Shevarash is the elven deity of vengeance, military crusades, loss and hatred of the Drow. He is venerated by elves and half-elves who have suffered the loss of loved ones through violence, particularly those who burn with revenge against the drow, and by those who have sworn to destroy the Spider Queen and the other evil gods of the dark elves.
He never displays any emotion aside from anger and the occasional exultation after the death of an enemy. The Black Archer has no patience for those who do not share his zeal for vengeance, and he has no interest in moderating his crusade in the interests if peace. The Black Archer often acts in anticipation of an attack by the drow on a relatively undefended elven settlement, or, if he reacts too late to prevent a repeat of the slaughter that still haunts him, Shevarash sends agents to pursue the dark elves back into the Underdark and hunts them down until they are dead.
Worshipers, Clergy & Temples
The church of Sevarash is small, but disciplined, for only through careful planning will the drow be destroyed. The followers of Shevarash are consumed with their quest to root out and destroy the drow and the sources of power of their dark gods. As such, since its founding by the lietenants of Shevarash after their leader's death and apotheosis, the church of the Black Archer has been totally focused on its military campaign against the drow. Individual clerics spend their days drilling, assigning tactics for warfare in the Underdark, warding known entrances to the Underdark, and participating in hit-and-run raids and major assaults on drow-held territories in the Underdark. Not a few members of the Black Archer’s clergy join adventuring bands that intend to explore the Underdark, for additional swords in the battle against the drow are always welcomed. The recent invasion of Cormanthor by the drow has only invigorated the strength of this crusade, and the church armies of Shevarash gird for wholesale war beneath the boughs.
Vestments
The ceremonial garb of the faith consists of silver chain mail, a blood-red half-cloak, and a silver helm with a fixed half-visor that covers only the upper half of the face. The holy symbol of the faith is a broken arrowshaft that has been dipped in drow blood and blessed by a priest of Shevarash.
Priests of Shevarash favor bows and swords, but they employ a wide variety of weapons in their unceasing quest for vengeance. For armor, most Dark Avengers favor chain mail (elven chain mail if available) as a good balance between protection and maneuverability Followers of the Black Archer have no compunction against seizing the armor and weapons of the drow for their own use.
Hierarchy
Novices of Shevarash are known as the Haunted. Full priests of the Black Archer are known as Dark Avengers. Shevarashan priests have unique individual titles, most of which include a litany of the foes they have slain. Specialty priests are known as Dhaeraowathila, an elvish word that can be loosely translated as "drowbane."
Temples
Temples of Shevarash are located in cave mouths that connect elf-occupied forests with the deep tunnels of the Underdark and from which drow raiders have emerged (or might emerge). The Black Archer's temples are constructed to serve first and foremost as nigh-impregnable forts blocking access in either direction that can be held by a handful of defenders. Most are designed to withstand long-term sieges and include wellstocked armories, storerooms, and cisterns of fresh water. The walls of Shevarash's houses of worship are typically adorned only with trophies seized from fallen drow. Shevarash's followers sometimes construct shrines to their god in the Underdark, but such monuments are makeshift at best, quickly built in caves that serve as a temporary base of operations. Fallen warriors of the cult are brought back to the surface to be interred or, if absolutely necessary, buried in unmarked cairns in the Underdark so as to hide them from the drow.
Rituals
Clerics of Shevarash pray for their spells at dusk, just before the drow sneak back into the Lands of Light. Midwinter Night is observed by the cult of Shevarash in memory of the Dark Court slaughter. On this holy day, those who wish to join the ranks of the clergy are included into the faith and vows of unceasing vengeance are shouted into the night. In honor of their deity’s original vow, each new cleric swears to never again laugh or smile until the spider Queen and the other dark gods of the drow are slain and their followers are destroyed. Most clerics multiclass as rangers, although some multiclass as arcane archers, fighters, or sorcerers. They turn rather than rebuke undead.
Orders
The Eldreth Armathora'Mor is the Cormyrean unit of Shevarashans started by Elorian Selve'dwa. It accepts all races, preferences to Shevarashans, then elves. The goal of the unit is to remove the influence and presence of the drow in the Underdark beneath Cormyr.
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Dogma
The greatest enemy of the Seldarine is Lolth, who sought the corruption of Arvandor and the overthrow of the Creator of the Elves. The greatest enemy of the Fair Folk is the drow, the debased followers of the Spider Queen who long ago were enmeshed in her dark web. Redemption and revenge may be achieved through the utter destruction of the drow and the dark deities they serve. Only then may the joy of life begin anew. Hunt fearlessly!
Appearance, Manifestations
Shevarash appears as a tall, muscular green-skinned elf, clad in elven chain and a shadowy cloak.
Relationships & History
Nearly six thousand years ago, an army of duergar and drow poured forth from the Underdark and slaughtered most of the attendees of a meeting between the surface elves and dwarves intended to renew their alliance. Shevarash was one of the survivors, and seeing the carnage he swore an oath to Corellon neither to laugh nor smile until Lolth and her foul followers are destroyed. After a lifetime of fighting the drow, he was slain and underwent apotheosis with the help of Fenmarel Mestarine. He has since allied himself with other enemies of Lolth and seekers of revenge, including Callarduran Smoothhands, Hoar, Shar, and Shaundakul. His primary foes are the evil drow gods, Lolth and Vhaeraun chief among them, as well as other evil Underdark deities.
Related Imagery
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Shevarash is a tall, muscular elf with green skin. He is wearing elven chain mail and a shadowy cloak, and is carrying a longbow.
Not far from the surface entrance to the Underdark is the Temple of Sevarash. The temple was built in a large open cavern, and obviously setup to be a formidable fortress to protect from attacks from below. The entrance is well-protected with arrow slits, ramparts and an entrance with large iron doors. The main entrance also contains a portcullis and a second set of doors. The first chamber one enters is a long room with high ceilings, sparsely furnished, with a doorway against the far wall. Looking up, you see balconies flanking the sides. The room appears to be a place to trap attackers, and defend from above. The rest of the temple is bustling with activity, as if they are preparing for war. You see a barracks, kitchen and mess hall, a war room, and various other areas. The temple seems well-stocked.
The priest of Shevarash has on a blood-red half-cloak and is wearing silver chain mail and a silver helm with a fixed half-visor covering only the upper half of his face. Long flowing dark hair, tied in four braids, drape down his shoulders. The priest is wearing a silver medallion featuring a engraved broken arrow shaft with a red drop.
