Erastil (eh-RAS-til)
Erastil is one of the oldest human gods still worshiped in the Inner Sea region. His religion dates back to before the Age of Darkness, when small farming communities and hunter-gatherers prayed to him for bountiful harvests and successful hunts. He leads his followers by example and good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric.
Halflings associate Erastil with the family and community: his priests within halfling communities tend to be elders and leaders. Rather than the longbow, halflings consider the sling as Erastil's weapon. Most halflings that become druids worship Erastil. There are very few halfling paladins of Erastil.
Knights who revere Erastil tend to live simply, appearing more like a commoner than a noblemen. They are highly practical in supporting their communities. Paladins of Old Deadeye are among the most commonly found throughout the Inner Sea region.
Church of Erastil
Erastil teaches his followers to embrace tradition and the old ways. Many of Old Deadeye's faithful never even enter a city, and can be found in nearly any wild or untamed region across Avistan and Garund; his worship is particularly well established in the nations of Andoran, Cheliax, Galt, Isger, the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, the Mana Wastes, Molthune, Nirmathas, the River Kingdoms, the Steaming Sea, and Varisia, and among Chelaxians, Kellids, Tian, Ulfen, Varisians, gnomes, and halflings throughout the Inner Sea region. In the Shackles, a golden boat with sails full of Gozreh's wind is used locally to symbolize Erastil as the provider.Worshipers
The faithful of Erastil can be found in nearly every wilderness community. They usually choose to live simple lives and practice his teachings away from the complications of more advanced societies. The faithful often hang depictions of the god over their fireplace.Halflings associate Erastil with the family and community: his priests within halfling communities tend to be elders and leaders. Rather than the longbow, halflings consider the sling as Erastil's weapon. Most halflings that become druids worship Erastil. There are very few halfling paladins of Erastil.
Knights who revere Erastil tend to live simply, appearing more like a commoner than a noblemen. They are highly practical in supporting their communities. Paladins of Old Deadeye are among the most commonly found throughout the Inner Sea region.
Clergy
The members of Old Deadeye's clergy are active in their respective communities, leading by example and serving in various capacities as needed by those that live around them. This can include helping in childbirth, building structures, overseeing fair trade, and blessing crops. The clergy's formal dress is kept simple to reflect their deity's tastes: a simple cloak of fur or leather, usually accompanied by Erastil's holy symbol burned into the hide or worn as part of a wooden clasp.Temples and shrines
Sites dedicated to Erastil are simple affairs, even in more civilized locations; shrines are usually nothing more than a wooden building or house serving communities of his faithful. Just as Old Deadeye emphasizes the simple things in life, his shrines focus on providing for his follower's more practical needs. Ceremony and formality are often abandoned in such locations, which instead act simply as a place to pray, or to sleep.Organizations
Banner of the Stag
The organization mobilize militias and provide aid to towns and hamlets in need.Divine Domains
Earth, family, nature wealth
Alternative: duty
Alternative: duty
Holy Books & Codes
Parables of Erastil
This book acts as a guide and almanac for the followers of Erastil; it includes information on strengthening one's family, farming, and wilderness skills.Divine Symbols & Sigils
Tenets of Faith
Erastil condemns suicide, and the souls of his worshipers who take their own lives are condemned to Avernus, the first circle of Hell.
Holidays
Erastil's worshipers celebrate Planting Week on the vernal equinox, Archer's Day on the 3 Erastus, and Harvest Feast on the autumnal equinox. The mid-summer month of Erastus is named in his honour.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Depictions of Erastil are commonplace in the homes of his followers. Such images usually portray the Ulfen deity as either an aged human with the bow and gear of a trapper, or as an elk-headed humanoid. They often show Old Deadeye holding fast against various beasts and animals of the wilds. In times of need, Erastil has also been known to appear to lost hunters in the form of a stag.
The stone giants, who call him Estig the Hunter, depict Erastil as a fur-clad stone giant.
The stone giants, who call him Estig the Hunter, depict Erastil as a fur-clad stone giant.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
During the Age of Creation, Erastil was among the original gods who battled the Rough Beast who sought to destroy Golarion, and were eventually able to contain him in the Dead Vault. His worship hearkens back to the time when mankind first set about harnessing the wilderness and mastering nature. Legends claim that it was Old Deadeye himself who crafted the first bow and gifted it to humans to overcome the challenges of the world. Even as the accomplishments of civilization mount, Erastil continues to embrace and represent the simpler pleasures life has to offer.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Erastil is married to Jaidi, and their children are the empyreal lords Halcamora and Cernunnos.
Because of their similar beliefs, followers of Erastil find much common ground with members of the Green Faith.
Erastil is on good terms with most non-evil deities, but is set in his ways, often criticises others, and frequently addresses criticisms of other deities' ways and beliefs openly to his worshippers, like a village elder does. As a result, few go out of their way to befriend him, except when they need his unmatched skill at archery and tracking to hunt down monsters or find someone lost; they then have to tolerate Erastil's advice and opinions on such matters.
