Vératya

A.k.a The Blood-Father, The Seed of Hidden Life

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Suggested Domains (D&D 5E)

Nature, Life, Peace, Light

Vératya's Words (Godbound)

Earth, Endurance, Fertility, Health, Might

Vératya is one of two major divinities in the Eltórián Bonelands region. He has fulfilled the people's desire for sustenance as a life god by creating and chaining down the Leviathan so it may be butchered endlessly. His specific aspects are Growth, Fecundity and Providence, and the greater domains they belong to are Life and Earth.
The Blood-Father represents what little life that can be found in these wastelands, and is sometimes dubbed the Seed of Hidden Life. As such he is the direct opposite of Viharanya who represents the rampant death and destruction of the wastelands. His gift has lead to plentiful food and this caused many stray travelers to flock towards his physical domain.
The plentiful followers caused a natural expansion of his domain, and he has had to conquer comparatively few other divinities for how powerful he has become. Others could only reach a similar level of strength through conquest. For this reason he is often considered a peaceful divinity, which is not entirely true as he does not shy away from conflict at all. He simply does not need to seek it out as much.

Hallow

It is no surprise that people easily stumbled upon his hallow, for it is an oasis in the middle of the dry desert. But it is not just any oasis. It is far larger than most, large enough to house the enormous Leviathan, and it is surrounded by a gigantic bone rib-cage of unknown origin that looms over the waters. Walking underneath these large ribs can feel like entering the belly of some gargantuan beast.

Appearance

Old texts seem to indicate that in the old days he would appear as a large reptilian beast with a second set of ribs sprouting from his back almost like wings and scales so craggy they appeared to be like rock.
Nowadays when he presents himself he appears as a surprisingly muscular old man who stands straight-backed, with bits of dust constantly falling off him as if he just rose from the earth. He still maintains that craggy appearance, with parts of his skin blending into rocky crusts. His left hand is missing, as he sacrificed it to create the Leviathan.

Followers

Due to his gift providing them with plentiful food, he is quite popular among the people of Vératyavár and even other travelers who stop to rest in his domain. The Carvers and Sanguine make plentiful offerings in his name, usually with materials gathered from the Leviathan, which they consider to be holy. They also functional as an exceptionally loyal and dedicated army when necessary, and they take responsibility for the harvesting and distribution of the Leviathan's meat to the rest of the city.
His priests seek to nurture a kind of empathic balance between the different groups of the city, as well as with the land. But some of them can be overzealous in their worship, such as the Spawn Guardians. These extremists believe that since the Leviathan was created by Vératya, it is holy and so are the Spawn that are born from it. They consider the constant murder of its Spawn by the Carvers to be blasphemy, even though the Blood-Father himself has never spoken out against it.

Devotion

Those who devote themselves to a divinity are sometimes rewarded for it, especially when they perform extraordinary actions. Vératya rewards those who distribute food or other resources to those who need them, and those who advance the community. But he has little patience for those who are arrogant and self-centered. He has the stability of the earth, he will not abandon one of his champions, but he will also not allow a champion of his to abandon their duty.
His blessings often grant the protection of the earth, and its stability. His champions are an unmovable wall who will not yield no matter how fierce the opposition. They protect those who hide behind them and do so without complaint and without expectation of reward.
Piety Rewards (D&D 5E)

Earning Piety:

• Feeding or caring for those who are starving.
• Protecting the weak from scavengers.
• Raising or restoring a monument to Vératya.
• Expanding the domain of Vératya.

Losing Piety:

• Denying food to those who need it.
• Abandoning those in need of protection.
• Destroying a monument or totem to Vératya.

Vératya's Devotee.
(Piety 3+ Trait)
The Blood-Father has seen your service and given you a way to protect yourself and your allies. You can cast shield of faith with this trait, requiring no material components, a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Vératya's Votary.
(Piety 10+ Trait; Minimum Level 6)
The life-giving power of the divinity Vératya flows through you. You can cast prayer of healing with this trait, requiring no material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence or Charisma.
In addition, you have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned.
Vératya's Disciple.
(Piety 25+ Trait; Minimum Level 11)
You are unyielding, an immovable champion behind whom the weak can safely hide. While you are standing and an effect would push you 1 foot or more, you can use your reaction to not be pushed. In addition, you have advantage on saving throws against effects that would knock you prone.
Saint of the Land.
(Piety 50+ Trait; Minimum Level 17)
You are granted a measure of protection similar to what shields the Blood-Father himself. Your skin is crusted with earth, and dust trails from your body. You gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class and immunity to poison damage. In addition, you can cast stoneskin with this trait, requiring no material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Realm

Eltórián Bonelands

Aligned Organization

Vératyavár, the Divine Blood-City

Myths of Vératya

The Windbreaker

Once a powerful storm ravaged the Bonelands, and it seemed to be heading straight for Vératyavár which was still a small town back then. To stay seemed like it would spell disaster for them, but the people did not want to abandon the city and their patron divinity. So they went to the Blood-Father and asked him for aid. He told them that all would be fine, he would not let life within his lands die and they simply needed to look east towards the storm. Some were frightened and fled the city, but the vast majority stayed and looked on as the storm approached. When it grew near and the winds started to whip around them, they could feel a rumbling beneath their feet and just outside of the city the earth began to rise. It formed a giant wind-shield that protected the city, just like father Vératya said. To this day the earth-wall can still be seen to the east of the city.

Courting of the Conqueress

It is said that Vératya once tried to court the Conqueress Ildovad. But while she respected him, she also said she would only ever pay the time of day to a man who could best her in a feat of strength. The Blood-Father, being quite confident in his physical capabilities accepted her challenge. They performed such feats for three days and three nights, from sparring to tough labor. But while he impressed her, she nevertheless beat him at every challenge and he saw that with only one hand he would never win. When she questioned him whether he'd ever in his life displayed more strength than her, the idea struck him. He pointed to his child, the Leviathan, and held out a knife to her. "Can you sacrifice one of your own hands for your people?", he asked. It wasn't a serious question and she knew, but it impressed her nonetheless. They never ended up being true lovers, but ever since they seemed to have had a good deal of respect for each other. They also had a child together that represents the Cycle of Life.