Umberlee

"The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
And furrow followed free;
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea.
Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down,
Twas cold as cold could be;
And we did pray only to break
The wrath of Umberlee!"

~ Excerpt from 'An Ode to the Wavemother', translated by Aeron Damphair

Overview

Umberlee is the sea goddess of the Faerûnian pantheon, worshipped primarily by sailors and those who reside along the coast of the Trackless Sea. Most of the time, her worshippers are those who fear her destructive powers rather than those who genuinely wish to honour her divinity. Indeed, she is known by religious scholars to be a particularly malicious, petty, greedy, and vain deity who controls the harshness of the sea while revelling in its chaos and capacity for destruction. According to her worshippers, she is prone to drown sailors and fisherman who do not pay a suitable tithe to the Wavemother before embarking on long voyages.
It is commonly believed among her worshippers that Umberlee resides in Blood Tor, a level of the Abyss that is flooded as to befit its ruler. However, there are some, including members of the Kraken Society, and clerics such as Aeron Damphair, who believe that Umberlee in fact rests at the bottom of the Trackless Sea, hidden among shipwrecks and a forest of thick black kelp. Her holy symbol is that of a parted wave, curling in both directions.

Appearance

According to certain shipwreck survivors, Umberlee's seldomly-seen avatar is that of a giant woman with a body that is rife with foam and coloured like the sea. Some accounts offer more specific details, such as the avatar of Umberlee possessing great fins upon her elbows, and green hair comprised of seaweed and kelp. Meanwhile, her white eyes are described as being reminiscent of pearls, and her voice is described as being like the fiercest sea storm, booming with the breaking of waves. The goddess seems to most commonly appear in this form with the sole purpose of terrifying the mortals on board sinking ships.
One particularly rousing account of the goddess manifesting herself comes from the former Queen of the Storm Giants, Neri of Maelstrom. According to her, the avatar of Umberlee appeared wearing jewellery made out of enormous seashells, carried a trident of gleaming steel, and was dressed in a flowing cape made out of countless pale-purple jellyfish. Neri remarked in her testimony that "such wickedness and disregard for mortal life has never been seen so regal a form".

Personality

Umberlee is recorded as being one of the most temperamental, evil, and malicious gods of her pantheon. According to such sources, she does not feel any moral obligation to honour her promises if the end result is not beneficial to her. According to most religious scholars, that fact, as well as her desire for excessive tribute, demonstrates her insatiable greed and cruelty. Historical accounts corroborate this interpretation, and maritime historians may illustrate her sadistic nature with mythical tales of her destroying rich naval vessels, and feeding shipwreck victims to her sharks while watching countless others drown.

Known Worshippers

Although Umberlee's worshippers are generally motivated through fear rather than reverence, there are a number of temples and statues erected in her name, particular along the coastline. Sea-faring settlements, such as Luskan and Port Llast tend to have the highest proportion of genuine worshippers, including the eldery human Luskanese cleric Aeron Damphair, who, in 2953 JR compiled and published the most widespread and comprehensive guide to Umberlant worship, 'An Ode to the Wavemother'. This book contains prayers and tributes translated from seven different languages, stretching all the way back to the First Age. The book also presents several myth cycles revolving around Umberlee, some rescued from drowned civilisations, such as the sunken dwarven kingdom of Korolnor.
One such myth cycle details how Umberlee 'bled ichor into seas, from which sprang new life', which is a potential origin for the existence of weresharks, krakens, and sahuagin in the Trackless Sea. Indeed, some of the more militant worshippers of Umberlee are not found on the coast, but rather in the ocean itself. Many tribes of sahuagin, ancients krakens, and even certain protectorates of tritons revel in the tyranny of Wavemother, and aid in the destruction of vessels that they deem to be 'unworthy'.
Another notable worshipper of Umberlee is the halfling cleric known as Captain Garret Candlecrunch, a former-sailor who was ordinated in Luskan under the guidance of Aeron Damphair. Most known for captaining the ill-fated Crimson Dagger, Candlecrunch was known prior to his ordination for cursing the Wavemother and refusing to pay her tithe. After the sinking of the Crimson Dagger (and the resultant death of his crew) in 3007 JR, Candlecrunch found comfort in his first-mate's copy of 'An Ode to the Wavemother', which was rescued from the wreckage. It is said that Candlecrunch found the illustrations in the book to be particular beautiful, and that his goal is to one day meet the goddess herself, and beg her forgiveness for his sins.

Umberlee's Chosen

Like many gods of Faerûn, Umberlee is thought to select a 'Chosen' from among her worshippers, and imbue them with the strength and foresight of a demigod. According to Damphair's accounts, the most recent worshipper chosen by the goddess to wield her power was the kraken wizard Slarkrethel in 1112 JR. However, Umberlee is known to be a jealous god, and Slarkrethel is a proud and power-hungry creature, sparking rumours among fanatics that either Slarkrethel has since denounced the title in an act of rebellion, or that Umberlee has revoked the kraken's powers such that he may never grow more powerful than her.

Divine Classification

Goddess of the Sea

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Wavemother, The Bitch Queen, Queen of the Depths

Current Residence

Blood Tor / The Trackless Sea