Ketephys, The Hunter

Part of the elven pantheon alongside Findeladlara and Yuelral, Ketephys oversees forestry, hunting, and the moon. The reserved deity answers the prayers of his followers quietly but reliably, helping the lost find their way or directing game to the starving. In return, he expects his followers to revere the forest and help it to bloom forever by never taking more than they need and always giving back to it. The Hunter himself is silent and elusive and has never been known to miss a shot, though he rarely uses his powers to cause harm. When he hunts alongside his silver hound and golden hawk companions, he disturbs not so much as a petal on a wildflower. His silver arrows may bring death to those he hunts, but far more often they carry his blessing.

Though commonly worshipped among the elves of Golarion, Ketephys’s power is strongest in Sovyrian, the secret ancestral home of elves, where they retreated after the Starstone struck in –5293AR. The elves returned to Golarion in 2497AR out of necessity when the demon Treerazer, Lord of the Blasted Tarn, moved into Kyonin after being exiled from the Abyss, threatening the sacred elf gate known as the Sovyrian Stone. The normally restrained Ketephys was livid to see the corruption of Kyonin’s forests, as once-lush, green woods turned to poison and decay, and the earth rotted under the demon’s influence. Ketephys personally led a team of expert archers as part of the battle to save Iadara, restore the forests, and drive Treerazer into the Fierani swamps. Though now returned to his normal peaceful state, Ketephys still swears to eliminate Treerazer and his influence from Golarion completely.

Ketephys’s influence is generally weaker on Golarion than in Sovyrian, but nevertheless many elves in Kyonin worship him. Elven rangers and hunters worship him almost exclusively, as do many smaller communities. Some non-elven hunters worship Ketephys, and the open-minded god accepts these followers so long as they respect nature appropriately.

Ketephys appears as a russet-skinned elf with the eyes of a hawk, with hawk feathers in place of his hair. He wears a cloak of grey feathers, a simple hunting jerkin, and fur wraps around his ankles; his feet are bare. He is never without his two companions: a hawk named Falling Star and a dog named Meycho. He treats these animals as equals, not pets or servants, and when the three hunt together, each has equal say in their quarry.

Signals of Ketephys’s approval include beams of clear moonlight, the silent appearance of an animal, or the sudden opening of nearby blossoms. Signs of his displeasure include branches catching on clothing, loud snapping of twigs underfoot, or seemingly solid ground turning into mud when stepped on.