Disciples of Nyissa

Tenets of Faith

Harmony Through Diversity

Followers celebrate the diversity of nature and recognize the importance of different ecosystems, creatures, and cultures. They believe that the richness of life lies in its multifaceted tapestry.

Respect for All Life

The Disciples hold a deep respect for all living beings, viewing every creature as a part of the interconnected web of life. They follow a strict code of non-violence and seek to resolve conflicts peacefully whenever possible.

Benevolence in Action

Disciples are encouraged to actively engage in benevolent deeds, helping others selflessly and contributing to the well-being of the community. Acts of kindness are seen as a direct reflection of Nyissa's initial benevolent actions.

Empowerment Through Compassion

Followers believe that compassion and empathy are pathways to inner strength and empowerment. By understanding and sharing in the joys and struggles of others, Disciples strengthen the communal bonds that tie them together.

Sacred Duty to Aid

Disciples consider it a sacred duty to aid those in need. They actively seek out opportunities to provide assistance, whether through material support, healing, or guidance. This duty extends beyond the borders of their community to encompass all living beings.

Ethics

Benevolent Conduct

Ethical behavior within the Disciples of Nyissa revolves around benevolence. Followers are encouraged to engage in actions that promote the well-being and happiness of others. Acts of kindness, charity, and selfless service are considered the highest virtues.

Compassionate Empathy

Ethical decision-making is rooted in compassionate empathy. Disciples strive to understand the feelings and perspectives of others, making choices that minimize harm and contribute positively to the lives of those around them.

Diversity and Inclusivity

The religion's ethics embrace diversity and inclusivity. Followers are taught to respect and appreciate differences in race, culture, and beliefs, recognizing the inherent value each individual brings to the collective tapestry of the community.

Non-Violence and Peaceful Resolution

Non-violence is a foundational ethical principle. Disciples are committed to resolving conflicts peacefully and promoting a culture of understanding and forgiveness. Acts of aggression are viewed as contrary to the teachings of Nyissa.

Seeking Wisdom and Understanding

Followers are encouraged to pursue wisdom and understanding. This includes a commitment to lifelong learning, self-reflection, and personal growth. Seeking knowledge is seen as a means to deepen one's connection with Nyissa and contribute more meaningfully to the community.

Worship

Blessing by Nyissa's Statue

Newborns are often brought to the Statue of Nyissa for a special blessing. Families gather at the waterfall, and a priest or priestess performs a ceremony invoking Nyissa's blessings for the health and prosperity of the newborn.

Meditative Reflection by Water

Individuals seek solace and connection with Nyissa through meditative practices by the water's edge. Whether it's sitting in quiet contemplation or engaging in mindfulness exercises, followers find spiritual resonance in the peaceful rhythm of waves.

Offerings of Peace

Devotees make offerings that symbolize peace, such as white flowers, sea shells, or crafted representations of ocean waves. These offerings are presented in gratitude for the tranquility Nyissa provides and as a commitment to spreading peace in their own lives.

Acts of Compassion and Service

Worship extends beyond formal rituals to encompass everyday acts of compassion and service. Followers believe that embodying the principles of peace in their actions is a form of worship, aligning with Nyissa's teachings.

Floating Offerings

Followers may offer small, biodegradable items, like flower petals or leaves, onto the water's surface. This act represents humility, acknowledging the interconnectedness of life and the cyclical nature of existence.

Harmony Pipeweed Circle

In group worship, followers might form a circle and pass around a ceremonial pipe filled with sacred pipeweed. As each person takes a puff, they express their gratitude to Nyissa for the interconnectedness of all life and the soothing influence of the goddess.

Pipeweed Incense Cleansing

Burning pipeweed as incense is a common practice to purify sacred spaces. The rising smoke is thought to purify the air and create a tranquil atmosphere, allowing worshippers to commune more closely with Nyissa's divine presence.

Priesthood

The priests and priestesses of the Disciples of Nyissa are revered figures within their communities, serving as spiritual guides and conduits of Nyissa's wisdom. Appointed based on a combination of experience and demonstrated abilities, these leaders embody the principles of harmony, peace, and connection with the natural world.

The distinct Anklet of Tranquility and Pipeweed Pouch with Sacred Symbols set them apart, marking their elevated status within the religious hierarchy. The Anklet of Tranquility, worn with pride, produces soft, melodic sounds as they move, creating an aura of calmness wherever they go. This anklet symbolizes the inner peace and balance achieved through devotion to Nyissa's teachings.

