Valen, God of Labor

Valen is the God of Labor, and is responsible for the creation of the Elves. He is the firstborn of Syvl and Kevolah in the First Era.

## Origins and Creations

Valen was born to Syvl and Kevolah during the First Era. He is the twin brother of Feyan, the Goddess of Charm, and the eldest of the racial gods.

During the First Era, Valen created the elves of Somara, widely regarded as the first mortal race to inhabit the Prime Material Plane.

Also during this time, Caius, the God of War fought against Valen and his elves. Caius repeatedly challenged Valen to fight him, and in their ensuing duel, Valen put out Caius's eye.

Though Valen himself does not seem to harbor grudges against any other gods, both Durefn and Mogus have expressed their distaste for him.

## Appearance

Valen does not take a wide variety of forms. When he chooses to appear to mortals, he usually appears as a tall, lithe elf. If he appears to elves, he generally takes on the subtle racial differences of high elves, sea elves, or wood elves, depending on the race of who he appears to.

If he appears to non-elves, he generally seems to prefer to take on the form of a lean, middle-aged, and brown-haired high elf, wearing a blacksmith's apron, with a bow on his back and a longsword made of glass on his hip. He has a melodious, soothing voice, and a delicate, welcoming touch.

## Personality

Like most elves, Valen is calm and patient, and far prefers diplomacy to violence. He seems fond of appearing among the elves in Somara to offer advice or teachings to individuals who he feels could benefit from it. Valen rarely announces his presence, but instead will leave subtle hints to his followers that he is with them and will guide them.

Valen (likely due to his good relationship with his father, Syvl) has a high respect for nature, and often expects his followers to behave in this manner as well, rebuking those who mistreat the natural world. However, he never seems to exhibit outward anger to those who act against his wishes, instead giving them dissapointed lectures.

Valen is an expert craftsman, and has a fine eye for details, able to craft incredibly light and intricate weapons that he sometimes grants to his followers.

## Worship

Much of the modern elf tradition in Somara is centered around Valen and his ideals. In fact, the code of law for many elf settlements is based on the *Valenthenid,* which is a list of proverbs and guiding messages that Valen created for his people. Most civilized elf settlements have temples or shrines dedicated to Valen.

Many elf craftsmen pay respect to Valen, hoping that he will grant them his ability to forge the highest quality swords and become *Valenhael,* a smith whose abilities rival that of Valen himself*.* One is said to become a *Valenhael* once they are able to forge a sword of glass (called an *Ithrysaivun)*, something very few are ever able to accomplish.

Most clerics of Valen tend to fall under the Forge Domain, though there are several that instead fit the Unity Domain. The overwhelming majority of his clerics are elves, though some humans and half-elves have been known to worship Valen as well, especially those who are craftsmen or poor laborers.

There are several races among whom worshipers of Valen are nearly nonexistent, those primarily being dwarves and orcs. Dwarves (especially craftsmen) almost unanimously worship Durefn instead, and orcs, due to their intense hatred of elves, rarely feel anything but contempt for Valen.

Among elves, only the high elves, wood elves, and sea elves worship Valen in a high capacity. The Shadar-kai instead almost unanimously revere the Raven Queen. The drow largely worship Lolth, and those that do not are more likely to worship Yorexa, Ophane, or Saris instead. The eladrin as a whole are not a religious race, and owe their existence more to Feyan than Valen. In spite of this, however, Valen never will turn away those who decide to worship him, but rather comforts them and delivers advice and guidance in times of need.

There are few organizations in Somara dedicated to Valen. The most prominent are the Green Knights, a group of paladins that swear the Oath of the Ancients. They seek to defend not only the natural world but all of the elf civilizations in Somara, and follow both Syvl and Valen.