religion of the Wild Elves

[hollyfant]

Canonical sources are a bit confusing about the faiths of the Sy'Tel'quessir. Fenmarel Mestarine is stated as their patron Deity, but I found no mention of any Greens actually worshipping Him. Rillifane Rallathil gets the same accolade, and He at least seems to have Wild Elven druids dedicated to Him. Races of Faerûn makes things even worse:

The wild elves do not feel close to the Seldarine and do not often become clerics, instead venerating nature itself as druids of Mielikki, Silvanus, or Rillifane Rallathil.

...and then...

The wild elves worship the Seldarine, in particular Rillifane Rallathil.

Older sources have Shevarash an ascended Green Elf Himself, but his old mates don't seem to care for him. And then there's the ALFA player guide on Wild Elves:

Chauntea’s wild children

Eh? Chauntea's children? They're not even native to Abeir-Toril!

So what's the deal with these bleedin' barbarians? Rillifane Rallathil seems to have the best papers as sole contender for the average Wild Elf's devotions. But is that as "Nature"? Or as Himself? And with or without the rest of the Seldarine? And what then about Mielikki, Silvanus and Chauntea?

Eccentic weirdos aside, Who does J. Random Sy'Tel'quessir pray to, if anyone?

[Spider Jones]

Chauntea... Is err, off, to say the least.

Rillifane is definetly mentioned as a favored deity of theirs through various source books, along with Fenmarel, though, as stated, they tend toward serving as druids rather than clerics when they do serve any divine force, and they serve nature (through one of those deities listed) above any deity in those cases.

So, Rillifane and Fenmarel are yer best bet as to what is safe, but, the other nature deities likely have their place, I'd be warey of nature deities that have that agricultural bent like Chauntea though, that's definetly not their way.

Yes, canon can be contradictory, and it is suprising the number of references you'll find related to Rillifane when Fenmarel himself grants druid spells.

[Ronan]

I believe its also stated that all the elf subraces (except drow) worship Corellon, even the aquatic elves, though this may obviously be a lot less common than it would be amung the more civilized subraces.

Spider is of course correct though, Chauntea is not a deity a wild elf would likely worship.

As for Sheverash, he is only a demigod, and his portfolio is pretty specialized. I could definitely see wild elves in Cormathor worshiping him, though.

Edit: Player's Guide to Faerun lists deities next to regions. For wild elves, its got Rillifane (the Chondalwood), and the whole Seldarine (Evermeet, Elven Court, Wealdath).

[Rusty]

This is all silliness; Elven PCs in ALFA worship Mystra, Selune, Ilmater, Helm, Blibdoolpoop, etc etc.

Shevarash was (likely) a Green Elf; and it seems it was Fenmarel and not Corellon who granted him divinity on his death, which might suggest a greater role for Fenmarel vis-a-vis Green Elves.

[Dorn]

I believe its also stated that all the elf subraces (except drow) worship Corellon, even the aquatic elves, though this may obviously be a lot less common than it would be amung the more civilized subraces.

But thats probably similar to dwarves worshipping Modarin or orcs Grumsh(sp?) or Uthgardts Uthgar above their totem beasts.

They all worship their 'greater' god, but have preferred gods/sponsors beneath them.

[Ronan]

This is all silliness; Elven PCs in ALFA worship Mystra, Selune, Ilmater, Helm, Blibdoolpoop, etc etc.

Like ghostwise hin and jungle dwarves, wild elves are (usually) extremely isolated. So naturally their culture is isolated as well, and you'd certainly not find the same range of deities amung them as you would moon elves, for example.

Wood elves of course are much less so, and are actually described as friendly and compassionate towards other races.