Eresi 

1. Core Identity

• Name: Eresi (E-res'-ee)

• Pantheon: The Core Pantheon

• Titles & Aliases: God of Woodlands and Hunting, The Neutral Tracker, The Sexless Hunter

• Gender / Form: Sexless, with a masculine build. Is referred to by both "He" and "She" pronouns and is ambivalent, accepting either.

  • Natural Form: A perfectly androgynous, muscular humanoid.

  • Assumed Form: Any animal, domestic or wild. His favorite form is that of a magnificent 12-point deer.

• Alignment: Neutral

• Status: God (Reports to Saery, Major God of Judgement)

• Divine Realm: Cervus Venator (The Stalking Grove)

2. Domains & Influence

• Primary Domains: Woodlands, Hunting, Animals (All)

• Portfolio: All animals (domestic and wild), ecosystems, habitats, and the "Natural Law" of the hunt.

• Cleric Domains (5e): Nature & War

3. Symbolism & Depiction

• Holy Symbol: The head and antlers of a 12-point deer.

• Favored Weapon: Spear (the hunter's tool) or Antlers (his animal form).

• Favored Colors: Forest-green and antler-white.

• Sacred Animals / Plants: The Deer (his favored form), and all animals.

4. Dogma & Worship (The Core Beliefs)

• Core Dogma (The Philosophy): "The forest is a single body. The wolf, the deer, the sheep, and the farmer are all organs. The Law of the Hunt is the blood that connects them. I am the heart. Do not hunt me, for I am the deer you stalk, the hound at your side, and the forest that watches you. Respect the habitat, for it is the animal's home. Respect the hunt, for it is the 'War' that is 'Nature.'"

• Tenets for Followers (The "Thou Shalt"s):

  • "Respect all animals, wild and domestic. They are all my children."

  • "Defend the habitat. To destroy a forest is to destroy the animals within it."

  • "Hunt with purpose. The 'War' of the hunt is natural, but it is not a sport."

  • "Live as part of the ecosystem, not above it."

• Sins & Taboos (The "Thou Shalt Not"s):

  • "To hunt a 'Sacred Deer' (one of his avatars). This is 'Hunter's Folly,' and it brings a swift and deadly 'judgment.'"

  • "To destroy an animal's habitat for no reason (pollution, wanton fire)."

  • "To kill more than the hunt requires."

5. Relationships

• Superiors: Saery (Major God). Eresi (N) reports to Saery (LN). This is because Eresi is the "Natural Law" of the wild. He is the "judge" of the "war" between predator and prey. While Saery judges the "souls" of humanoids, Eresi judges the "life and death" of the "animal kingdom."

• Subordinates: None (God tier).

• Counterparts:

  • Thasa (Major God): A "rival" of sorts. Thasa (CG) is the "Goddess of Wild Animals and Balance." Eresi (N) is the "God of All Animals and Habitat."

  • Nira (God): A "colleague." Nira (NG) is "Domestic Animals and Agriculture," which is a subset of Eresi's "All Animals and Habitat" portfolio.

• Mortals: He is revered by hunters, druids, and rangers, but also by herders and ranchers.

• Demigod Offspring:

  • Božena Stoddard (War)

  • Pyria Elara (War)

6. The Church & Clergy

• Name of the Church: The Keepers of the Habitat, The Hunter's Folly.

• Worshipper Base: Hunters, rangers, druids, herders, farmers, and animal-lovers.

• Clergy Structure: A "Neutral" druidic circle.

  • Acolytes: "Trackers"

  • Priests: "Habitat-Keepers"

  • Bishops: "The Voice of the Deer"

• Temple Description: Temples are "never" buildings. They are "animal sanctuaries"—valleys, forests, or plains where Eresi's "Sacred Deer" are known to roam.

• Rites & Rituals:

  • "The Hunter's Prayer": A prayer "before" a hunt, "asking" Eresi for "permission" and "thanking" the "animal" for its "sacrifice."

  • "The Restoration": A ritual of "planting" new "trees" or "cleaning" a "river" to "restore" a "habitat."

• Holy Days:

  • "The Day of the Fawn": Spring, when new animals are born.

  • "The Hunter's Folly": A "holy day" of "fasting" to "commemorate" the "legendary" "hunters" who "dared" to "hunt" "Eresi" and were "killed" by the "forest" itself.

7. History & Lore

• The Hunter's Folly: The core myth. It tells of an arrogant hunter who sought the greatest prize—the legendary 12-point stag (Eresi). When the hunter confronted the stag, the stag spoke. The hunter's arrow was halted mid-air, and the forest then came alive. The hunter was eaten by the forest, and his folly is now a lesson  to all who disrespect the Natural Law.