Mielikki and the Seldarine - Elven Gods

[Tyeslan]

So we are having a discussion in Ardeep, and it has come up with a couple elves being faithed, that Mielikki is regarded as part of the Seldarine. I've had this discussion before with a few others ooc, and in fact, Mielikki is no where near as involved with the Elven pantheon as some people are thinking, and that she is her own deity regarded with Eldath, and Silvanus. She is regarded as a mere messenger for the Oak Father on Evermeet, and appears only from time to time. Can I ask why we are saying on FK that she is being included in this? It doesn't make any sense. She is regarded by wood elves due to her portfolios of nature, but would be considered a half elf, or human deity by any sources that speak of her.

http://www.nj-pbem.com/data/Gods/humangods/Mielikki.htm

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Mielikki

http://www.nj-pbem.com/data/Gods/elveng ... eshaar.htm (as she is regarded by elves, but still not included in the elven pantheon)

[Harroghty]

She is the offspring of Hanali Celanil, but I believe that you are correct to say that she is not part of the Seldarine. What a wonderful RP opportunity to clarify that with other PCs.

[Tyeslan]

Actually, they say it is a myth that she is the offspring of Hanali. There is a "cult" of halfelves that wish this to be true, but we aren't sure if it is, or not.

[Solaghar]

"Although Khalreshaar (Kal-REH-shay-are) is not listed in Faiths & Avatars as an alias of Our Lady of the Forest, Khalreshaar is the name by which Mielikki is known on Evermeet, the Green Isle. In this aspect, Mielikki is said to serve Rillifane Rallathil, not Silvanus, delivering messages and doing errands for the Leaflord when speed is of the essence. While Khalreshaar/Mielikki is in some respects an interloper god in the elven pantheon, the Fair Folk speak of a female human druid who was elevated to the ranks of the divine by the Seldarine when she was slain by soldiers of a human warlord as she attempted to defend elven woodlands from the encroachment of civilization."

I love Elves and the purity of Elves as a roleplay topic (see every conversation of Thelemas ever) but this seems like a sort of grey area to me. Many things I've read have stated that Khalreshaar is considered part of the family, while others obviously like what Tyeslan posted say that she's an interloper. I'd say that this is a good thing to allow the players to debate and come up with their own minds about in the game. I mean, it seems like in the Forgotten Realms this is a matter of some controversy, I think it could at least be a topic of conversation among Elves in the game. Seems like she might be far more popular among moon and wood elves, while traditionalist sun elves might not go for the whole innovation and incorporation of what they know to be a human deity.

[Casamir]

I think the above is an excellent way to settle it, it even brings up a larger point that it's a bit OOC to have theological issues a little too black and white. Too clean and absolute. Religion is normally a messy business, full of reformations, contradictions, and on going debates, often over the smallest of details. A little dissension between purported authorities of the divine is a good thing, on an IC level. Our torture chambers will go to waste without some heretic to re-educate. We still all have those right... right?

[Tyeslan]

I would still not consider her part of the Seldarine, but I will put that as the elf snob in me She is a halfelven goddess. Not a pure elf, and there are no credits to whether she was even birthed by Hanali. There is even one point that it states that wood elves follower her due to her portfolio. This comes from Forgotten Realms Wiki:

Like other Tel-quessir, the wood elves largely worship the Seldarine, but unlike their kin, they do not do so exclusively. Many wood elves have a special place in their heart for the gods Silvanus and Mielikki, whose protection of the wilderness is something the wood elves themselves try to espouse. Among the elven gods, the wood elves most commonly worship Solonor Thelandira and Rillifane Rallathil, who like Silvanus and Mielikki, have particular connections to the untamed wilderness. Solonor, as the god of archery, is perhaps the most popular god amongst the wood elves, who will sometimes invoke him as their protector and patron deity just prior to a battle.[5]

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Wood_elf

I would say that most elven gods are pretty cut, and dry as to what they hold near, and dear, and would expect from their followers. I would believe most elves on Evermeet, especially sunelves, wouldn't even pay mind to this interloper.

I was mostly looking for clarification, but if we are going to go with this as grey area, then I will just hold it as one belief over the other, and go from there. Thanks

[Solaghar]

Just to be clear, I don't believe Mielikki is or has been presented as a true member of the Elven pantheon in the same way Gond is a member of the human and gnomish pantheons, but rather I believe that she has an overlapping role that makes her status not the same as say, gods like Mask or Tyr who are purely human.