Bestiary

The god of plants, nature, animal husbandry, and prosperity, and the orisha of medicine and natural forces, Erinle is a hunter, farmer, and fisher who teaches the people how to grow their resources into prosperity for themselves and their families. His presence can be felt in a garden or farm, where the soil is rich and moist, where things are growing and flourishing, where animals are safe and fed in their flocks, and where a person has all the things in life that they would need. Much like a healthy crop, finances, health, and friends must be cultivated, and Erinle watches over them.

Erinle means “land elephant,” one who lives on the land but also in the water — he bridges the gaps of those lands. As such, Erinle enjoys being next to life-giving sources of water. Since water

is a necessary element of what it takes to stay healthy, Erinle can often be found in parts of the world where water has been con­ taminated, offering relief to those inflicted by the illnesses that result from drinking bad water. Erinle also works as an herbalist, making different forms of medicine from herbs and plants to help heal those who are inflicted with different diseases. Although he encourages good health, exercise, and self-care through traditional means, he favors modern medicine as well. Anything a person can use in order to remain well and take care of their family — within the bounds of fairness and reason — is fine with Erinle.

If a mage needs to find Erinle, that person should go where the water meets land (like swamps and marshlands) and offer him gifts of gold, cowries, fine bird feathers, coral, jet, rams, quail, and fine foods. Erinle doesn’t have a need for hard-to-find or expensive offerings, since he already has so much. Erinle can be invoked for his powers of abundance, the ability to take items and multiply them infinitely. Erinle is also the keeper of health, called upon when a devotee needs to stop the spread of poison or is severely harmed in an attack.

His ability to go between two different walks of life also embodies itself in his feminine side, Abatan. In this form, Erinle takes on the role of healer, nurse, caregiver, and a provider of other forms of emotional labor. Erinle believes there is not a single way of giving and taking care of someone. Providing for people’s needs requires both of his aspects in order to take care of everyone.

Erinle is a hearty, smartly dressed god with long, thick braids draped down his body. Necklaces of cowrie shells, red coral, and plumage from his many birds represent his wealth. Despite that wealth, though, he’s not boastful or proud. Abatan appears in much the same way, though with feminine form and dress. Whatever aspect they assume, Erinle is content when everyone else nearby is also fortunate. When people are deprived, when they need things only this god can provide, and they know how to ask for it properly, then Erinle is there for them.