Mealiden Starwatcher
by Marco Dalmonte(The Guardian, Milan, The Red Arrow)
Patron of Alfheim, Caretaker of the Elves, Patron of Explorers and Adventurers
Level, Alignment, Sphere: 23rd (Empyreal), NG, Energy
Symbol: a rainbow with one star above and one under it
Portfolio: Elves, Alfheim, protection, guardians, loyalty, war, adventure, exploration
Worshipped in: Known World (Alfheim), Immortal's Arm (Aeryl), Savage Coast (Almarrón, Dunwick, Gargoña, Narvaez, Saragón, Texeiras, Torreón, Vilaverde)
Appearance: a young warrior elf with a daring smile, clad in practical hunting clothes with sylvan hues. He always carries a longbow on his back and has many sparks hovering around his head, which move slowly when he is calm and quicker when he's agitated.
History: during his mortal life them, Mealiden was an elven adventurer that lived in the Sylvan Realm. When his homeland became surrounded by threatening human nations that rose along the borders and the elves remained besieged in their paradise, Mealiden concentrated his efforts in finding a way of escape for his kin, until he discovered the Rainbow Path. After assuring Ilsundal's approval of his epic quest, Mealiden was granted by the deity nine seedlings similar to the original Tree of Life, with the purpose of giving a relic to each of the clans who would have followed him through the Rainbow Path. He led the majority of the elves away from the Sylvan Realm and travelling through the magical gateway of the Rainbow Path in BC 800 they landed in the southwestern corner of the current Thyatian mainland. After being chased away by the humans who inhabited those lands, they were helped by the elves who already lived in the area (the Vyalia, descendants of those who had split from Ilsundal's migration 1300 years before), and for a brief time they settled in their forest. Afterwards, Mealiden guided his followers northwards, until he found an empty grassland in the heart of current Darokin. Here the elven mages began to use their powerful weather magic to change the climate and in less than a century a mighty forest sprung up: Canolbarth. When the rituals were completed, Mealiden was hailed first monarch of the new Kingdom of Alfheim in BC 700. He reigned wisely and protected his kin for more than 400 years, becoming also the most powerful spellcaster in the region especially after Nithia's downfall in BC 500. After creating a unique artifact, the Egg of the Phoenix, Mealiden abdicated in favour of his successor, Alevar, in BC 350, and having completed successfully the Path of the Paragon after a century he was finally acclaimed as immortal by his descendants. From that moment he acts as bodyguard of Ilsundal, and has never stopped to protect the elves of Alfheim, extending his guardianship also to many other elven communities of the Savage Coast.
Personality: Mealiden is Ilsundal's right hand and bodyguard, the ever watchful caretaker of the Alfheimers and of all those elves who worship him. Little remained of the brisk and mocking character he had in his youth ever since he took on the responsibility of protecting and saving his kinsmen. He is a serious and strong willed immortal now, but he has not lost his love for adventures and epic challenges, and shows liking in bold and light-spirited adventurers. He is utterly loyal to Ilsundal's cause and occasionally cooperates with Zirchev, since both share the love for the woods and woodland creatures. He hates Atzanteotl, the nemesis of all surface elves, and fights all Ilsundal's enemies.
Patron: Ilsundal
Allies: Ilsundal and occasionally Zirchev
Enemies: Atzanteotl and any enemy of Ilsundal
Classic D&D Stats:
Followers' Alignment: any; clerics must be Lawful
Favoured weapon: long or short bow (allowed all short-sized slashing weapons, longsword and rapier)
Clerics' skills and powers: +1 bonus to Dexterity, bonus general skills Quickdraw and Rapid Shooting
Paladins' skills and powers: a free slot of weapon mastery with bows (long or short), +10% bonus to advance in the weapon mastery with bows [see Master set rules]
D&D 3E stats:
Domains: Energy, Good, War, Protection, Travel
Preferred weapon: long or short bow
Sources: GAZ5, HW, WotI, SCS, OHP