Taelinri

Taelinri
Alignment	Neutral/Chaotic Good
Pantheon	Cerilian
Portfolio	Elves, individualism
Domains	None
Worshippers	Elves

Taelinri (elven for "teachers") are the closest things Cerilian elves have for priests. They teach the philosophy that most elves believe.

Gods Can Suck It

Though the elves acknowledge the existence of the gods, hell some were around when the old ones died and the new gods ascended, most refuse to worship them due to Azrai. Azrai was the Big Bad Evil Guy in Aebrynis in the ancient times, and he lied to the elves about how he would help them kick the humans out of Cerilia, and how awesome he would make everything. Of course the elves eventually realized that he was lying and that he would enslave them if he won, so they turned against him. And it's because of this that most elves don't worship the gods, why they don't allow any religions to get footholds in their lands and why most missionaries become archery targets.

Of course, the Sidhelien are highly individualistic and believe that spiritual development is something only the individual in question can decide on. If they choose to worship one of the gods, that's fine, just don't talk about it in public or become an outcast.

The Beliefs of Elves

There are three beliefs that form the basis of their philosophy: the origins of the elves, the capacity to percieve, and individualism.

1. The only actually religious part of their philosophy, all the elves believe that the first elves were born from the union of the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire, and that they are struggling for dominance inside the souls of the elves. From this struggle come the mood swings that the elves suffer from, and all elves are biased towards one element over the others.
2. Because of their origins, they are capable of percieving the world and feeling its inherent beauty better, and their emotions, with their intensity and range, allow them to create and percieve beauty unlike any other race. Yes the other races do think this is arrogant bullshit too.
3. The elves are individuals, and they can be ruled no more than the elements from which they came from. They simply have a hard time understanding why there needs to be someone barking orders from the top.

The Taelinri Themselves

Anyone can become a taelinir, from a powerful wizard to a simple crafter, as long as they have great understanding, compassion, and vision. To become one, they undergo years of training, studying, and contemplation. They are held in same regard as one might hold an important guest, and aspirants from noble families must renounce their claims to inheritance before becoming one. In AD&D, your elf could be one regardless of class, though they needed to be either Neutral Good or Chaotic Good, and have at least 16 intelligence and 17 wisdom to qualify.

They act as loremasters and philosophers, recording and studying the past, and pondering what the future brings. They help guide people, being required to always give their wisdom if asked by another elf, help them in balancing their elements, and help them achieve a better sense of themselves as individuals.