Elwanism (El-wyn-ism)

Hear, Great Creation, the the Lady Elwane is your Goddess, and She is One, and She is in All and Through All.

Elwanism is the primary religion of the High Elves and Wood Elves. It is a henotheistic religion which centers around the worship of Elwane and her Celestial Princes. It is currently led by the holy prophet Ettrian Ivyrock. 

Elven History & Culture 

It is hard to separate the history of Elwanism from the history of the Elves. Elves are an ancient species, one whose imprint on the fate of the world has been on the Aeorthe since the origins of life. Their civilizations and cultures have risen and fallen over the millennia, and after a devastating war that brought the High Elves to near extinction, the Elven people were forced to retreat into the forests to lick their wounds and to meditate on the atrocities that had committed against them and they against others. The once great Elven Empire fragmented into various bickering tribes that warred with one another constantly, the only thing that brought them together were certain astral feast days.
On one such feast day, in the Jungled Forests of a far off land, at the base of a hollow tree, Elwane revealed herself to the tribes assembled at the Tree for an annual solar festival, and thus began her great plan of salvation. Through Elwane’s first prophet, Araec, an eternal peace was forged between the Twelve Great Elven Tribes, and a confederation was made that day which lasts to the very present. The Elven people are semi-migratory, moving from tree cluster to tree cluster, creating homes around what are called, “mother trees”, which are the focal point of Elven society. 
During one of the great explorations, the High Prophet Casmiel ordered that a great temple be created, and a permanent city be founded like the days of old to the glory of Elwane. It was through his guidance that the Temple of the Celestials was built, and the temple-city of Lightburrow was made in a great desert.
Elwane has progressed revealed herself over the ages, as have the various Celestial Royals that occupy Her heavenly court. This revelation has been recorded in the Holy Texts and the Holy Words. These are the most guarded aspects of Elven society, and are handed on with a reverence perhaps unseen anywhere else in the known world.
The Elves now await Elwane's promise of salvation, and the restoration of all the planes of reality to order. Until then, their Prophet guards them in prayerful posture, and the Sovereign Lady tends to the needs of creation.

Theology 

Elwane, the One True God, the Uncreated Light, the Sustainer, and the Great Gardener 

The One who is. The Creator and Sustainer of All. Forger the unseen realms. Ruler of the Heavens, and Queen of the Celestial Princes. These are but a few of Elwane's titles. The Holy Words teach that She governs creation primarily through Her three great royals: Luna (Moon), Sola (Sun), Pola (the North Star). She created the universe, and formed all living things. The Elves credit her with their creation, but also teach the Humans and Elves came from Elwane's planting. According to the Holy Words, She placed within the "three great raises" their souls, made from celestial light, so that the races may tame Aeorthe as the Celestial Royals tame the stars.

Creation Myth 

The Holy Words teach that Her first realm, which is now referred to as the Scorching Forchest, was governed by Aegna, who rebelled against Elwane. In retaliation, Elwane sent Her legion of royals against Aegna and her followers, bathing the forest in righteous fire. This event, known to the Elves as the First Flame. The second realm She created was Aeortha, where She planted a Sacred Grove and brought forth the First Elves. As time went on, so did Elwane's creations. The Celestial Princess, Sola, created the humans while the Celestial Princess, Luna fashioned the Dwarves. For a time, the great races co-existed in what could only be called paradise. 
The First Peace was unfortunately broken. The Dwarves, led by avarice and temptation crafted great machines of war and marched on the Humans and the Elves. The strain upon Humanity was too much, and their singular kingdom began to fragment and collapse. The Holy Words or Texts do not give an estimate as to how long the First War lasted. What has been passed on is this: the three races continued in unending bloodshed against one another until all creation was in jeopardy of being drowned in blood. Just as the final Elven city was about to fall, the Elven King, in a last ditch attempt, called upon the Wrath of the Stars. No one knows just what that wrath was. The Holy Words do not give specifics. Some speculate that it was genocide or plague or perhaps crop devastation. The Prophets have advised that it is best to leave such mysteries to the mind of Elwane. What is known is that their has never been an Elven King since the First War. Following this conflict, most of the elves retired to the forest, shaken by the atrocities that they wrought and had suffered.
There have been 14 generations of prophets since the founding of Lightburrow. And now, throughout the great forests of Aeortha, wherever there is a Mother Tree to be found, hymns and worship are offered to the Maker of All. 
Though often forgotten, Her unseen hand continues to act in the world, guiding all and soon restoring all things to Herself. This is the great promise of the Prophets. 

The Celestial Royals 

The Holy Words teach that Elwane governs the universe through her Astral Council, a collection of Divine Beings that govern various aspects of the universe. While most of them go unnamed, the Three Princess have revealed themselves to the Elves and have interacted with mortal servants or spoken with the Prophet from time to time. 

Princess Pola, Leader of the Astral Hosts 

She waged a vengeful and costly war against Aegna and her followers during the First Flame. It was she who bound Aegna in the flaming roots of the First Tree and banished her Royals from the Astral Council. Even now, she is known for her vigilance and protection against all those unholy spirits that threaten Creation. 
Pola serves as the great incense bearer in the Heavenly Temple, constantly makes intercession for Elwane’s followers. She is popularly regarded as the protector of the Elvish people, and is represented in art and placed in the sky as the North Star.

Princess Luna, Messenger of Elwane 

Luna is known for her great compassion for the Elven people, and her heart even goes out to some who live beyond the shade of the forest. It is said that it was by the mouth of Princess Luna, that the first Holy Words were taught to the Great Prophet Araec at the Hollow Tree. Luna is said to have appeared to several Prophets over the centuries. 
It is popularly believed, though never officially handed on in the Holy Words, that those of the Gildensoul Tribe, from whose ranks comes the Sovereign Lady, descend from child born of Luna and Saelin the Gildensoul Patriarch. 

Princess Sola, the Great Lady of the Astral Council 

Just as the Sun is the greatest light in the sky, so too, it is said, that Princess Sola is the greatest of the Three Princesses. Her role is to chair the Astral Council, and so it is by Sola's word that Day turns to Night, it is her command as to what constellations fill the skies and when. The Sovereign Lady is in some sense believed to be a symbol, if not physical representation of Princess Sola and her role on the Astral Council. Just as she leads the Stars, so the Sovereign Lady leads the confederation of chieftains. 
Sola is perhaps considered the most distant of the Three Princess, although she has appeared once in the Temple at Lightburrow. The words exchanged between the Divine Lady and the Prophet were never added to the Holy Words, but it is said that each new Prophet is told them upon their election. By Who? That is known only to Elwane. 

Astral Feasts

Elwanism and its practiced is centered around the Summer and Winter Solstices. Worship is offered daily at each Mother Tree, but the Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and First Fall are the three holiest days of the years for a follower of Elwane. 

Summer Solstice 

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First Fall 

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Winter Solstice 

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Type

Religious, Pantheon