![[Relkath.png|400]] **Ancient Yuir Deity | Later Recognised as an Archfey** **Alignment**: Unspecified; described as chaotic and unpredictable **Also Known As**: Relkath of the Infinite Branches, Relkath of the Numberless Branches, Relkath Many-Limbed **Affiliation**: The Yuir Pantheon, Rillifane Rallathil **Associated Region**: The Yuirwood, Aglarond; later Sarifal in the Moonshae Isles --- ### **Overview** Relkath of the Infinite Branches is an ancient being associated with the primordial forests of Faerûn, particularly the Yuirwood of Aglarond. Once worshipped as a deity by the Yuir elves, he was described as a colossal treant whose enormous body possessed countless branches and whose passage through the wilderness caused great forests to spring from the earth. His power was closely connected to the growth of trees, the expansion of woodland, and the protection of the ancient forest inhabited by his followers. Relkath was renowned for his chaotic and unpredictable temperament. Although he frequently defended the Yuir elves against danger, he was also known to turn his power against the very people who worshipped him. Accounts describe priests transformed into trees and entire villages changed into forests. His actions were not consistently benevolent or malicious, making him a formidable and sometimes dangerous object of devotion. Among the ancient peoples of the Yuirwood, Relkath belonged to a pantheon of powers whose worship preceded or existed alongside the veneration of the Seldarine. These deities were closely associated with the natural and supernatural features of the forest, and their influence endured through the traditions of the elves and half-elves who inhabited the region. The decline of the Yuir elves brought considerable changes to the worship of their ancestral gods. As their religious traditions diminished, Relkath was increasingly identified with Rillifane Rallathil, the elven deity of woodlands and nature. Some half-elves believed that Relkath was not an independent deity but another manifestation of the Leaflord. Other traditions maintained that the ancient powers had merely withdrawn from the world and might one day return. These beliefs persisted among communities of the Yuirwood, particularly those who retained knowledge of the old sacred places and their inscriptions. In later accounts, Relkath was recognised among the archfey revered in Sarifal, the restored fey kingdom of the Moonshae Isles. This association suggests that his name and influence survived beyond the decline of his original worshippers, although the precise relationship between his ancient divine identity and his later recognition as an archfey remains uncertain. Relkath is therefore remembered as an exceptionally powerful forest being whose influence could both preserve and transform the wilderness. His history is closely tied to the Yuirwood, the disappearance of its ancient pantheon, and the enduring belief that forgotten powers remain beneath its soil. --- ### **Domain and Influence** Relkath's principal domain of influence was the Yuirwood, the ancient forest occupying much of the Aglarondan peninsula in eastern Faerûn. The forest was home to the Yuir elves, whose civilisation left behind numerous ruins, standing stones, and other monuments. Many of these structures retained supernatural properties long after the decline of the people who constructed them. According to the traditions of the Yuir, Relkath once travelled freely through the forest in the form of an immense treant. Wherever his enormous rooted feet touched the ground, new forests could spring into existence. This ability made him a powerful embodiment of woodland growth. His influence was not limited to protecting existing trees, for he could also transform the landscape by causing vegetation to spread across previously settled or open ground. The Yuir elves regarded Relkath as one of their defenders, although his unpredictable temperament meant that his protection could not always be relied upon. His power was capable of changing entire settlements into forests, and even those devoted to him could become victims of his transformations. His association with the Yuirwood endured after the decline of its ancient elven civilisation. Among some inhabitants of Aglarond, the old gods were believed to be sleeping beneath the forest, their power diminished but not necessarily extinguished. These traditions were particularly strong around the settlement of Relkath's Foot, whose name preserved the memory of the ancient deity. Relkath's influence is also connected with the divine authority of Rillifane Rallathil. As the Yuir elves became increasingly associated with the wider elven religious traditions, Relkath came to be regarded by some as an aspect of the Leaflord. Rillifane was himself associated with forests, woodlands, and the preservation of nature. The similarities between the two powers provided a