Mielikki is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is referred to in various tales as either the wife or the daughter-in-law of Tapio. She is said to have played a central role in the creation of the bear.
In Kalevala, the Finnish national epos based on the runo-songs, the hero Lemminkäinen offers her and Tapio both prayers and gold and silver so he can catch the Hiisi elk. In annother passage Mielikki is asked to protect cattle grazing in the forest. In a country where the forest was central for providing food through hunting, gathering and cattle grazing, it was probably very important to stay on her good side so the hunting would be good and so the predators stayed clear of the cattle.
Mielikki (my-lee-kee) is also a goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting (derived from her Finnish roots). Mielikki is the goddess of autumn, dryads, forests and forest creatures, and rangers. Her symbol is a gold-horned, blue-eyed, unicorn's head facing left, and her Third Edition D&D domains are Animal, Good, Plant and Travel. Mielikki is Neutral Good. She is the patron deity of Drizzt Do'Urden.
