Herne
The Antlered One
Areas of Concern: hunting, plants, travelers, wilderness
Edicts: foster the growth of living things, explore and appreciate the outdoors, take care of a garden or house plant
Anathema: violate the natural order, disrupt the balance of an ecosystem, take more than what you need to survive
Divine Attribute: Constitution or Wisdom
Religious Symbol: face made of leaves wearing an antler crown
Sacred Animal: Elk
Sacred Colors: Brown, Green
Herne is a complex, multifaceted god capable of great wrath as well as great mercy. He is depicted in many illuminated manuscripts as a satyr with branching horns, garbed in a cloak woven from leaves and twigs. In some older records, he is portrayed as a great stag with antlers that stretch into the heavens. He is fiercely independent, loathing those who would seek to enslave or harm the natural world, and is known to smite any mortals who encroach upon the lands under his protection.
Some tales speak of wasteful hunters, who were punished by the Antlered One to live out their days as the very creatures they once hunted. Others speak of his compassion; how he intervenes on behalf of mortals in need, guiding lost travelers back to safety and offering comfort to the wounded. Despite his fearsome reputation, the Antlered One brings balance to the natural world, striking a harmonious chord between those that live within it and those who rely on its bounty to survive.
Followers of Herne, often hunters and herders, believe that his favor will grant them success in their pursuits and shield them from any dangers that the wilds throw their way. They see him as a defender of the wild places and all they contain, praying to him for guidance and making offerings of fresh game as a symbol of their reverent gratitude. Through his teachings, Herne reminds mortals of the importance of respecting the balance of nature, and of their fragile place in the world.
Devotee Benefits
Cleric Spells — 1st: Summon Animal, 3rd: Haste, 5th: Plant Form
Divine Font: Heal
Divine Sanctification: Holy (optional)
Divine Skill: Nature
Domains: Freedom, Nature, Travel, Wood
Alternate Domain: Decay
Favored Weapon: Axes with the Agile trait
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