basis for identifying Relkath with the ancient elven god. Later traditions placed Relkath among the archfey honoured by the inhabitants of Sarifal, a fey kingdom situated on the island of Gwynneth in the Moonshae Isles. Sarifal maintained strong connections to the Feywild, and its inhabitants acknowledged various archfey and primal spirits as objects of reverence. Relkath was counted among these powers alongside Lurue, Verenestra, Sarula Iliene, and Aurilandür. This recognition extended his recorded religious influence beyond the Yuirwood, although no independent permanent court or precisely defined territory within the Feywild has been established for him. --- ### **Symbols and Icons** No distinct, fully described holy symbol for Relkath has been established in the principal surviving accounts. However, ancient symbols and runic markings associated with his worship are recorded in the Yuirwood. The old standing stones of the Sunglade contain inscriptions invoking Relkath and other members of the Yuir pantheon. These inscriptions preserve evidence of his worship among the ancient inhabitants of the forest. Marks associated with Relkath were also carved into living trees by individuals who followed the older traditions. The half-elf Rizcarn, who claimed to serve as Relkath's messenger, was particularly devoted to marking trees with the deity's name or sign. Butternut trees held special significance in his practices because of their numerous spreading branches. According to Rizcarn, these trees were favoured by Relkath. The immense treant form attributed to the ancient deity also serves as a recognisable representation of his nature. Although an oak or a tree with spreading branches would be consistent with his appearance, no particular design can be identified as his exclusive official emblem from the available descriptions. The oak tree is the established holy symbol of Rillifane Rallathil, with whom Relkath was sometimes identified. The two should not automatically be assigned identical religious symbols without recognising that distinction. --- ### **Worship and Tributes** Relkath was worshipped by the ancient Yuir elves as one of the powers associated with their homeland. His followers recognised his ability to defend the forest and transform the land through supernatural growth. Although the surviving accounts do not provide a complete record of his religious practices, they establish that priests and other worshippers existed and that his authority was invoked within sacred places throughout the Yuirwood. The Sunglade preserves some of the most important evidence of these traditions. Located deep within the Yuirwood, the clearing contains concentric circles of ancient standing stones. The outer circle honours members of the Seldarine, while the inner circle bears inscriptions associated with the older gods of the Yuir. Relkath is among the powers invoked by the inscriptions, alongside Magnar the Bear, Zandilar the Dancer, and Elikarashae. The arrangement reflects the relationship between the religious traditions of the ancient Yuir and those of the wider elven pantheon. The worship of Relkath diminished as the Yuir civilisation declined. Nevertheless, certain half-elven communities retained knowledge of the ancient deities and continued to acknowledge their power. During the fourteenth century DR, some inhabitants of the Yuirwood believed that the forgotten gods were beginning to stir from their long dormancy. Such beliefs encouraged renewed interest in the ancient sacred sites, including the Sunglade. Some traditions claimed that the returning powers might oppose the growing influence of humans within Aglarond, although these warnings were expressions of mortal expectation rather than confirmed declarations from Relkath himself. The precise offerings, sacrifices, religious festivals, and ceremonial obligations associated with Relkath have not been preserved in the principal published accounts. His surviving religious traditions are therefore most clearly represented by the invocation of his name, the marking of trees, and the continued remembrance of the ancient Yuir gods. --- ### **Clergy and Temples** Relkath possessed worshippers among the Yuir elves, and the surviving accounts explicitly refer to priests who served him. However, little information remains concerning the organisation of his priesthood. No established hierarchy, specialised clerical order, or uniform religious vestments have been documented for his ancient faith. His worship was connected to the sacred places of the Yuirwood, particularly the ancient standing stones and monuments constructed by its inhabitants. The Sunglade was one of the most important such locations. Its inner circle of stones preserved inscriptions honouring the old Yuir gods, while the outer circle reflected the later importance of the Seldarine. The existence of these inscriptions demonstrates that Relkath was among