Vanar

Description

## Origins

Vanar is possibly the most infamous of the elven pantheon. Though not the first deity to turn dark and be cast out from the High Grove, she is the only one of Greater status and she continues to be a thorn in the High Grove’s side. Countless myths pin the blame of unfortunate events on Vanar. She is most infamous for leading her occult followers into the shadowfell where they were twisted into the shadow elves who later returned and took residence in the Underdark. The majority of shadow elves worship her though some may also worship Elthrain or Lalora. She allows this but strictly forbids worship of the drow goddess Nialith (once a devout worshiper and later traitor and now rival) or any gods of the High Grove except maybe Alathan or Rhala. She also has a great hatred of the fairly new god Kalarath who led so many of her ex-worshipers out of the Underdark. Vanar detests most surface elves though she will make exceptions for elves who dabble in dark magic and necromancy.

Originally, before she grew dark, she was simply the goddess of the arcane, and especially diviners (later taken over entirely by Eshathar). She was the deity of hidden knowledge and magic, as well as great ambition. She was said to be the one who gave Avarael his sorcerous abilities and it was her who led the first elves to become obsessed with magic. She was symbolized by snakes which were also ancient elven symbols for wisdom. Her cults were always known for the intensity of their worship of her and the great lengths they would go to please her, in hopes of her arcane gifts. Later, during the first great war with the dragons, she gave her most devout followers knowledge of necromancy so that they could use undead armies. Most elves considered this magic profane and outlawed it’s use, for fear of it spreading into the wrong hands and the consequences of playing god or defiling the natural balance. Her most devout, however, were determined to use whatever means necessary to win the war. Eventually they were banished from the elven Kingdoms and Vanar opened a portal into the shadowfell where they could be safe from the dragons, humans, and orcs who were ravaging the land. After this Vanar cast herself from the High Grove, claiming them to be cowards and traitors who feared real power. She became a goddess for those who seek out power through dark magic and she is the goddess of both necromancers and the sentient undead. Many creatures of the Shadowfell came to worship her and there are also warlocks who do. Many of her followers tend to eventually go mad, either with power or obsession with finding it. Some start out relatively moral and in their quest for truth and hidden arcane secrets are slowly corrupted. She sees ‘balance’ as a pointless construct and sees no point in a cycle of life and death. Because of this she is seen as a great enemy to both Eshathar and Shorana, as well as Talrenir. She considers the undead to be her children. Though Vanar is the enemy of any creature of the surface, she is also an enemy to both Dwarves and Duergar whom she loves to take as slaves. One of her biggest enemies is the dwarven god Balmir. At one point she shifted into a dwarf form and seduced him, bore his child in secret, and then used this child Rundath, against him as her main general. Rundath later disowned her and became a goddess for the Duergar in order to spite Vanar for using her.

## Appearance / Depictions

Vanar was originally described as having pale skin with black hair. She came dressed in an elegant royal black dress trimmed in silver and carrying a stave with the head in the shape of a black serpent with ruby eyes.  After her corruption in the shadowfell she comes to her followers as an elf with obsidian black skin, much like her shadow elf followers, and shockingly white hair, long and wild. She wears a crown of living serpents whose eyes glow red, much like her own. She is cloaked in what looks like shadows, crackling with black lightning.