Erastil

Old Deadeye

Erastil is one of the oldest human gods still worshiped on the western continent. His religion dates back to before the Age of Empires, 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.

Appearance

Depictions of Erastil are commonplace in the homes of his followers. Such images usually portray the human deity as either an aged human man 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.

Dogma

Erastil condemns suicide, and the souls of his worshipers who take their own lives are condemned to Avernus, the first circle of Hell.

History

Long ago before the Age of Empires, Erastil was among the original gods who battled the Rough Beast who sought to destroy the world, 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.

Domain

Old Deadeye makes his home in Erastil's Realm, located on Requius, Heaven's fourth tier. Here, alongside the Steward Andoletta, he oversees the villages and towns where the petitioners of those who are not interested in joining Heaven's ongoing crusades against the forces of chaos and evil reside.

Relations

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; this difference in opinion leads to increasing conflict between these deities' respective clergies. Because of their similar beliefs, followers of Erastil find much common ground with members of the Green Faith.

Providence

Those who please Erastil are often rewarded by increased yields, both from agriculture and hunting while earning his disfavor can lead to damaged or ruined crops and poor hunting.

Servants

Animals held in high esteem by Old Deadeye include elk, deer, and other hoofed creatures. His divine servitor race are the stag 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.

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 the world.

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. 

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.

Holidays

Erastil's worshipers celebrate Planting Week on the vernal equinox, Archer's Day on the 3rd day of Tending, and Harvest Feast on the autumnal equinox.

Holy texts

Known as the 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 Classification

Greater Deity

Alignment

Lawful Good

Current Location

Mount Celestia

Species

Archon

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Old Deadeye
• Stag God
• Estig the Hunter

Current Residence

Erastil's Realm, Requius, Mount Celestia

Eyes

Grey

Hair

Brown fur

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned

Height

6'11''

Weight

180lbs

Holy Symbol

Pathfinder Statistics

Divine Domains

• Animal
• Community
• Good
• Law
• Plant

Favored Weapon: Longbow

D&D 5e Statistics

Suggested Domains

• Life Domain
• Nature Domain
• Order Domain