the divine powers whose aid and protection were sought by the inhabitants of the region. The Temple of the Yuir Gods also preserved representations of the ancient pantheon, including a wooden statue of Relkath. As the older religion declined, worship of Rillifane Rallathil became increasingly prominent among the elves and half-elves of the Yuirwood. The settlement of Relkath's Foot eventually became associated with several established religious institutions, including the House of the Leaflord, an important temple dedicated to Rillifane. Although the settlement retained Relkath's name, the House of the Leaflord was a temple of Rillifane rather than evidence of an independent surviving priesthood devoted exclusively to Relkath. Some individuals continued to recognise the older deity separately. Among them was Rizcarn, a half-elf who claimed to act as Relkath's messenger. He travelled through the Yuirwood marking trees with symbols associated with the ancient god and encouraging the preservation of their memory. His activities demonstrate that devotion to Relkath survived among certain inhabitants of the forest, even when the god's place within the wider pantheon had become uncertain. Whether the later archfey recognised in Sarifal maintained an organised clergy is not established. --- ### **Powers and Abilities** Relkath's surviving legends attribute considerable supernatural power to him, particularly in the growth and transformation of trees. Although no comprehensive description of his abilities has been preserved, several distinctive manifestations are explicitly recorded. **The Infinite Branches** Relkath was described as an enormous treant whose physical form resembled a living tree of extraordinary size. His name reflected the vast number of branches associated with his body, while his heavy rooted feet connected him directly to the earth beneath the forest. The precise dimensions of his manifestation were never established, but the accounts consistently describe him as a being of exceptional size and power. **The Growth of Forests** One of Relkath's most remarkable abilities was his power to cause forests to spring into existence wherever he walked. According to the traditions of the Yuir elves, great woodlands emerged from the ground touched by his rooted feet. This power allowed him to transform open land into forest and alter the landscape on an extraordinary scale. **Transformation into Trees** Relkath possessed the ability to transform living creatures into trees. The surviving accounts specifically describe priests who suffered this fate, despite their association with his worship. These transformations demonstrate that his power could be directed against his own followers and that his actions were not necessarily governed by predictable standards of reward or punishment. **Transformation of Settlements** Relkath's powers could affect entire inhabited areas. Accounts describe villages being transformed into forests through his supernatural influence. The descriptions do not establish the precise fate of every inhabitant or the magical conditions involved, but they confirm his ability to alter settlements through extraordinary woodland growth. **Protection of the Yuirwood** Relkath was regarded as a defender of the Yuir elves and their forest. His formidable physical manifestation and supernatural influence over trees provided him with considerable power to oppose threats to the region. However, his protection was unreliable because his unpredictable temperament could cause him to act against those he had previously defended. **The Nature of His Survival** The relationship between Relkath and Rillifane Rallathil remains uncertain. Some religious traditions maintain that Relkath became an aspect of the Leaflord, while others preserve the belief that the ancient Yuir gods continued to exist independently beneath the forest. His later recognition as an archfey in Sarifal further complicates attempts to determine whether his ancient divine identity had disappeared entirely. No established account confirms the complete extent of his surviving powers or explains whether the archfey of later traditions possessed abilities identical to those attributed to the ancient deity. --- ### **Treatment of the Chosen and Faithful** Relkath's treatment of his followers was unpredictable. Although he was recognised as a defender of the Yuir elves, he could also become a danger to the same communities. Accounts of priests being transformed into trees demonstrate that devotion offered no guarantee of protection against his supernatural power. Similarly, the transformation of villages into forests suggests that Relkath did not always distinguish between the preservation of woodland and the needs of the people inhabiting it. His actions therefore differed from those of deities whose religious traditions emphasised consistent rewards for obedience and clearly defined