Malar

Malar (pronounced MAHL-arr ), The Beastlord, is the lesser deity of the hunt, evil lycanthropes, bestial savagery and bloodlust. His dogma concerns savage hunts, the spreading of the curse of lycanthropy and general contempt for civilization. As of the events of the Spellplague, he is an exarch to Silvanus.

Worshipers
Malarites believe that it is honor to Malar if you make your killing bloody and long. His followers sometimes form in bands, called Hunts. While being forbade from slaying the young or the pregnant, Hunts typically follow his dogma and evoke wanton slaughter in Malar's name. Malarites are generally frowned upon by civilization, as they tend to wreak havoc in their wake. One exception of where the worship of Malar is allowed, is in Cormyr.

One of the most respected servants of Malar was Garmos Saernclaws, who is responsible for the gospel of Saernclaws by which all priests of Malar are bound, ensuring that hunts remain clean and disease-free.

High Hunt
This ritual is a vicious hunt in which a captured humanoid is released, and for the next day and night attempts to escape the prowling worshipers of the Beastlord. If he manages to survive, he wins his freedom as well as, perhaps, other things.

Feast of Stags
This day has made Malar's worship more tolerable in certain areas. During the harsh winters in the northern parts of Faerûn, Hunts will choose a village in the wilderness, providing food for the people, with one or two Malarites pledging themselves to keeping the village fed through the snows



Relationships
Before the Spellplague ravaged Faerun, Malar was one of the Deities of Fury, led by Talos.

He holds a long standing alliance with Lolth against the Seldarine, and other dark deities like Bane and Loviatar. He fights against deities of peace, civilization, and nature, but holds particular hate for Nobanion for defeating him in a battle during the time of troubles.

Almost every other god hates him, including a number of other evil deities.

Although Malar and Silvanus are not fond of each other and typically view each other as opponents, after the events of the Spellplague Malar is now subject to Silvanus' rule as a resident of the Deep Wilds. Despite this, Silvanus has not reigned in Malar.

Dogma
Survival of the fittest and the winnowing of the weak are Malar's legacy. A brutal, bloody death or kill has great meaning. The crux of life is the challenge between the hunter and the prey, the determination of who lives or dies. View every important task as a hunt. Remain ever alert and alive. Walk the wilderness without trepidation, and show no fear to the hunt. Savagery and strong emotions defeat reason and careful thought in all things. Taste the blood of those you slay, and never kill from a distance. Work against those who cut back the forest and who kill beasts solely because they are dangerous. Slay not the young, the pregnant, or deepspawn so that prey will remain plentiful.

Creative Origins
Malar was first created by Ed Greenwood, mentioned in the "Down-to-earth divinity" article of Dragon Magazine 54 (October 1981, pg 52).