MIELIKKI

The goddess known as Mielikki, Lady of the Forest, is the patron of forests, rangers, and dryads.

The Lady wanders the forests of all Toril. There is some evidence that Mielikki was an elven demigoddess before the rise of humans, and she is often depicted with mixed elven and human features. Certainly she is worshipped by humans, elves, halfelves, and dryads alike.

Mielikki is assisted by two divine beings of lesser power. On rare occasions when Mielikki rides into battle, Lurue, the Unicorn serves as her mount. Lurue is a beast cult deity, the queen of talking beasts and intelligent creatures. Lurue is also known as 'Silverymoon', and is often worshipped in the city of the same name. Gwaeron Windstrom is a demigod who also serves Mielikki, and is a master of tracking and interpreting woodland signs. He is tall and physically impressive, with a white beard that constantly whips about in the wind, and long white hair. He can track infallibly through any conditions, in or on any terrain.

Mielikki herself often serves the Silvanus the OakFather, god of nature and patron of druids. In fact some legends relate that she is the offspring of a dalliance between Silvanus and the elvish goddess of romantic love and beauty called Hannali Celanil.

The followers of Mielikki do not organize themselves into official temples, rather they assemble in peaceful forest glades in collective worship to the goddess. The faithful of Mielikki organize themselves into three branches of devotion, known as the Triad.

The first branch of the Triad are the heart of the faith, and serve as voices of the souls of the trees themselves. Collectively these followers are referred to as the Heartwoods, and include dryads, hamadryads, and treants.

The second branch of the Triad are the spiritual followers of Mielikki, known as the Arms of the Forest. The Forestarms, as they are often called, are the closest fit to the traditional priests found throughout the Realms. Although they are not druids, Forestarms serve a similar role protecting the forests of the kingdoms.

The third branch of the Triad are the physical followers of Mielikki, known as the Needles. The Needles are rangers, who act as the warrior arm of the faith, and serve a defensive role protecting the forests from marauders, hurnanoids, and the followers of the god Malar. Included in this branch is a small religious order of woodland knights such as the Shadoweirs.

Finally the lay followers of Mielikki include many woodsmen, the occasional elf (especially wood elves), a few bards, and many of the Harpers, a secretive organization for good.

Mielikki's allies are Chauntea and Lathander. Her foes are Malar and Talos.