Progenitors of Water
The Water Progenitors embody adaptability, preservation, and the transformative power of water. Revered for their protective and nurturing aspects, they are also remembered for the devastation they wrought during the Godswar. The flooding of the Eili’an Empire stands as both a tragedy and a turning point in Raethíl’s history. Unlike the Fire Progenitors, the Water Progenitors have actively sought to repair the damage they caused, their actions marked by healing, celebration, and a strong connection to the seas and rivers.
Liyai: The Sea Elf Progenitor of the Ocean and Abjuration
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Water, Protection, Healing, Nature, Repose
Symbol: A cresting wave encircling a radiant pearl.
Description
Liyai is a beacon of hope and preservation. During the Godswar, as the seas surged and the Eili’an Empire fell beneath the waves, Liyai acted swiftly to shield the remnants of the once-great civilisation. Using her mastery of abjuration, she created barriers to hold back the waters, preserving pockets of life and culture. While her efforts could not prevent the transformation of Eili’an into an archipelago, they ensured its survival.
Her presence is felt in the Watersphere, where she frequents her sea-bound temples to bestow blessings and healing upon her followers. Liyai’s influence extends beyond the oceans, and her protection is sought by sailors, healers, and anyone in need of safe passage or recovery.
Worship
Followers: Sailors, healers, scholars, and the people of Eili’an.
Practices: Worship includes offerings of pearls or oceanic treasures, prayers sung to the rhythm of waves, and festivals held on floating platforms at sea. Ritual cleansing in sacred water is a common rite.
Sacred Sites: Her temples are built on stilts over the water, open to the sea below, allowing tides to flow through as a symbol of connection and renewal.
Hedron: The Half-Elf Progenitor of Rivers, Illusion, and Festivals
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Domains: Luck, Change, Freedom, Dreams, Travel
Symbol: A flowing river framed by colourful flowers, overlaid with rippling mirage patterns.
Description
Hedron is the embodiment of joy, change, and the ever-shifting nature of water. Known for his role in redirecting the floodwaters of Eili’an into rivers, he transformed devastation into renewal. His mastery of illusion reflects his playful and capricious nature; Hedron is said to attend every festival held in his honour, though no one knows his true face. To his most devout followers, he reveals himself as a youthful half-elf, a symbol of the vitality he inspires.
Hedron’s worship is vibrant and full of life, with riverside festivals dedicated to him featuring music, dance, and offerings of flowers cast into the water. His followers celebrate his ability to bring people together, even in the aftermath of great loss.
Worship
Followers: Party-goers, illusionists, artists, and riverside communities.
Practices: Offerings include colourful flowers released into flowing water, as well as the creation of intricate illusions during festivals. Celebrations often include feasts, music, and games.
Sacred Sites: Temples built over rivers with water running through them, symbolising Hedron’s connection to flow and renewal.
Thalvyr: The Human Progenitor of Seafaring and Leadership
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Domains: Water, Travel, Duty, Protection, Wealth
Symbol: A ship’s wheel overlaid with a cresting wave.
Description
Thalvyr is a Progenitor who commands the seas not with tyranny but with calculated authority and unshakable resolve. He is the embodiment of the sea's dual nature—both a life-giving force and an unyielding adversary.
Known as a guardian of those who respect the ocean’s might, Thalvyr ensures the seas are both a highway and a crucible. He teaches mortals that wealth and safety lie not in exploiting the waters but in learning to navigate their challenges with humility and skill. Sailors revere him as the ultimate arbiter of fate at sea, while coastal cities prosper under his favour when they pay homage through trade and fair governance.
Thalvyr values discipline and preparedness. He views the sea as a test, a proving ground for those who dare to traverse it. Those who show courage, ingenuity, and respect for its dangers earn his blessings. Conversely, those who exploit or pollute the waters are swiftly met with the fury of his storms.
Thalvyr has little patience for chaos or frivolity, favouring mortals who understand the weight of responsibility and the balance between risk and reward. While he is not without compassion, his aid comes only to those who strive to help themselves.
Worship
Thalvyr's followers are a pragmatic and disciplined group, encompassing sailors, merchants, and maritime adventurers. His temples are often lighthouses or sea-facing shrines where offerings are cast into the waves.
- Offerings: Rare shells, polished stones, and crafted trinkets symbolising the fruits of trade.
- Rituals: Before setting sail, followers often recite the “Litany of the Depths,” a prayer for safe passage. New ships are ritually anointed with saltwater and wine, and their hulls are marked with Thalvyr’s wheel symbol.
Shared Legacy and Influence
Natural Influence
The Water Progenitors left an indelible mark on Raethíl, from the seas and rivers they shaped to the cultural transformation of Eili’an. Their domains reflect water’s dual nature: life-giving and destructive. While Liyai’s calming presence brings healing, Hedron’s playfulness fosters celebration, and Thalvyr’s authority ensures balance on the open seas.
Philosophical Divide
Despite their shared element, the Water Progenitors embody contrasting facets of water’s nature. Liyai’s protective spirit, Hedron’s chaotic joy, and Thalvyr’s strict sense of justice often put them at odds, though their shared responsibility for the Watersphere unites them.
Modern Role in Raethíl
The Water Progenitors remain highly revered, particularly within the Watersphere. Their legacies live on in the traditions of Eili’an, the festivals along Raethíl’s rivers, and the naval practices of countless seafaring communities. Together, they represent the adaptability and resilience of water, a force that shapes life and transforms it in equal measure.
Liyai
Hedron
Thalvyr
