue skin, white feathered flowing hair and eyebrows, and large feathered wings which constantly change colour - blue, green, yellow and white. The lower half of her body, from the hips down, disappears into swirling mist, so that she never appears to touch the ground.[2][4]
Holy symbol[]
Aerdrie's symbol is a cloud with the silhouette of a bird.[6][1][2][3][4]
Favored weapon[]
Aerdrie wields an electrically charged quarterstaff known as Thunderbolt.[1][2]
Realm[]
World Tree Cosmology[]
In the World Tree cosmology of Realmspace, Aerdrie Faenya resides within her realm, known as the Airie, which is located on the outer planar realm known as Arvandor,[1] which she shares with the rest of the Seldarine, including Corellon Larethian, Sehanine Moonbow, Deep Sashelas, Eilistraee, Erevan Ilesere, Fenmarel Mestarine, Shevarash, Hanali Celanil, Labelas Enoreth, Rillifane Rallathil, and Solonor Thelandira.[7] Arvandor, home of the Seldarine and the eladrin, is a vast expanse of pristine wilderness and lush natural beauty, with verdant forests, towering mountains, azure streams, crystal lakes and a deep green sea. The Airie is a glittering palace of clouds floating high in the otherwise crystal clear skies above the forests and towering mountains of the lands below. Celestial eagles and rocs share the realm with elven and avariel petitioners, celestial elves and angels.[7]
Great Wheel Cosmology[]
In the Great Wheel cosmology, Aerdrie Faenya does not like being tied down to one place for too long, and instead resides within a floating palace that travels between the Elven Court on Arvandor (also known as Olympus),[10] the first layer of the Olympian Glades of Arborea,[11] and the realm of Alfheim, located on Ysgard, the first layer of the Heroic Domains of Ysgard.[12][2][13][14] Aerdrie's floating palace is a towering blue and white marble structure built on clouds that float high above the lands below.[8] It is a realm of extremes, ranging from strong winds and howling skies that force all but the best fliers to the ground, to cool breezes and light spirits that are welcoming to all flying creatures. The majority of Aerdrie's petitioners are avariel, a winged elven race that she is particularly fond of. They flock around her floating palace, serving as guards and stewards for their airy goddess.[3] On Arvandor, Aerdrie's floating palace is part of the Elven Court of Corellon Larethian, whom she serves as mistress of air and weather, floating thousands of feet above the forest-cathedrals and crystal palaces of the rest of the Seldarine.[15] On Alfheim, the sunlit elven realm governed by the Norse god Frey,[16] Aerdrie's floating palace glides above lands that are wild and beautiful, untouched by civilization.[17]
Worship[]
The priests of Aerdrie Faenya are primarily concerned with exploration and maintaining good relations with sentient avian races, including giant eagles and aarakocra. They also create new magical items and spells that allow magical flight, or adventure in the hopes discovering lost relics related to the same. Aerdrie's priests raise flying steeds used by the aerial cavalry of various elven kingdoms, and tend aviaries of exotic birds from far-off lands to liven up formal elven gardens and to supply the moulted plumage used in elven fashions. They also work closely with elves involved in agriculture or horticulture to ensure favourable weather for their crops.[1]
In Spelljammer[]
Aerdrie Faenya is a member of the Seldarine and as such is considered native to Realmspace. Priests of Aerdrie Faenya are able to travel throughout Realmspace without limitation. However, if they leave Realmspace, they cannot recover any spells until they reenter a crystal sphere.[5]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Aerdrie Faenya article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Aerdrie Faenya article at Greyhawkonline.com
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona, Faiths and Pantheons, 2002, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-2759-3, Elven Pantheon section, Other Deities of Faerûn chapter, pages 123-124
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Eric L. Boyd, Demihuman Deities, 1998, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1239-1, Elven Pantheon, pages 94-97
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, The Elvish Pantheon, page 95
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Carl Sargent, DMGR4 Monster Mythology, 1992, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 1-56076-362-0, Elf Gods, page 23
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dale "Slade" Henson, SJR2 Realmspace, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Religion in the Stars chapter, page 79
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Steve Kenson, et al., Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, 2015, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9, The Elven Pantheon, page 23
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Richard Baker, Travis Stout, James Wyatt, Player's Guide to Faerûn, 2004, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-3134-5, Arvandor, pages 143-144
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, Arvandor map, page 97
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al., Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, 2015, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9, Elven Deities section, chapter 3: Races of the Realms, page 107
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Manual of the Planes 1st edition, 1987, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-88038-399-2, The Outer Planes chapter, Olympus section, pages 92-94
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Manual of the Planes 3rd edition, 2001, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1850-0, Olympian Glades of Arborea section, chapter 7: The Outer Planes, pages 144-147
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Manual of the Planes 3rd edition, 2001, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1850-0, Heroic Domains of Ysgard section, chapter 7: The Outer Planes, pages 90-92
- ↑ Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, Elvish section, Appendix 1: The Powers by Pantheon, page 173
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Player's Handbook 5th edition, 2014, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1, The Outer Planes table, Appendix C: The Planes of Existence, page 302
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Manual of the Planes 3rd edition, 2001, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1850-0, Olympian Glades of Arborea section, chapter 7: The Outer Planes, pages 145-146
- ↑ Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, The Norse Pantheon, page 143
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Manual of the Planes 3rd edition, 2001, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1850-0, Heroic Domains of Ysgard section, chapter 7: The Outer Planes, pages 91-92
Connections[]
| Realmspace |
|---|
| Celestial Bodies of Realmspace |
| The Sun (Primary) | Anadia | Coliar | Toril | Karpri | Chandos | Glyth | Garden | H'Catha |
| Additional Astronomicals of Realmspace |
| Comet K'Thoutek | Skull of the Void | Caer Windlauer | Galleon Nebula | Color Spray Nebula | King-Killer Star |
| Constellations of Realmspace |
| The Dragon of Dawn | The Firbolg | The Harp | The Sword and Dagger | The Lady of Mystery |