Page 36 - D&D - Player's Handbook

games. Ordinary folk pray to him to avert his eyes from She has many shrines, particularly in the Savage
their valuables, but the cautious sometimes employ Frontier. Most consist of a dead tree trunk into which
"Mask's purse," a small, cheap cloth pouch worn in plain has been carved a likeness of her holy symbol, a uni-
sight (thus easily cut or lifted) containing a small offer- corn's head. Alternatively, the likeness might be carved
ing of coin. By convention, a pickpocket pilfers Mask's on a separate piece of wood and tacked to a living
purse when encountering another person wearing one, tree. These shrines typically mark the point in a forest
and considers the gain a gift from the god, while the one beyond which locals know not to cut timber or hunt.
who lost the purse is grateful to the Lord of Shadows for Often these tributes are created by loggers at the end
accepting a respectful sacrifice of a small portion of his of a logging excursion as a mark of thanks to the god-
goods. Of course, nothing prevents another pickpocket dess for providing the wood and for keeping the timber
from targeting someone who has lost Mask's purse, but cutters safe during the work.
anyone with the ill luck to attract multiple pickpockets in
a single outing has probably earned Mask's ire anyway. MI LIL
Priests of Mask are usually thieves by profession, and
The Lord of Song, the One True Hand of All-Wise
often serve as higher-ups in the local underworld or Oghma
criminal syndicate. They go by the title of demarche or
demarchess, and wear veil-masks when acting in their Milil is the god of poetry, eloquence, and song. He is
priestly capacity. a god of creativity and inspiration, of the entire song
more than just the lyrics or the music. He represents
MIELIKKI the finished thought, the result of the process that takes
an idea from conception to realization. Milil is most
Our Lady of the Forest, the Forest Queen
venerated by bards, troubadours, and other entertain-
People rarely speak of Mielikki except in quiet forest ers, but anyone preparing to entertain or speak before
spaces. Woodlands that evoke wonder are where she a crowd might offer Milil a brief prayer for a successful
reigns supreme, but she is said to keep watch over good performance. Those who seek inspiration in a creative
folk in any forest, not matter how dark or cruel. When endeavor also pray to Milil.
children are lost in the woods, people beseech Mielikki His icons depict him as a handsome male, sometimes
to protect them until they are found. a human, sometimes an elf, and even a half-elf in places
Mielikki is the goddess of the forest and the creatures (such as Aglarond) that have a large half-elf population.
that live within it. She is seen as a remote and spiritual He is variously depicted as young or old, but his identity
deity- less human-like than many other gods. She's is always apparent because of his five-stringed harp
not unmindful of people, but her attention and favor made of silvery leaves, which he carries constantly. He
are difficult to attract. She is the patron of rangers in is the ideal to which all performers aspire: poised and
the same way that Milil is the patron of bards, but even confident, winningly charismatic, and a source of in-
rangers rarely pray to her directly. They instead pray to spiration for those who listen to him. He is said to have
Gwaeron Windstrom, who they believe will carry their total recall of anything he hears or that is spoken while
words to the goddess by tracking her to whichever forest music plays, as well as utmost skill at improvisation.
she hides in. Holy sites dedicated to Milil are often found in per-
Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn, which prompts some to formance venues and schools of music. Whether the
think of her as such and conflate her with Lurue, Queen site is a vast concert hall or a small choral chamber, it
of the Unicorns and the actual goddess of their kind. But must have excellent acoustic qualities. Milil's priests
most tales depict Mielikki as a beautiful woman whom are patrons of the arts in addition to being performers
Lurue allows upon her back as a rider, and the two are themselves, and they frequently act as tutors in the arts
thought to be boon companions. Mielikki's relationships of performance at his shrines and temples.
with other deities of the natural world are more com- Like Deneir, Milil is sometimes thought of as being
plex. Silvanus is sometimes thought of as her father and in service to Oghma. In these portrayals of the deity,
Eldath is considered her sister, but Mielikki walks her Milil is the god's left hand, also referred to as the One
own path through the wilds. True Hand. This expression isn't meant to denigrate
the right hand (Deneir); rather, it stems from the fact

SYMBOL OF MIELIKKI

SYMBOL OF MASK

CHAPTER l I WELCOME TO THE REALMS