Zephyr, The Stormfather (ZEH-phyr)

Primeval God of the Sea, Storms, and Disasters

Tumultuous, unpredictable, and dangerous. These words and many more are perfect descriptors of Zephyr, he who rules over the Sea and the Storms above. When the seas are calm and unmoving, sailors give thanks to Zephyr for a day of safety; but when storms brew overhead and the sea becomes wild and choppy, sailors will still thank Zephyr, but for the chance to prove themselves as the greatest of his followers.
Zephyr is a God that represents the storm themselves; as a result, he is powerful, wild, and unpredictable, with his favour and temperament shifting from moment to moment much like the skies themselves. He demands that the followers brave the storm to become as the storm, and he does not suffer cowardice at all. Despite his reputation, he is a God that pushes for bravery and strength above all else, and asks that his followers better themselves through struggle.

Divine Domains

Nature, Tempest, War

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Zephyr's holy symbol is that of a bolt of lightning splitting the sea into two.

Tenets of Faith

Hardship builds character, brave the worst of the world to better yourself.

Bravery is paramount. There is no glory to be had in being a coward.

Let the churning waters and winds of the storm guide you. Be unpredictable.

Holidays

The Apex Storm

Held in the months of Summer where the weather is at its most unpredictable and the storms at their strongest, followers of Zephyr will venture out to see to seek what is known as the Apex Storm, the largest and most dangerous storm of the year. The most devoted will throw themselves into the chaotic winds and frantic lightning of this storm in an attempt to survive it and better themselves, and encourage others to do the same. Many of them die, but that is a sacrifice they are all aware of, and are willing to make.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Zephyr is depicted as a blue-skinned human-like man with cascading hair that turns into sea foam, barrel-chested and with massive muscles. His legs are often depicted as being laced with scales, or more uncommonly as having octopus tentacles in place of legs.
Befitting his nature as a god of storms, he is always depicted as holding a lightning bolt-spear in one hand, and directing the flow of the seas with the other.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Worshippers

Followers of Zephyr are wide and varied, though the vast majority of them are those who have a life on the sea. Sailors who follow Zephyr very rarely make a show of their devotion, most simply wearing a pendant adorned with his holy symbol and occasionally murmuring a prayer before their next journey. Those who live on the coastline will often follow the same process, and temples to Zephyr are often built along these coastlines; these temples are often constructed from the remains of ships that have been retired, and have statues of both Zephyr contained within; many of these temples also serve a duty as bathhouses.

Clergy

Devoted priests of Zephyr dress themselves in shades of blue; their robes are not traditional priestly robes common among other religions, but are far closer to stylised sailors' uniforms that have been repurposed for more priestly roles.
Compared to many other religions, there is far less of a dedicated hierarchy; worship of Zephyr is primarily overseen by a group known as the Council of Storms, based within the Valley of Storms in the Stormchaser Archipelago, but outside of them there is nothing in the way of a hierarchy among Zephyr's devotees.

Family Ties

Ondra, the Stormchaser

One of the very few things to bring Zephyr any semblance of calm or tranquillity is his beloved wife, the Elven Goddess Ondra. Where Zephyr has dominion over the chaotic, unpredictable aspects of the sea and storms, Ondra instead holds dominion over the beasts of the sea and those that travel it; Zephyr's legendarily wild temper is said to only be calmed by Ondra herself, and when it is said that when the tides lower and become safe to travel, Ondra has managed to calm her frantic husband.

Speech

For all his rage and fury, Zephyr is said to be a remarkably quiet and terse being when communed with, only communicating in short sentences or one-word answers. His voice is said to be that of the storm itself; of a heavy, deafening rumble from the skies above.

Divine Classification

Primeval Deity

Religions

• The Founders

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Honorary & Occupational Titles

King of the Tides
The Leviathan
The Oncoming Storm

Parents

The All-Maker, the First Light of Dawn