The Deity of Bestial Forms

Origin
From the Holy Texts of Selvenos (and referenced in the Holy Texts of Bardanther and Aonn)

Folklore
In the long ago Age of Light, when Selvenos sprung from the world, he helped bring harmony and balance to nature. He made sure every animal and plant would work in tandem with the soil to create a cyclical world.

“Ah,” said Aonn, still active in those long ago days “but there are magical animals, and monstrous creatures which are not of your purview, and the people of the world. How can you know that everything is in balance?”

“You speak wisely, my friend. If only your wife could see your wisdom!” They laughed, for it was known that Arziel would jab at Aonn for the slightest mistake. “But alas, I see your point.” and Selvenos spent 6 months watching the world.

After this time, he returned to Aonn. “I have watched for a short time, but I have learned little- there are so many distractions in this world.”

Aonn nodded in agreement. “Perhaps you need a different point of view.” he suggested. Selvenos lit up. “Aha! Once again, you are the wisest of us all!”

Aonn chuckled, and said “If only my wife did not think you a dullard, I’d have you tell her so!” and again they laughed, for it was known that Arziel disapproved of Aonn’s time with Selvenos.

"Truly, she does drive you as a slave.” Selvenos remarked, and Aonn darkened, for he worried of her influence on his son, Tyrian- but that is a story for another time. Selvenos put a branch around Aonn’s shoulder. “I am sorry, Aonn my friend, I but jest. I mean you no harm. After all,you have inspired me!”

Curious, Aonn brightened. “Oh? And what is it you shall do?”

Selvenos, quite proud of himself, stated “I shall spend a year in the form of an animal. Should it die, I shall return as that animal again, until after that year has passed. Then, I shall choose another animal, and after another year shall I again choose, and so on and so forth, until I am satisfied with the way of the world.”

And thus, he departed the realm of the gods to partake in the lives of animals. First, he was the many-legged snake. He saw that the snake’s long body could not compete with the other legged lizards, and thus, he thought of the quickness of the fish and took away the snake’s legs. This is why the snake wriggles to and fro as it walks, as it now swims along the land. A simple correction, but an important one.

Then, he spent a year as the horse. When he wandered into the savanna, he found that the grass here was not as nutritious as the tree leaves. But if I change this, he thought- it would disturb the balance of so many others. So he made the horse’s neck and legs stretch longer and longer, until it could reach the branches. Selvenos then continued on, but when he left the savanna for the prairies, he found less trees and much more nutritious grass. It became much more difficult to reach food. This will not do! he thought. He returned the horse to its original form, but was still unsatisfied. Perhaps if I make the horse more than just the horse, he thought. He created another horse, and stretched it long once more, giving it spots to differentiate it from its equine kin. “You are no longer the horse- you are the giraffe!” and sent the giraffe to the savanna to live in harmony with the world. A complex correction, but an important one.

Selvenos spent many a lifetime as a fish, for fish are often eaten. He spent a short time as a bear, eating the fish. He became the mighty lion, the contemplative tortoise, the noisy songbird, the dirty pig, the stalking wolf, the powerful hippopotamus, the intelligent octopus, and many many more. Selvenos spent hundreds of years in the form of animals, but after all those years, he was still not finished. Exhausted, he returned to the Outer Realms, to speak with his friend Aonn.

“Selvenos, my good friend. It is a relief to see you back and well. My days have not been the same without your company!” smiled Aonn.

“It is strange to be without flesh and blood, but so much the better to be able to feel the earth among my roots. Have I missed much?” And so it was that Selvenos learned all that had happened among the gods whilst he was away. “Much is the same,” he mused “But much is different. I have duties to fulfill, to the plants and the water and the fire and earth, but still I am not finished among the creatures of Airth.”

Aonn thought some, and posed an idea. “Though my daughter has taken a righteous path, my son has taken after their mother more than I would like whilst you have been gone. Perhaps you would find relief from some of your other duties if you were to make a new child with me. Then you could walk the Airth with less worry.”

Selvenos looked at his dearest friend, and knew that there would never be any he would rather share his power with. “You honor me with the opportunity.” Selvenos replied.

“If only my wife cared for honor.” Aonn said, and laughed, though there was no joy in his eyes. Selvenos could tell that there were troublesome times ahead, so instead of laughing rustled his leaves. “You know that I stand by you, no matter the path.”

Aonn smiled, and his eyes lit up the world again. “Thank you friend. Now, let us work our magics.”  And thus the two pooled their powers, and with Aonn’s light and Selvenos’ fire, they brought forth into the world the mighty Bardanther. With them to guide the flames of the earth for Selvenos, and to watch over the world from his perch within the sun, Selvenos was able to continue his animalistic experiences, taking on the forms of the dog, the duck, the pig, and even magical animals, like the unicorn and the owlbear.

Druids honor Selvenos when they too become beasts. That is why you must always be kind to nature’s animals- you never know when you might find a Druid before you, or you may even be slighting the god of nature himself!

Purpose
This tale is to promote respect for the animals of Airth.