Eidolon

**Eidolons** (sometimes called **elemental eidolons**) are entities worshiped as spirits of the land in certain places of Exandria, such as the Demithore Valley where they are called **Demithore eidolons**. The term "eidolon" is Issylran in origin.

They are said to thrive in natural places untouched by the interventions of gods, supernatural forces, or mortal authorities as extensions of the primordial titans.

## **Description**

Demithore eidolons appear as mists in which they reveal the forms of natural creatures, including bears and horned beings.

When Joan Abaddina summoned an individual wind eidolon to guide Bells Hells, the spirit presented itself as a cougar made of air with glowing golden eyes, a semi-ethereal elemental or "wisp of opaque wind".

The spirits in the Serratus Wilderness took the form of sprite-like beings.

## **History**

According to Joan Abaddina, the eidolons were the children of the Primordial titans, and they were present in Issylra during the Founding. While other elementals ended up facing the gods, these entities hid from the divine judgement, surviving and hiding in different places across Exandria.

At some point the eidolons started being worshiped by the mortals in the Demithore Valley, due to their connection with the land. In Hearthdell, a village in the region, the people started following a form of "pagan" life called The Loam and the Leaf, trusting the elementals to take care of them and their land, and entrusting the elders of the settlement with the task of communicating with these spirits. The elemental eidolons favored the local population when they were respected, having a symbiotic relationship with them, but let their discontent be known when they went too far in taking advantage of nature's resources (cutting down too many trees for firewood, for example).

Around 823 PD the Sunrise Sanctuary was built in Hearthdell using the land owned by the Silvercall family (wealthy lumberers with bonds with Othanzia), and little by little the cult of Pelor began to gain presence in the locality; although most villagers remained faithful to the local spirits, they were not pleased with the cult of the Dawnfather, according to Elder Abaddina, and in 843 PD, with the arrival of the apogee solstice, the presence of followers of the sun god and guards increased, stressing Hearthdell's inhabitants and encouraging them to revolt against the temple and its defenders. Elder Abaddina encouraged this sentiment, stating that it was what the Demithore eidolons, empowered by the solstice, wished for. That night, either obeying the elder's wishes or by their own will, these spirits of the land began to influence the night mist and the vegetation near the Sunrise Sanctuary, causing it to grow on the walls to make easier to climb over them. During the attack the eidolons empowered the Earth Guardian summoned by Joan, and when she lost control of the elemental, the spirits kept influencing it so it would still help in the battle; they greeted the villagers and their allies once the temple was destroyed.

The following day, as Bells Hells prepared to leave for the Irriam Canyon, Elder Abaddina offered to send an eidolon with them to guide them, and when the adventurers agreed, the goliath summoned a wind cougar who set off with the group, animalistically, but affable with them. While crossing the Serratus Wilderness, Ashton Greymoore sensed the presence of the local elementals while trying to meditate the first night in the forest, and the spirits kept watch with them; the second night, several sprite-looking eidolons approached Orym, playfully sharing the space with him, and the halfling danced with them, doing weaponless Zeph'aeratam poses on a *Bigby's Hand* summoned by Prism. When the adventurers reached the shrine they were looking for, the wind cougar bade them farewell with a head bow and vanished, having fulfilled its mission.

## **Abilities**

These spirits are capable of influencing the nature around them, accelerating the growth of plants and imposing their will on other elemental beings, empowering them. In addition, they are capable of giving strength to those who collaborate with them, such as Elder Abaddina, although it can be taxing for the person.

Archdruids can form bonds with these spirits, connecting with the land they protect and slowing down their aging process.

## **Appearances and mentions**

* Campaign Three
	+ "Faith or Famine" (3x60) (first appearance)
	+ "Crisis of Faith" (3x61)
	+ "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62)
	+ "A Haunted Past" (3x63), mentioned only
	+ "Reunited" (3x64), mentioned only
	+ "A Path of Vengeance" (3x65), mentioned only
	+ "For The Tempest" (3x68), mentioned only

## **Trivia**

* In Ancient Greece an eidolon (*εἴδωλον*, meaning "image", "apparition" or "ghost") is a spirit-like image that looks like a living or dead person. Sometimes they were interpreted as ghosts, but in certain Greek legends a powerful illusion or shade (such as the one that, according to some versions, took the place of Helen in Troy) could be considered an eidolon.
	+ In Dungeons & Dragons an eidolon is a type of devoted undead spirit that protects a sacred place, possessing special statues whenever it needs to physically defend that place.
	+ In *Warhammer 40K*, Eidolon is an ancient lord commander rumored to have served as a lieutenant to Abaddon the Despoiler, whose name is similar to Abaddina's.
* The way Demithore eidolons are described as nature spirits is somewhat reminiscent of fey entities such as nymphs.
	+ Interestingly, some of the spirits can take the form of fey creatures. It is possible that both types of entities are related, but it is not confirmed.
* According to Joan Abaddina the Demithore eidolons aren't scared of Predathos.
* Although Elder Abaddina only mentioned wind, fire, and earth eidolons, it is presumed that water eidolons exist too, but probably in areas close to the coast or to rivers and lakes, not in a town on the mainland.

## **References**

1. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 2:55:50.
2. ↑ See "For The Tempest" (3x68) at 2:30:24.
3. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 1:59:00.
4. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: Why, Matthew?! Why?" (4SDx15) at 1:17:20.
5. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:29:22.
6. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 4:48:56.
7. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 0:13:41.
8. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 1:33:57.
9. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:50:24.
10. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 2:55:38.
11. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:50:28.
12. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 1:23:29.
13. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 1:26:10.
14. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 2:56:53.
15. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 3:51:57.
16. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:29:25.
17. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 4:48:56.
18. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 1:01:07.
19. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) from 1:35:17 through 1:40:42.
20. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 3:18:23.
21. ↑ See "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 3:51:57.
22. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) from 0:26:19 through 2:44:29.
23. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) from 3:11:07 through 3:14:49.
24. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:39:09.
25. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 1:49:12.
26. ↑ See *D&D: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes*, 5th ed., p. 194.
27. ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 3:58:29.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Orym and the spirits, by Maddy Marshall (source). Used with permission.