Aÿ

(a.k.a. Sometimes, the epithet Aÿ Ketkho)

Raron god of water

Aÿ is a deity of one of the three Raron elements, but the Rarons have complicated feelings about them. Before the Dry Age, Aÿ was a rather small deity strongly associated with the god of salt, Oosh, and also with the other elemental deity, Roosaaf. When Lake Raro dried up until there was nothing but salt flats, people began to plead with Aÿ to return. Some people believe that Aÿ was angry and took away the water, and others believe that Aÿ was hurt in some way and had no choice but to use the waters of the Lake to heal themselves.

Divine Domains

Aÿ has dominion over water, one of the three Raron elements. They control all water, from drinking water to the seas themselves. While Aÿ is associated with the greater ocean, they have direct control over the rivers that feed Lake Raro. During the Dry Age, it is believed that Aÿ either built a magical dam that prevented water from flowing into the basin or used magic to absorb the water into their body.
Mimicking water, Aÿ also has dominion over development and change, the growth of things from their starts to their ends and back again. In some circles, Aÿ also has dominion over time for this reason.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Aÿ is strongly associated with two animals from the Ushaadfaay, the Raron zodiac: tyiiaa, snake-lake creatures with very many legs, and muutaa, cimilar to arachnids and crustaceans.
After the return of the water to Lake Raro, the circle became associated with Aÿ, and this is demonstrated most notably in the rings that people walk in during the Day of Zafeo, a ceremony conducted by walking in circles in the waters of Lake Raro on stilts.

Holidays

Aÿ is most strongly associated with the Day of Zafeo, which occurs on the day after the largest moon is full before the harvest of salt snails. It shares the holiday with Oosh, but its origins are early appeals to the god to beg for the return of water.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Aÿ's divine goals are to be respected and worshipped. While they may not get along with other gods necessarily, they will work with them in order to ensure proper and continued worship. For example, while Aÿ is associated most strongly with two animals from the Ushaadfaay, there are two animals who have water as their secondary element, and thus it is common for all elemental deities to be worshipped at once with animal sacrifices because of the overlapping animal affinities.

Physical Description

Body Features

Aÿ is depicted as a large Rarite with exceptionally long legs, a tail that forms a river, and two heads. One head is shown as smiling or talking, mouth open, and the other is closed or frowning, each representing the different roles that Aÿ played in history.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Aÿ is khuuv, one of the four Raron genders.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

There are several stories about their motivations.
Originally, Aÿ's motivation was to help the Raron people and give them their source of life. They were celebrated and worshipped by Raron people, with temples erected in their honor, but when it became clear that they were a secondary figure to Oosh, god of salt, they became jealous and took the water away out of spite. When Oosh and Roosaaf, god of air, confronted Aÿ, the two other elemental deities gave passionate speeches to try and persuade them to return the water. Aÿ still refused. Oosh and Roosaaf left, trying to think of what else they could do, and together the two wrote a song and performed it in front of Aÿ. Seeing the other two basically worshipping Aÿ, they accepted, and began to return the water.
Others say it differently and that Aÿ was attacked by one of the Drinyaa, divine beasts. The beast was able to wound Aÿ so significantly that Aÿ was forced to take the waters of Lake Raro and absorb it into their body. This infusion of liquid took hundreds of years to complete before Aÿ's wound was healed. While Aÿ was recovering, Oosh and Roosaaf sang songs to lift Aÿ's spirits and speed up the recovery process.
Either way, Aÿ has several songs dedicated to them, and they are sung at the Day of Zafeo in celebration of the water returning.

Vices & Personality flaws

Aÿ is depicted as a jealous and proud god who has enormous power over the life and death of creatures. While other gods are more lax with their worship, devoted followers who are seeking Aÿ's favor are expected to pray to Aÿ on a daily basis for a while before making requests.

Divine Classification

Elemental Deity