punishments for wrongdoing. Relkath could protect a community against enemies and later subject it to transformations that threatened its continued existence. The surviving records do not establish why individual priests or settlements were transformed. It is therefore uncertain whether these events represented deliberate punishment, expressions of anger, or consequences of his unpredictable divine nature. Neither a formal system of blessings nor a collection of supernatural gifts granted to chosen followers has been documented. Some individuals nevertheless continued to claim a special relationship with Relkath. Rizcarn, who identified himself as the deity's messenger, believed that Relkath protected him and directed his activities within the Yuirwood. His claims provide evidence of continuing devotion, but do not conclusively establish that he possessed a formally recognised divine office. --- ### **Myths and Legends** **The Ancient God of the Yuirwood** Relkath belonged to the ancient pantheon worshipped by the Yuir elves before their religious traditions became increasingly associated with the Seldarine. The surviving accounts describe him as a colossal treant whose movement across the land caused forests to emerge from the soil. His powers made him an important figure among those who inhabited the Yuirwood, where woodland growth and the preservation of the forest were central to the lives of its people. Although he defended the Yuir against threats, he also displayed a dangerous and unpredictable nature. His transformations of priests and villages became part of the traditions through which later generations remembered him. **The Vanishing Gods of the Yuir** The decline of the Yuir elves was accompanied by the gradual disappearance of their ancestral gods from recognised worship. Relkath and several other ancient powers were believed to have diminished or vanished as their followers declined. Some religious traditions maintained that these beings had ceased to exist as independent powers. Others held that they had been incorporated into the Seldarine, continuing to exercise influence as aspects of the established elven deities. Relkath was particularly associated with Rillifane Rallathil, whose own portfolio concerned forests, woodlands, and the natural world. Certain half-elves therefore regarded the ancient treant deity as another manifestation of the Leaflord. The surviving traditions do not establish a single universally accepted explanation for the relationship between the two powers. **The Sleeping God Beneath the Forest** One of the most enduring legends of the Yuirwood maintains that its ancient gods did not disappear but entered a period of prolonged dormancy. According to this belief, Relkath and other forgotten powers remain beneath the forest's soil, awaiting a time when the inhabitants of the Yuirwood will once again require their protection. The legend is particularly associated with Relkath's Foot, a settlement named in honour of the ancient deity. Some inhabitants believe that Relkath himself lies buried beneath the town. The account is not presented as confirmed historical fact, but it remains an important part of the local religious tradition. **The Four Trees of Relkath's Foot** Relkath's Foot is a settlement in the Yuirwood, renowned for four enormous trees that rise more than one hundred feet above the surrounding forest canopy. According to local legend, the trees sprang from the buried foot of Relkath. The settlement developed around these remarkable trees, whose branches support dwellings, platforms, bridges, and other structures. The Royal Hall was constructed within the tallest of the four trees, its chambers and furnishings formed from living wood shaped through magic. The settlement's name and architecture preserve the memory of Relkath, even though the inhabitants also maintain strong traditions of worshipping Rillifane Rallathil and other members of the elven pantheon. The legend of the buried foot is especially significant because it connects the continued growth of the great trees with the belief that Relkath remains dormant beneath the Yuirwood. **The Messenger of Relkath** The half-elf Rizcarn claimed to serve as a messenger of Relkath. His religious practices involved travelling throughout the Yuirwood and carving marks associated with the ancient deity into living trees. Rizcarn placed particular importance upon the preservation of memory, believing that the forest itself should remember the powers that had once governed it. He especially favoured butternut trees, explaining that Relkath preferred them because of their numerous spreading branches. His activities connected the surviving inhabitants of the Yuirwood with the religious traditions of their ancestors. However, Rizcarn's claim to represent Relkath remains a matter of personal testimony rather than conclusive proof that the ancient deity had returned to active