Template:D&D Deity

Labelas Enoreth (/læbɛlɑːs ˈɛnɔːrɛθ/ lab-ehl-ahs-EHN-oar-eth)[1] is an elven deity in many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings. In the Forgotten Realms, he is the Lord of the Continuum who governs the orderly passage of time and guards against those who would alter the path of history. Together with Sehanine Moonbow he oversees the long life span of the elves and their lives after they have left the mortal realms. His symbol is the setting sun, and his domains are chaos, elf, good, knowledge, and time.

Publication history

Labelas Enoreth was first detailed in Roger E. Moore's article "The Elven Point of View," in Dragon #60 (TSR, 1982).[2] In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk setting.[3] He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana (1985).[4]

Labelas Enoreth was detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.[5] His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).[6] He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms in Demihuman Deities (1998).[7] He is described as one of the good deities that celestials can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).[8]

Labelas Enoreth's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[9]

Description

Like Corellon Larethian, Labelas appears as a being male and female at once, both and neither, though he always has silver eyes and hair. He wears pale-colored robes of green, blue, white, and gray. He is a philosopher, a patient teacher and instructor, who gives wisdom and knowledge to young and old alike.

Relationships

In many campaign settings, the elven pantheon of gods (also known as the Seldarine) consists of the leader Corellon Larethian, as well as Aerdrie Faenya, Deep Sashelas, Erevan Ilesere, Fenmarel Mestarine, Hanali Celanil, Labelas Enoreth, Rillifane Rallathil, Sehanine Moonbow, and Solonor Thelandira.<ref="MonMyth"/> Other elven gods may be present in different campaign settings. Sometimes Labelas is said to be the brother of Sehanine Moonbow, and the child of Corellon Larethian.

Labelas has good relations with the rest of the Seldarine, though he can get impatient with Erevan Ilesere's tricks. He is closely allied with Mystra, both in her previous aspect as Mystryl the human God of time and in her current aspect as the Lady of Mysteries. Because it was Labelas who decreed that elven beauty would not be marred by the passing of time, he has good relations with Hanali Celanil. He is opposed to the gods of entropy and decay and Clanggedin Silverbeard the dwarven god of battle has a long-standing grudge against him.

Realm

Labelas lives in the realm of Arvandor on the plane of Arborea.

Worshipers

Labelas is often praised but rarely invoked. Those who worship him are those with an interest in ideas and knowledge, and the changes wrought by the passage of time - sages, historians, philosophers, and librarians.

Clergy and temples

Labelas' priests are responsible for educating the young and promoting and acquiring knowledge. They are also record keepers and historians. They meet in groves at sunset to pray, meditate and mark the passing of another day by sharing prayers and knowledge. Clerics of Labelas Enoreth typically dress in light gray robes.

Forgotten Realms comic

Main article: Forgotten Realms (comic)

Labelas first appearance in the Forgotten Realms comic is as a cameo where the elven cleric Vartan contacts him for information regarding a Dragonslayer.[10] He features prominently in the story arc "An Avatar Story" [11] where he uses Vartan as his host body in a plot to use the Realms Master ship to try and defeat the god Helm. The writer Jeff Grubb set this story arc during the Time of Troubles. He appears in the final issue of the series trying to get forgiveness for the trouble he caused when he was mortal.

References

  1. ^ Mentzer, Frank. "Ay pronunseeAY shun gyd" Dragon #93 (TSR, 1985)
  2. ^ Moore, Roger E. "The Elven Point of View." Dragon #60 (TSR, April 1982)
  3. ^ Gygax, Gary (December 1984). "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Clerics live by other rules". Dragon (92). Lake Geneva WI: TSR: 22.((cite journal)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)]
  4. ^ Gygax, Gary. Unearthed Arcana (TSR, 1985)
  5. ^ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
  6. ^ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
  7. ^ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
  8. ^ Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven (TSR, 1999)
  9. ^ Boyd, Eric L., and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
  10. ^ [Forgotten Realms #6]
  11. ^ [Forgotten Realms #15 - 18]

Additional reading