Aerdrie Faenya

Aerdrie Faenya, also known as Queen of the Avariel, was an elven goddess of the Seldarine. She was free, chaotic and impulsive, and didn't like to stay in any one place for too long. While she delighted in creating unpredictable weather, including some fairly severe thunderstorms, her primary joy was simply to feel the air around her as she flew high above the ground. Somewhat distant, Aerdrie seldom involved herself in the culture of her fellow deities. Usually disregarding the other elves of Faerûn, Aerdrie concerned herself with the affairs of the few remaining avariel.

Though often thought of and treated as though a goddess, Aerdrie Faenya was, in fact, the fey-oriented aspect of the primordial Akadi.

Worshipers
The church of Aerdrie Faenya was small, with little organization and only a few scattered temples. The clergy were primarily concerned with exploration and maintaining good relations with other sentient avian races, such as giant eagles and aarakocra. As the avariel declined in number, few elven clerics of Aerdrie could fly without magical aid. As a result, many of her priests worked to create new spells and items by which magical flight became possible and were sometimes given the gift to levitate by the deity herself. Clerics and druids of Aerdrie Faenya prayed for their spells at dawn, just as the first breeze was felt drifting across the land.

Aerdrie Faenya was worshiped by almost all aarakocra everywhere in Faerûn, and she was known to appear to them in the form of a brilliant white giant bird. The feathers that fell from her plumage during these apparitions became some of the most treasured items in an aarakocran nest.

Some of the djinn of Zakhara also payed homage to Aerdrie Faenya, and she had a mosque at their Citadel of Ice and Steel.

Rituals
The Dance of Swirling Winds, held semiannually on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, celebrated the changing of the seasons in honor of Aerdrie. The winds always blew strongly on such days when followers gathered. Celebrants offered beautiful feathers and performed an aerial ballet danced to the music of wind instruments played by others.

Relationships
Aerdrie served Corellon, working closely with the rest of the Seldarine. She opposed the drow pantheon, with the exception of Eilistraee. Aerdrie also works against the Deities of Fury and was allied with like-minded deities of wind, flight and rain; these included Akadi, Cyrrollalee, Isis, Lurue, Shaundakul, and Sheela Peryroyl.

Dogma
"The ever-changing reaches of the sky are the great gift of the Winged Mother. Take flight into her windswept embrace, and gambol amid the clouds. Honor those who dwell with the Aerdrie and cherish the birds dancing on her tresses Change is beautiful and chaos births new life. Ascend, soar, glide, dive, and ascend again and relish in the freedom that the Winged Mother bequeaths."

Connections
Aerdrie Faenya