Shabekhi (3.5e Deity)
Shabekhi is a being of the Feywild, a being of nature and magic. Its exact gender is unclear, though most interpret it as a male deity, it is unclear as Feyborn Elven texts refer to it as God or Goddess interchangeably. It appears often similar to that of a great tree, gnarled in white bark and branches, with a face and black eyes, and somewhat clawed hands. Often seen atop a hill it will at times become engulfed in strange magical fire that never burns it but shines a strange light in the sky of either the Feywild or the Material Planes or whatever plane it chooses to be in.
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| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | A face with branches extending out around it, two hands often clutching a scythe, but not always. |
| Home Plane: | Feywild |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio: | Seasons, Weather, Harvests, Foresight and Elves |
| Clergy Alignments: | Anything but Evil |
| Domains: | Weather, Mind, Healing, Oracle, Death, Magic, Luck, Plants, and Animals |
| Favored Weapon: | Scythe |
It is responsible for the existence of Feyborn Elves. High Elven legends say that Wild Elves were granted magical aptitude via Shabekhi to make them more like High Elves. Wild Elves assert the opposite, that the High Elves were made more feral in order that they might be more like them. Whatever the means or ways he created these Elves, he or she, they are the Children of Shabekhi.
Shabekhi is associated most with the cycle of the seasons. With the seasons comes the power to heal, and the slay. Birth, Life, and then Death. The cycle of the seasons runs through this being and it is closely affiliated with nature and the passage of time in relation to nature. It grants untold magical secrets of time and nature to those loyal followers who bring about the "good harvest."
"Good Harvest," is a term meaning those who do right by others and by the natural world.
Shabekhi is slightly less militant about the woodlands and nature however as Shabekhi also has a number of shrines amongst those involved in agriculture. He is willing to grant blessings of bountiful harvests to those who keep by his code and law and those who do right by nature. While other nature deities might shun the use of farmland, or even hunting Shabekhi sees these as natural and necessary.
Dogma
Shabekhi is a deity of time and nature, as such a great respect for both is required. However this deity is less militant towards farming and agriculture then other Elven, and or nature deities. But land must be used wisely, with care, and with respect. Hunters must not waste their kill and must make use of every bit of it, though giving over parts as offerings at shrines to Shabekhi are acceptable.
Shabekhi teaches followers that all belong to all others and that all must think of others when doing things. No individual is an island or their own world and must consider others and the world around them.
Finally a great saying exists, inscribed on every temple facade. "Little by Little, it shall be done." The phrase means that one must do each thing with their full energy and focus on one thing at a time, but have faith it will be finished. Shabekhi encourages the work ethic of the stoic farmer and woodsmen.
Clergy and Temples
Temples are often hilltop shrines, or lay within secluded hallowed groves in the woods. The shrine is typically a gazebo of sorts with an alter and a copper plated tree with candles set up decoratively within the metal branches, a single face and hands clutching a bowl of burnt offerings is placed within the simple shrine. More elaborate shrines often have burial grounds nearby, or the shrine is the top story of a tower filled with tomes of divine magic and knowledge.
Clerics of Shabekhi are often Feyborn Elves or Elves whom practice some form of Agriculture. Even humans have been known to pray to this deity for a good harvest. Druids and Clerics and Archivists often form the bulk of the priests of Shabekhi, either by defending and managing nature, studying the magic and nature of the world and the Feywild or by doing battle against fiends and other beings opposed to the cycle of existence.
Clerics of the Spring, are often healers and fixated on the regeneration of life, animals and plant domains fixate strongest here.
Clerics of the Summer likewise fixate on magic and plants and animals, also the domain of Oracles is strongest amongst these as they must foresee the coming harvest and the winter ahead.
Clerics of the Autumn are most fixated upon the fading light, Weather, the Mind, and the Oracle and Magic are strongest here as the veil between the material world and other worlds in the afterlife grow weak.
Clerics of the Winter are most fixated with Magic, Weather and Death. For now all has gone to sleep and the world is locked in deaths icy grip.
These four "Orders of Shabekhi" form the clerical orders that serve Shabekhi.
Pantheon
Seldarine, the Elven Pantheon is one for which Shabekhi allies itself with and casts lots with. Shabekhi looks after the woods, and the passing seasons and harvest, however it is unclear its exact relation to the Elven deities is. It has created a race of Elves that follow and worship it, however it is unclear if Shabekhi has always been allied with it.
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