The Pipeweed Pouch with Sacred Symbols is both a practical and symbolic accessory. Filled with consecrated pipeweed, it becomes a central element of communal rituals, offering a shared experience of spiritual connection. The sacred symbols carved into the pouch are a testament to the priest or priestess's commitment to upholding the values and traditions of the Disciples of Nyissa.

Political Influence & Intrigue

Humanitarian Initiatives

The followers of Nyissa actively engage in humanitarian efforts, providing aid and support to communities affected by natural disasters, conflicts, or poverty. Political leaders who align with these initiatives gain favor with the Disciples, enhancing their political standing.

Sects

Handpan Harmony in Keala's Rituals

In the sacred rituals of the Disciples of Nyissa within the enchanting country of Keala, the handpan takes center stage, weaving a unique tapestry of celestial harmony. Crafted with precision, each handpan resonates with melodic echoes reminiscent of gentle ocean waves and whispers of the wind. During religious ceremonies, devoted followers gather in serene outdoor spaces adorned with vibrant flora, creating an atmosphere conducive to spiritual connection.

As the ceremonies unfold, the gentle touch of the handpan reverberates through the air, guiding worshippers into a state of tranquil meditation. The mesmerizing tones are believed to facilitate a deeper communion with Nyissa, fostering a sense of inner peace and unity among the Disciples. The handpan's circular shape symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the eternal flow of the ocean, reinforcing the core tenets of the faith.

Devotees often participate in rhythmic movements and dances, synchronizing their steps with the resonant pulses of the handpan. This musical interlude becomes a conduit for spiritual transcendence, allowing worshippers to immerse themselves fully in the divine energy that permeates Keala's sacred spaces.

Type

Religious, Other

Demonym

Disciple

Parent Organization

Gods of the Pantheon

Deities

• Nyissa

Divines

• Nyissa

Related Ranks & Titles

• Deity of Peace and The Ocean
• Disciple
• Priest/Priestess

Related Professions

• Religion

Controlled Territories

• The Statue of Nyissa
• The Temple of Nyissa at Greenleaf Grove

Notable Members

• Artemis Perlis

Related Plots

• Nyissa's Spirit Quest

Disciples of Nyissa

hit dice: 1d8

hit points at 1st level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

hit points at higher levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per disciple level after 1st

armor proficiencies: None

weapon proficiencies: Daggers, tridents

tools: Alchemist's supplies

saving throws: Charisma, Wisdom

skills: Choose two from Arcana, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Religion and Survival

starting equipment:

spellcasting:

You know three cantrips of your choice from the disciples of Nyissa spell list. You learn additional disciples of Nyissa cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Disciples of Nyissa table.

The Disciple of Nyissa table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1^st level and higher. To cast one of these cleric spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

You prepare the list of cleric spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the disciples of Nyissa spell list. When you do so, choose a number of cleric spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

For example, if you are a 3^rd level cleric, you have four 1^st level and two 2^nd level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1^st or 2^nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1^st level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1^st level or 2nd level slot. Casting the spell doesn’t remove it from your list of prepared spells.

You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of cleric spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

Spellcasting Ability

Spell save DC:

8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Spell attack modifier:

your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

class features:

Level 2

Song of Rest

You can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the short rest, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.

The extra hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to 1d8 at 9^th level, to 1d10 at 13^th level, and to 1d12 at 17^th level.

Shifting Tides

You can use your bonus action to unleash a current of water capable of moving other creatures. Choose another creature you can see within 30 feet that is on the ground or in a body of water. You may pull it 5 feet closer to you or push it 5 feet away from you. An unwilling creature can succeed on a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC to resist the effect.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Level 4

Ability Score Improvement

You can increase on ability score of your choice by 2 or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. You can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. You can choose instead to select a feat for your character. You gain this feature again when you reach 8^th, 12^th, 16^th and 19^th level.

Level 10

Divine Intervention

You can call on Nyissa to intervene on your behalf when your need is great.

Imploring your deity's aid requires you to use your action. Describe the assistance you seek and roll percentile dice. If you roll a number equal to or lower than your cleric level, Nyissa intervenes. The DM chooses the nature of the intervention; the effect of any cleric spell would be appropriate.

If Nyissa intervenes, you can't use this feature again for a long moon. Otherwise, you can use it again after you finish a long rest.

subclass options:

Level 1

You have 1 class point.

