Erden Dragonblood
Elfbane
The Dragon Slayer| {{ #if:Edenite| {{ #if:Gailifor| {{ #if:Heroes, Dragonslaying, Tenacity| {{ #if:Reformed Church of Maeleldil| {{ #if:
| Erden Dragonblood | |
|---|---|
|
}} | |
| (Deity) | |
| Pronunciation | ER-dïn
}} |
| Titles | The Hero of Legend Elfbane The Dragon Slayer }} |
| Adjective | Edenite
}} |
| Home | Gailifor
}} |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Portfolio | Heroes, Dragonslaying, Tenacity
}} |
| Worshipers | Reformed Church of Maeleldil
}} |
| LG | NG | CG |
| LN | N | CN |
| LE | NE | CE |
| Cleric Alignments
| LG | NG | CG |
| LN | N | CN |
| LE | NE | CE |
}}
{{ #if:Glory, Nobility, Strength| Domains Glory, Nobility, Strength
}}
{{ #if:Heroism, Leadership, Resolve| Subdomains Heroism, Leadership, Resolve
}}
{{ #if:Lance| Favored Weapon Lance
}}
{{ #if:Man mounted upon griffin impaling dragon| Symbol Man mounted upon griffin impaling dragon
}}
{{ #if:Griffin| Sacred Animal Griffin
}}
{{ #if:White, Red, Blue| Sacred Colors White, Red, Blue
}}
History
The hero Erden was instrumental in the overthrow of the elves a millennium and a half ago, a fact that the humans (and elves) of Gailifor tend to view as largely beneficial, while the Syranyle (and many Darynyle) elves tend to view it as a crime against their people.
In either case, Erden's history is increasingly entrenched in speculation and clouded by the fog of ages. A great many apocryphal stories regarding Erden have arisen since the conquest. The facts upon which all can agree, however, are that Erden was born 46 years before his victory over the elves of Gailifor. The ultimate victory was achieved when the greatest of the elves' dragon allies, a Red Dragon named Vezzedrizkal (known as Firebrand to humans) was slain by the hero. The defeated elves fled and Erden sought out otherworldly counsel. Erden found what he sought and then died as a recluse.
Beyond that, everything is apocryphal, however. For example, there is much debate regarding what sort of otherworldly counsel he sought - and to what end. Some say he felt remorse for driving the elves from their lands and wanted to reconcile this with the abuse and pain the humans suffered at the elves' hands. Some say he was despondent at having slain the only worthy adversary that remained for him. As to the counsel he sought, the Reformed Church officially recognizes that he dealt with a parliament of extra-planar entities, but the specific entities in that parliament are widely debated. A few traditions holds that the elven gods were among them, and that he may have plead his case (or begged their forgiveness). Others claim that among them were also angels, azata, devils and demons who bargained for his soul. Still others claim that the spirits of his ancestors - and of the forgotten human gods - sought only to warn him that his children would bring about the end of his kingdom.
Erden's lineage remains a matter of grave concern, however. He is known to have never married, but had many lovers, more than a few of whom sired children. There were three original claimants to Erden's throne: St. James, St. Michael and St. Peter. They engaged in negotiations for a generation and, when the Chruch refused to intervene to make conclusions regarding who should now be king, they unanimously declared the patriarch of Gailifor to be the new leader of the Church, thus creating the reformed Church.
Worship
Although Erden holds special grace within the Reformed Church, the Orthodoxy recognized him as a saint prior to the schism. As such, he is worshiped both within the Reformed and Orthodox Church. Erden is, to the reformed church, the patron saint of all humanity, while to the Orthodox church, he is specifically the patron saint of those who strive for glory - most commonly interpreted as adventurers.