Erastil

Erastil (pronounced eh-RAS-til) is almost universally worshiped across Tanalier with few worshippers in The Drazia Dynasty and twisted version of the faith being worshiped in Grecca. There are many stories of Erastil and his divine beasts helping and blessing the early settlements after The Emergence and that if it wasn't for him life as we know it would never have survived. His religion began with small farming communities and hunter-gatherers praying to him for bountiful harvests and successful hunts, but it grew and developed along with early civilisation. He is a god of the hunt and of farming, leading his followers by example and good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric.

Erastil is known as "Old Deadeye", "The Grand Stag" and "The Divine Huntsman", he is the god of Farming, Hunting and the Natural world, thus he covers the domains of Animal, Good, Law and Plant and is considered Lawful Good.

History
Erastil is considered one of the seven Seen gods, and thus is one of the older religions, his worship hearkening back to the time when mankind first set about harnessing the wilderness and mastering nature. Legends in different countries claim that The Divine Huntsman crafted the first bow and gifted it to humans in Torlund, Elves in the stories from Mer-Rein, he taught the orcs to tame wolves according to Scandar legends and in Carthorka he planted the first fields on the flood planes of the Gi-Jak River as gifts to assist them in overcoming 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 and thus worship of Erastil is encouraged in the lower classes.

Relationships
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 Erathis; this difference in opinion leads to increasing conflict between these deities' respective clergies. Followers of Erastil are also known for disagreeing with the followers of Lamastu who consider animals inferior to magical beasts, and in mistreat animals in the opinion of Old Deadeye. The Grand Stag is also quite close with Corellon and some worshipers believe that the two must be related at the very least.

Appearance and Emissaries
Depictions of Erastil are commonplace in the homes of his followers often carved into wooden plaques or parts of the building. Such images usually portray the deity as either an aged human with the bow and gear of a trapper clothed in fur and leathers, or as a large regal looking elk. These depictions often show either the human or the stag holding fast against various beasts and animals of the wilds or watching over farm land. In times of need, Erastil has also been known to appear to lost hunters in the form of a stag, or be seen wandering through farmland that then produces increased yield.

Providence
Those who please Erastil are often rewarded by increased yields, both from farm and field, while earning his disfavour can lead to damaged or ruined crops and poor hunting. People who displease Eristil can also find themselves getting turned around and lost in forests, or even food spoiling quicker. Clerics of Erastil are often not the most powerful of religious followers as they are often prone to a more laid back life style, this means that its rare for them to be able to cast high level spells like Planar Ally and so sometimes his more powerful servants can be summoned when using Summon Monster or Summon Natures Ally.

Servants
Creatures held in high esteem by The Grand Stag include elk, deer, and other hooved animals, Giant Elk are considered to be his heralds. Those who are chosen from The Greylands by Erastil become divine creatures known as Vol-Hum and take the shape of different forest prey animals, they rarely come to the Material Plane as Erastil is more likely to do a task himself rather than get a servant to do it.

One of Erastil's most notorious and powerful servants is known as the Grim White Stag. It has the appearance of a gigantic white stag with branches in place of its antlers and vines wrapping around its legs.

Anargin is a large ruby-toned horse that understands all languages but doesn't speak, he is also very adapt at many fire based magic.

Blackfeather is a talented elven archer who has the ability to transform into an eagle with impressive speed and ease.

Proudsnout is a divine boar, that is the size of a large horse, he is known to appear to people who are starving allowing himself to be hunted for food.

Highbranch is a treant that who used to be the guardian of forests but he has not been seen since 5374 and The Burning of Thespar Forest.

Scorchbark is a young treant, the son of Highbranch he has taken over the mantle of guarding the forests but he is ill tempered and would rather chase anyone out of the forest rather than work with them for the benefit of the forests.

Realm
Erastil's realm in The godly Plane is called The Divine Wood it is a thick and old forest that stretches on for miles and miles no matter where you are in the forest if you are hungry or thirsty you will find a stream of fresh water or a bush of delicious berries. The forest is inhabited by the Vol-Hum in the forest can be hunted and shot but instantly return to life after being killed leaving a body of the prey animal the represent behind.

Church of Erastil
Erastil teaches his followers to embrace tradition and the old ways. Many of The Grand Stag's faithful never even enter a city, and his faithful can be found in nearly any wild or untamed region across Trayst; his worship is particularly well established in Mer-Rein as he is one of the The god's of the Forest while in Duthgar and The D.R.B he is one of the Seen gods. In Torlund they Erasil and Sarenrae are often worshiped along side one another but Sarenrae is gaining popularity over him. In both Grecca and Janmier they worship a form of Erastil but followers of a pure form of Erastil consider it offensive to include the perversions.

Worshipers and Clergy
The faithful of Erastil usually choose to live simple lives and practice his teachings away from the complications of more advanced societies. 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. 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.

Hunters, Farmers and those whose livelihood takes them into forests tend to worship Erastil

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 The Grand Stag 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.

Holy Texts
The worshipers of Erastil don't exactly have a holy text but any books on how to care for animals or plants as well as guides on hunting, are considered good texts to read. There is also The Parables of Erastil which is predominantly a guide and almanac with information on farming and wilderness skills.

Holidays
Erastil's worshipers celebrate Chase of Wolf Moon on the 18th of Layft, Archer's Day on the 3rd of Dastween and Harvest Feast on the 25th of Tackto.