Elia Nauthiia
The traditional and ancient faith of the seafaring Pilaani elves, a matriarchal, triad faith centered on the interactions of Nauthiia (sea), Shua (air), and Elia (earth). These are in conflict with each other but aligned against the Outer Void which is considered the source of all evil in the universe.
Unlike the dualist faith of Toz, the three aspects are not at all in balance; Nauthiia, the sea, is the most powerful by far, her often unknown and generally unknowable will affecting the land and the air; Elia, as the land, is of great importance to some living things, but of less importance to the holy creatures of the sea or to the three great gods, creating a tension between mortal and immortal will. Shua, the air, is the source of life, ephemeral and shapeless, but it can have an affect on the earth and the sea, while the earth is acted upon but does little to affect the other two.
Nauthiia's powers are fickle and absolute; like other of the more primitive faiths, no real relationship exists between worshiper and worshiped, besides a steadfast desire not to attract the Goddesses' direct attention as this will only lead to her contempt and disruption of the worshiper's life. However Nauthiia uniquely is portrayed as a humanoid female, more stern than beautiful, in religious iconography and the faith is significantly more personal than cosmological. many of her patrons do invoke her good side even while trying to avoid the many negative or deadly aspects of the chaos of the open sea.
The average worshiper celebrates the various feasts of the pantheon as well as a number of holy days based on the dates of major storms or famous shipwrecks; Nauthiia has a strong appeal to pirates as well as warlocks and sorcerers of the old ways, especially those of a chaotic temperament. Prayers are said and small rituals involving salt water and seashells are performed to appease and placate the Goddess and her numberless minions which include seafaring intelligent races, beasts and monstrosities of the sea, abominations, and even water-related fey, and especially the dragons and dragonets associated with the sea. At the same time, other prayers and rituals are performed to find favor and avoid the capricious wrath of Elia and Shua, and to strengthen Shua against the encroachment of the Outer Void which include the actions of fiends, who are considered an extension of or even an embodiment of the Void. The underground for these worshipers is the realm of Elia, and evil spirits come from space, not from a subterranean hell.
The faith is in its essence, Chaotic neutral, as the sea and storms play no favorites and follow no morality or immorality; however its essential tenets are in favor of good thoughts and acts rather than evil ones, and the virtues of patience, generosity and loyalty are highly elevated, as qualities shared by all three of the faith's deities, and lacking in the void and its monsters. Fairness is critical but going beyond fairness to show mercy is idealized. Fear is a greater sin than pride, and exploration and adventures (and adventuring) are noble pursuits worth their own reward.
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