Erebos, God of the Dead

God Erebos (a.k.a. God of the Dead, God of Death, God of the Underworld)

"In the silence of death, Erebos reigns supreme. His patient grip extends beyond the mortal coil, and his shadowed dominion claims all that once knew the warmth of life. In acceptance, we find solace; in his embrace, an eternity of rest awaits."

— Follower of Erebos

Erebos, the god of death and the Underworld, exudes an aura of cold authority and quiet malevolence. His form, often that of a gray-skinned humanoid with formidable outward-curving horns, evokes an unsettling blend of elegance and menace. The god wields an impossibly long black whip, a symbol of his dominion over the fate of mortals. Whether manifested as a lurking shadow, a venomous serpent, or an animated golden idol, Erebos embodies the somber inevitability of death.

Champions of Erebos

Champions Alignment: Usually neutral, often evil

Suggested Classes: Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard
Suggested Cleric Domains: Death, Trickery
Suggested Backgrounds: Acolyte, Charlatan, Criminal, Noble, Urchin

Followers of Erebos

Worshipers of Erebos engage in solemn rituals that honor the deceased and reinforce the dominion of the god over the afterlife. They conduct rites that symbolize the journey from life to death, often involving the offering of precious items or the recitation of elegies. Temples dedicated to Erebos are built with dark stone and adorned with motifs of death and eternal sleep.

Divine Domains

Born from Heliod’s shadow and then banished to the Underworld, Erebos claimed dominion over that desolate realm. He sees it as his duty and his right to ensure that those who enter his realm remain there for all time. Within the Underworld, only the relative paradise of Ilysia is sheltered from his influence. In the other four realms of the dead, his will is law. Mortals typically fear death, yet death is the inevitable end of each one’s time in the mortal world. Erebos, having long ago come to terms with his own banishment, teaches his followers to accept the inevitability of death and the often unavoidable tragedies of life. Although Erebos forbids souls from leaving the Underworld, some escape his clutches. Generally such souls are beneath his notice, but he sometimes sends agents to retrieve those he has particular interest in.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

The primary holy symbol of Erebos is a stylized representation of his whip, coiled or extended, often set against a background of muted colors like gray or black. Worshipers wear this symbol as a pendant or incorporate it into funereal vestments to signify their allegiance to the god of the dead.

Tenets of Faith

Acceptance of Mortality: Embrace the inevitability of death, recognizing it as a natural conclusion to the mortal journey.


Covetous Patience: Aspire to accumulate wealth and power patiently, knowing that all possessions eventually find their way into the grasp of the god of the dead.


Guardianship of Boundaries: Uphold the separation between life and death, ensuring that souls find their rightful place in the Underworld.

Holidays

Eclipsia: Observed during a rare celestial alignment, Eclipsia is a night of mourning and reflection. Worshipers fast and hold vigils, contemplating the transient nature of existence.
Thanatia: Celebrated on the anniversary of a significant death, Thanatia is a time for families to honor their ancestors. Offerings are made at ancestral shrines, and stories of the departed are shared to keep their memories alive.

Divine Classification

God

Religions

• Church of Erebos
• Theocratic Round Table

Pronouns

He/Him

Presentation

Masculine

Eyes

Red, glowing

Hair

Long, Black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Grey