Erastil teaches his followers to embrace traditional and simpler ways of life, free of the constraints of modern civilization, a trait that often results in disagreements with more progressive deities such as Abadar. Abadar sees the value in Erastil's villages, which he hopes will eventually grow into cities, but views him as old-fashioned; Erastil views Abadar as a good boy but pompous and occasionally amoral; however, both want peaceful, orderly communities. However, this difference in opinion leads to increasing conflict between these deities' respective clergies. Erastil appreciates Torag for his work, especially craftsmanship and clan loyalty, but both are too stubborn to find common ground. He respects Aroden and Irori but considers the former overly obsessed with his legacy, and the latter too selfish. He thinks that Cayden Cailean is good-hearted but foolish and needs to settle down with a wife, and views Gorum as nothing more than a violent thug.
Erastil holds a distant, sad paternal affection for Desna, whom he considers to be lonely and too whimsical, aloof, and self-indulgent to be trustworthy in most situations. Shelyn occasionally asks him to lead her to the most beautiful places in the Great Beyond, and Erastil enjoys her company and her support of marriage and families, which he sees as strengthening communities; although, they do disagree on many topics. He appreciates how Iomedae has saved countless lives with her acts, but has difficulty understanding her lack of interest in having a family. Iomedae is frustrated by Erastil's pacifism, but has long given up trying to persuade him to be more active.
Erastil sees little difference between most evil deities, only reserving a special hatred for Urgathoa for her gluttony and spreading of epidemics. Urgathoa is aware of this, and sets her minions upon frontier communities when there is an opportunity. The one exception is Minderhal: Estig tolerates him but views him as an embarrassing family member.
Because of their similar beliefs, followers of Erastil find much common ground with members of the Green Faith.
Erastil is on good terms with most non-evil deities, but is set in his ways, often criticises others, and frequently addresses criticisms of other deities' ways and beliefs openly to his worshippers, like a village elder does. As a result, few go out of their way to befriend him, except when they need his unmatched skill at archery and tracking to hunt down monsters or find someone lost; they then have to tolerate Erastil's advice and opinions on such matters.
Erastil teaches his followers to embrace traditional and simpler ways of life, free of the constraints of modern civilization, a trait that often results in disagreements with more progressive deities such as Abadar. Abadar sees the value in Erastil's villages, which he hopes will eventually grow into cities, but views him as old-fashioned; Erastil views Abadar as a good boy but pompous and occasionally amoral; however, both want peaceful, orderly communities. However, this difference in opinion leads to increasing conflict between these deities' respective clergies. Erastil appreciates Torag for his work, especially craftsmanship and clan loyalty, but both are too stubborn to find common ground. He respects Aroden and Irori but considers the former overly obsessed with his legacy, and the latter too selfish. He thinks that Cayden Cailean is good-hearted but foolish and needs to settle down with a wife, and views Gorum as nothing more than a violent thug.
Erastil holds a distant, sad paternal affection for Desna, whom he considers to be lonely and too whimsical, aloof, and self-indulgent to be trustworthy in most situations. Shelyn occasionally asks him to lead her to the most beautiful places in the Great Beyond, and Erastil enjoys her company and her support of marriage and families, which he sees as strengthening communities; although, they do disagree on many topics. He appreciates how Iomedae has saved countless lives with her acts, but has difficulty understanding her lack of interest in having a family. Iomedae is frustrated by Erastil's pacifism, but has long given up trying to persuade him to be more active.
Erastil sees little difference between most evil deities, only reserving a special hatred for Urgathoa for her gluttony and spreading of epidemics. Urgathoa is aware of this, and sets her minions upon frontier communities when there is an opportunity. The one exception is Minderhal: Estig tolerates him but views him as an embarrassing family member.
Servants
Animals held in high esteem by Old Deadeye include elk, deer, and other hoofed creatures. His divine servitor race are the horned archons, deer- or elk-headed humanoids who protect Erastil's followers.Unique servants
The following extraplanar allies can be summoned through the planar ally spell. Because many of Erastil's priests are not powerful, his servants have responded to summons through summon monster or summon nature's ally spells as well.- Arangin - This servant is a ruby-toned heavy horse that understands Common but does not speak.
- Blackfeather - This servant is an eagle-archer that has the power of shape-shifting.
- Grim White Stag - Erastil's herald appears as a gigantic white stag with branches in place of antlers, and vines wrapping around its legs.
- Proudsnout - This servant of Erastil is a divine boar.
- Scorchbark - This minion is a young arboreal regent who possesses a rather brash temperament.
Realm
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Old Deadeye
Stag God
Estig the Hunter
Elk Father
Stag God
Estig the Hunter
Elk Father
Children
Ruled Locations
Erastilian
Areas of Concern
Family
Farming
Hunting
Trade
Worshipers
Farmers, hunters, tradesmen
Edicts
Care for your home and family, fulfill your duties, keep the peace, protect the community
Anathema
Abandon your home in time of need, choose yourself over your community, tarnish your reputation, tell lies
Favoured Weapon
Longbow
Symbol
Bow and arrow
Sacred Animal
Stag
Sacred Colours
Brown, green
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