Silvanus is a god of the wildlands, but more so is the god of planar travel, and the god of boundaries that keep worlds from bleeding into each other. As forest are often the places where the veil grows thin, Silvanus's domain as the keeper of boundaries has become synonymous with that of the wild forests found on the material plane. Silvanus is known for his wisdom as well as his mirthful demeanour, keeping balance between a steady mind and the revelries of the fey.
Silvanus typically appears as a satyr-like humanoid, with antlers and long shaggy brown hair. They're usually seen in forests, and often carry a crooked shepherd's staff, said to have the power to unlock any door they knock it against, including doors to other planes. Their usual avatars are either masculine or androgynous, rarely ever appearing feminine.
Silvanus' Influence
Silvanus at his heart if a god of the fey, and a god of the boundaries between planes. This domain is typically conflated with nature and the wilds for the sheer number of planar portals that exist in the wild places of the world. As a nature deity, Silvanus is generally directed by Melora, though is considered her equal in many respects.
Silvanus is one of the few material gods appreciated and respected by the fey. He is seen as a protector who guards the boundaries between planes, and is respected for keeping humans out of the Feywild, as men with their iron weapons have menaced the Feywild before
All planar travel is overseen by Silvanus, and planar travelers often pray to Silvanus to ensure that their travels don't take them to unexpected places. The fey aspect of Silvanus also comes into play with their portal creation, with one of the most common portals to the Feywild being a circle of mushrooms in the wilds of the forest.
Silvanus's Goals
In the grand scheme of the pantheon, Silvanus has very few long term goals. Silvanus's goals are simple, they want to keep the wilds free, and to allow travelers to pass from plane to plane freely. He also enjoys revelry, seeing it as part of his domain as god of the wilds.
Divine Relationships
Silvanus rarely comes into conflict with the other gods of the realm. He only really takes issue with gods when gods attempt to put a limit on himself or his followers, or if they are harming the wilds of the worlds.
Silvanus is on good terms with the other gods of nature: Melora, Chauntea, Corellon, and Sehanine. Melora especially is considered a friend of Silvanus, as her domain frequently instersects with his. Chauntea and Silvanus sometimes are at odds, with Silvanus taking issue with Chauntea's ideals of taming wild lands to make farmland. Corellon, as the primary god of elves, is an especially close confidant, as they are gods of fey and elves which have always historically had a good relationship.
Silvanus takes particular issue with Erathis and Pelor. These two gods of civilization and law are threats to the wilds, and their ideals of order directly clash with Silvanus's more wild nature. That being said, Silvanus does respect them as rulers of the gods.
The god which most often comes into conflict with Silvanus is Bane. Silvanus is typically a deity of Chaotic Good, and Bane is the incarnation of lawful evil. The two are fundamentally opposed, and followers of Silvanus attempt to destroy followers of Bane and his consort Loviatar wherever they can.
Silvanus also carries a disdain for Archantael. During the Iconoclasm, Archantael created a barrier around the material plane, and Silvanus took this as a personal slight. The Barrier created by Archantael is the one planar boundary Silvanus does not control.
Worshipping Silvanus
The most common worshippers of Silvanus are planar walkers and fey, though it is not uncommon for him to have mortal worshippers that rely on the wilds of the world. Ethical hunters, explorers, and many others who live in the wilds worship Silvanus. One of the most notable group of these worshippers is a community in the Silver Valley which protects and guards a permanent portal to the Feywild.
Oath of the Watchers paladins and Horizon Walker rangers are often followers of Silvanus. These classes can be part of an order call the Mist Wardens, who guard against planar incursions and seek to keep the material plane safe. The rites and practices of this order is closely guarded.
Silvanus' Favor
Silvanus usually picks champions that defend the natural world. They are not typically one for sacrifices, but they do encourage worship and offerings constructed at shrines constructed in the wilds of the world. Like other nature gods, they do not particularly care for the recruitment of followers, as the power of nature is something that the divinity of cannot be denied. Because his interests are often tied to natural forces, Silvanus's attentions can be unpredictable. The Silvanus's Favor table offers suggestions for why they may have taken notice of you.
| d6 |
Sign of Favor |
| 1 |
You were born at dawn or dusk on the autumn equinox, a sign of Silvanus's favor. |
| 2 |
You saved an injured fey creature, which bestowed upon you a blessing through Silvanus. |
| 3 |
You were born a fey or elemental, or you have planar heritage in your bloodline. |
| 4 |
You are born of a lineage that has venerated Silvanus for centuries, and he has chosen you to be their champion. |
| 5 |
You were born in a place that is particularly suffused with planar magic, like a coastal settlement tied to the plane of water, or a forest with has ties to the Feywild. |
| 6 |
You aided in stopping the construction of a building upon sacred wildlands, allowing nature to remain untouched. |
Devotion to Silvanus
Silvanus calls upon his followers to defend the natural world and oppose those who would bring it harm through cruelty or greed. As a follower of Silvanus, consider the ideals on the Silvanus's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.
| d6 |
Ideals |
| 1 |
Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what they stand for. (Any) |
| 2 |
Nature. The beauty of the natural world fills me with serenity. (Neutral) |
| 3 |
Freedom. I yearn to run wild. (Chaotic) |
| 4 |
Travel. I want to see all that the multiverse has to offer, even the darkest parts. (Chaotic) |
| 5 |
Adaptability. Plans change, circumstances go awry. I must bend in response to changes, not break. (Any) |
| 6 |
Vigilance. The worlds beyond the material plane are dangerous. I must be a shield against it |
Myths of Silvanus
Most of the myths surrounding Silvanus concern the protection of fey creatures, travel across planar boundaries, or protecting the wilds of the world.
Defends the Captured Fey.
In days long past, a group of human monster hunters took captive a group of young fey women. In response, Silvanus opened a portal to the elemental planes of fire and water, creating a volcanic spring which erupted and buried the kidnappers in the mixture of boiling water and volcanic ash.
Protective Magic.
Silvanus has been known to aid heroes who have proven themselves good champions. One such incident concerned Silvanus and Tymora's isle of Plierus, which shifts in and out of phase with the world. Silvanus granted a group of heroes a branch from a tree deep in the wilds of the material plane, which kept them anchored in their plane and ensure they could make their way back.
The Panpipes.
A beautiful nymph, Syrinx was a servant of Verenestra, and she cared not for the company of men. Despite this, Silvanus pursued her across the Feywild, intent on making her his companion. Once Syrinx reached the coast, she realized that she could go no further, so she asked Verenestra the spring princess to hide her. She obliged, transforming her into a bunch of marsh reeds the very moment Silvanus spread his hands to grab her. Once he realized that he was embracing shrubs instead of a nymph’s body, Silvanus sighed with disappointment. To his amazement, the sigh shook the grass-like plants he held in his embrace and they, in turn, gave off a beautiful melody. Mesmerized by it, Silvanus cut the marsh reeds into different lengths and joined them side by side in decreasing order. Thus, the god created the first set of panpipes, which, in remembrance of his lost love, he chose to name syrinx.
Comments