Erathis

Erathis, or Lathander, was the god of civilization and law.

History

"Erathis has done well, and the cities and strong places of Echelon will remain." - Ioun, goddess of prophecy ("Mythos", ch. 9, v. 21)

Nearly all of Erathis's teachings were passed on through texts exclusive to his codes of law, and not in other corroborative texts. Though the Moradindrian mentioned him, Erathis was not spoken of in the texts from the Vault of the Ancients, which led to a season of doubt in his followers in the later days of the Middle Era. However, whereas many of the gods suffered an exodus of followers during the majority of the Dark Age, the faithful of Erathis blossomed in the cities under Lionni’s divine shield. When the Null took Sirocco in 879 DA, worship of Erathis was nearly eradicated. It wasn’t until after the Melding that the followers of the god made a resurgence; in the later Light Age, they were fairly commonplace.

He was sometimes seen as an aspect of Pelor, and not a separate deity. Many viewed him as a representation of the logical side of humanity, with Melora as the emotional side of humanity, and Pelor as the god that balanced them both. Whatever the case, temples of Erathis were seen throughout history in the great cities of the world.

Dogma and Followers

Laws, construction, and good stewardship were paramount to the teachings of Erathis. He commanded obedience to order and righteous rule. City guards often wore the vestments of Erathis, denoting their service to the defense of the light of civilization against the darkness—both within and without. His preoccupation with fairness and justice rivaled Bahamut’s, but the followers of Erathis encouraged community and invention more than war (even a just one).