Church of Umberlee

Umberlee's worshippers pay her homage most commonly out of fear of her retribution. This coercive relationship with the aptly-named Bitch Queen is, however, not common among her clergy.
Umberlee's clerics are those she favours to enact her will on the mortal realms. These are just as often drawn by sincere awe and respect of the Wavemother's power as they are by the keen desire to wield said power over others.

Tenets of Faith

The following basic dogma define Umberlee's faith:

• The sea is vicious and untamable; there is no place more dangerous.
• The drowned belong to Umberlee.
• Umberlee is the mistress of the sea, and her waves and winds are all-reaching.
• Those who trespass upon the domain of the Wavemother must pay appropriate tribute or face her insurmountable and righteous fury.

Ethics

Umberlee's dogma is fairly straighforward; those who pay the Queen of the Depths appropriate tribute may be spared the violence of her domain. This tribute is due not only for the privilege of sailing any sea, but also as penance for any disrespect toward Umberlee or her watery domain.
Moreover, "appropriate" tribute is exhorbitant, but given the value of Umberlee's blessing on a transoceanic voyage, well-worth paying - if still painful on the wallet - for most seafarers. These fees often increase depending on the size of the vessel and the value of its cargo.

Worship

Umberlee's worshippers pray at high tide. Prayers are nearly always accompanied by offerings of gold or other valuables, which may be placed in an altar that allows the high tide to wash over it (the process by whitch the Wavemother claims those articles which please her), or by scattering them into the open sea if seaborne.

Priesthood

Waveservants do not have a shared hierarchy of titles, save that only the highest ranks are permitted to share a symmetry with Umberlee's own title, being referred to as Wavemistresses or Wavelords.
A cleric can also distinguish a higher rank by applying the term "Dread" before one of the myriad other titles that indicate the favour of the Bitch Queen, such as Waveservant, Dread Wave, Flood Tide, Riptide, Dark Breaker, or Puissant Undertow.
Similarly to their ad-lib ranking system, Umberlee's church does not have uniform vestments, but is reliably identified by their aquatic motifs. Waveservants dress in sea greens and blues, accented with pearls or gemstones of oceanic colours, such as emeralds, lapis lazulite, and azure.
Due to the enormous wealth accrued from sailor's sacrifices, even with the bulk of it sacrificed to Umberlee, her preisthood's garments are often rich in both textile and design.

Granted Divine Powers

Umberlee's favoured were granted a share of her power over the wind and sea appropriate to their standing in the eyes of the Stormgoddess.
Commonly observed powers include the summoning of seawater and rain, the power to fling bolts of lightning, and the obedience of sea creatures and speak with the spirits of the drowned below. Higher ranking clerics can conjure typhoons and maelstroms, summon armies of drowned dead, or cause their enemies lungs to fill with seawater.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Due to Umberlee's influence over sea travel, keeping her church placated is a priority in most seafaring communities. Along the The Shattered Isles, especially, keeping on the Bitch Queen's good side is common - if expensive - sense.
The price of Umberlee's displeasure is so steep that her clergy walk untouched in coastal communities, receiving allowance for behaviour that would land most in the jailhouse or worse.

Type

Religious, Cult

Alternative Names

Church of the Undrowned

Demonym

Umberlant