Eostre, Protector of the Wild
Daughter of Ertha, Eostre is the goddess of animals and plants and of fertility and birth. She takes two forms.
The first is a matronly woman surrounded by animals. The second is also a matronly woman, but with vines wrapping around her legs and stalks of wheat and barley for hair. Both statues are always carved from wood taken from trees which fell naturally (as opposed to being cut or pulled down).
Large communities have a temple dedicated to Eostre, which serves as a veterinary practice and midwifery (though Eira’s temples also serve the latter function). Shrines can be found in all farming communities and usually take the form of engraved standing stones, which act as field boundaries. Her holy symbol is often engraved above granaries as a deterrent to rats and other vermin (animals that don’t fall under her protection).
Her priests are divided into two main sects, the Sowers, who are responsible for plants, and the Husbanders, who watch over animals. These sects are further divided into the Cultivators and Wilders.
Cultivators are responsible for blessing the crops and livestock in their communities, helping to gather the harvest, healing sick animals, making bread, and such like. Wilders are more separated from the populace, tending remote areas and ensuring vile creatures like orcs do not ravage the woods, and hunters do not kill more than their share. All her clergy are usually on good terms with elves and druids, as well as many ertha elementalists.
Her paladins, the Reapers, are militant versions of her clerics, sworn to protect the wild from deprivation. They also serve as hunters in remote communities, ensuring the balance between need and want is kept.
Divine Domains
Aspects: Animals, plants, cycle of life, fertility, birth.
Holy Books & Codes
- Priesthood: Eostre has two sets of clerics, known as the Sowers (for her plant aspect) and Husbanders (for her animal aspect). The Reapers are her sole paladin order.
- Herald: A humanoid figure, covered in bark and with the paws, tail, and head of various animals all merged together.
- Signature Power: Beast friend (Husbander or Reaper) or entangle (Sower or Reaper). The other may be learned normally.
- Trappings: Clergy must use a trapping related to plants or animals where appropriate.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Symbol: A bear’s paw holding an oak tree.
Tenets of Faith
Sins:
- (Minor) eating fish or meat more than three times a week except when facing starvation, allowing acts of cruelty against defenseless animals, mistreating an animal, wearing fur from a beast that did not die of natural causes;
- (Major) hunting for sport or cruelty, torturing wild animals;
- (Mortal) willfully destroying crops (harvesting does not count) or burning forests.
Holidays
Holy Day: Milcdaeg. The first Heafoddaeg of Plohmonan, Sowanmonan, Sceranmonan, and Hegmonan are also holy days, as is Sangdaeg of Haerfestmonan. There is a single high holy day held on the first day of spring, though the date changes each year, depending on when spring is declared to have started
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Duties: To care for the plants and animals, to tend nature, to ensure a balance between civilization and wilderness.
Festivals always involve sacrifices. Typically, these are cuts of meat and fruit and vegetables. After being blessed, the sacrifices are handed out among the congregation and eaten as part of a religious feast.
Titles
Plantmother, Animalmother, Allmother, Green Goddess, Nurturer, Protector of the Wild, Bountiful One, Harvestmother, Barley Queen, Provider of Bread.
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