involvement in mortal affairs. **The Sacred Stones of the Sunglade** The Sunglade is an ancient clearing within the Yuirwood, containing circles of standing stones dedicated to both the Seldarine and the older Yuir gods. The outer stones bear inscriptions honouring the elven pantheon, while the inner circle preserves the names and symbols of earlier powers. Among those invoked within the inner circle is Relkath of the Infinite Branches. The inscriptions are significant because they preserve a direct record of worship offered to the ancient pantheon. Even after the decline of the Yuir elves, the stones remained protected by powerful magic. Some half-elven communities later returned to the Sunglade to honour the forgotten gods, believing that their influence might once again become active within the forest. **The Archfey of Sarifal** During the later history of the Moonshae Isles, Relkath was numbered among the archfey revered by inhabitants of Sarifal. The restored fey kingdom possessed strong connections to the Feywild, and its inhabitants honoured a mixture of primal spirits and archfey. Relkath appeared among these powers alongside Lurue the Unicorn Queen, Verenestra the Oak Princess, Sarula Iliene the Nixie Queen, and Aurilandür the Frost Sprite Queen. This recognition demonstrated that his name had survived beyond the traditions of the Yuirwood. The surviving account does not explain whether the archfey was the independent ancient deity, a manifestation of Rillifane, or another expression of the power once worshipped by the Yuir elves. His appearance among the powers honoured in Sarifal remains an important indication that the old traditions had not been entirely forgotten. --- ### **Encounters with Relkath's Influence** Evidence of Relkath's influence is most likely to be encountered within the Yuirwood, particularly at locations associated with the religious traditions of its ancient inhabitants. Travellers visiting Relkath's Foot can observe the enormous trees around which the settlement was constructed. The local legend identifying these trees with the buried foot of the ancient deity remains one of the most recognisable surviving accounts of his power. The Sunglade provides another important connection to Relkath. Its ancient standing stones preserve inscriptions invoking the Yuir gods, offering evidence of religious traditions that existed before the complete adoption of the Seldarine by the region's inhabitants. Those investigating the older customs of the forest may encounter individuals who maintain that its forgotten powers remain dormant beneath the soil. Others may regard Relkath as an aspect of Rillifane Rallathil, interpreting the ancient legends as expressions of the Leaflord's authority. These differing beliefs reflect the uncertainty surrounding Relkath's continuing existence. Marks carved into trees may also preserve the memory of his worship, particularly in regions associated with the journeys of Rizcarn and others who maintained the older traditions. Butternut trees may be of particular interest because of the significance attributed to them by Rizcarn. Beyond the Yuirwood, those familiar with the fey traditions of Sarifal may recognise Relkath as an archfey associated with the ancient forest powers of Faerûn. However, no verified account establishes a permanent court, a recognised method of summoning him, or a reliable means of arranging a direct audience. Any direct encounter with Relkath would therefore involve a being whose surviving legends emphasise enormous woodland power and an unpredictable temperament rather than a ruler whose behaviour and obligations are clearly documented. --- ### **Conclusion** Relkath of the Infinite Branches is an ancient forest power whose history is closely connected to the Yuirwood and the forgotten pantheon of the Yuir elves. Traditionally described as an enormous treant, he possessed the supernatural ability to cause forests to grow wherever he walked and to transform living creatures and settlements into trees. Although he defended the Yuir elves, his unpredictable nature made him dangerous even to his own worshippers. The decline of the Yuir civilisation brought uncertainty concerning his continued existence, with some traditions identifying him as an aspect of Rillifane Rallathil and others maintaining that he remained dormant beneath the forest. The settlement of Relkath's Foot, the ancient inscriptions of the Sunglade, and the traditions preserved by individuals such as Rizcarn continued to commemorate his former influence. His later recognition as an archfey in Sarifal demonstrated the survival of his name beyond the Yuirwood, although the precise nature of his identity remained unresolved. Relkath is therefore remembered as an unpredictable power of woodland growth, whose capacity to protect and transform the natural world made him both revered and feared among the ancient inhabitants of Faerûn.