Not much is known about Erich's life before his bout of insanity. Erich seems to be a surviving member of the Eye Cult, possessing a magic gaper eye that projects itself to him through a voice he calls "Dietrich." Kästner also appears to have been in Aborek during the death of Willow Hauksen. However, Erich was knocked unconsious before Willows death. Neblin speaks of waking up with both legs broken and his arm stuck underneath a pile of stones and rubble. After sawing off his arm, Erich Kästner crawled out of Aborek. While Neblin did wear an arm crafted from a stone golem, he is an unreliable narrator, so the validity of this story is unknown.