You can spend class points on any features that you have unlocked and have not already selected. You must spend class points when you gain them, and cannot save them for future levels.

Optional Abilities

Disciple of Life

Your healing spells are more effective. Whenever you use a spell of 1^st level or higher to restore hit points to a creature, the creature regains additional hit points equal to 2 + the spell's level.

Lay on Hands

Your blessed touch can heal wounds. You have a pool of healing power that can replenish when you take a long rest. With that pool, you can restore a total number of hit points equal to your cleric level x5.

As an action, you can touch a creature and draw power from the pool to restore a total number of hit points to that creature, up to the maximum amount remaining in your pool.

Alternatively, you can expend 5 hit points from your pool of healing to cure the target of one disease or neutralise one poison affecting it. You can cure multiple diseases and neutralize multiple poisons with a single use of Lay on Hands, expending hit points seperately for each one.

This feature has no effect on undead and constructs.

Blessings of Knowledge

You learn two languages of your choice. You also become proficient in your choice of two of the following skills: Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion.

Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of those skills.

Level 2

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Magical Sight

You can cast detect magic at will, without expending a spell slot.

Level 5

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Undrownable

You can cast water walk on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or using any material components.

Revealing Touch

You can use your action to touch one invisible creature, whose location is known to you. An invisible creature targeted by this feature becomes visible for 1 minute.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses of this feature after a short or long rest.

Level 6

You gain 2 class points.

Optional Abilities

Aura of Protection

Whenever you or a friendly creature within 10 feet of you must make a saving throw, the creature gains a bonus to the saving throw equal to your Wisdom modifier (with a minimum bonus of +1). You must be conscious to grant this bonus.

Awakened Mind

Your magical knowledge gives you the ability to touch the minds of other creatures. You can communicate telepathically with any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.

Cleansing Waters

When you restore hit points to an ally with a spell of 1^st level or higher, you may also cure it of one disease or one effect causing it to be poisoned, blinded, deafened or paralysed.

Level 8

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Aura of Devotion

You and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you can’t be charmed while you are conscious.

Optional Abilities

Ultimate Protection

You can choose one ally to be under your protection. Whenever the protected ally takes damage, you can use your reaction to transfer that damage to yourself.

Level 14

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Tranquility

You can enter a special meditation that surrounds you with an aura of peace. At the end of a long rest, you gain the effect of a sanctuary spell that lasts until the start of your next long rest (the spell can end early as normal).

Thousand Forms

You have learned to use magic to alter your physical form in more subtle ways. You can cast the alter self spell at will.

Cleansing Touch

You can use your action to end one spell on yourself or on one willing creature that you touch.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

The Third Eye

You can use your action to increase your powers of perception. When you do so, choose one of the following benefits, which lasts until you are incapacitated or you take a short or long rest. You can’t use the feature again until you finish a rest.

Ethereal Sight. You can see into the Ethereal Plane within 60 feet of you.

See Invisibility. You can see invisible creatures and objects within 10 feet of you that are within line of sight.

Illusory Reality

You have learned the secret of weaving shadow magic into your illusions to give them a semireality. When you cast an illusion spell of 1^st level or higher, you can choose one inanimate, nonmagical object that is part of the illusion and make that object real. You can do this on your turn as a bonus action while the spell is ongoing. The object remains real for 1 minute. For example, you can create an illusion of a bridge over a chasm and then make it real long enough for your allies to cross.

The object can’t deal damage or otherwise directly harm anyone.

Level 17

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Supreme Healing

When you would normally roll one or more dice to restore hit points with a spell, you instead use the highest number possible for each die. For example, instead of restoring 2d6 hit points to a creature, you restore 12.

Level 18

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Watery Defence

You gain the ability to defend yourself by momentarily assuming a water-based form. As a reaction when you are hit by an attack and take fire, force, bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage from it, you can negate the damage taken.

Once you do so, you can't do it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Level 20

You gain 1 class point.

Optional Abilities

Divine Intervention

Your call for intervention succeeds automatically, no roll required.

Curative Wave

You can unleash your healing properties in a wave of positive energy. You can cast the spell mass heal once, without spending a spell slot.

Once you do so, you can't do it again until you finish a long rest.

Disciple of Nyissa Table

Level	Class Points	Abilities	Optional Abilities	Cantrips Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1	1	Spellcasting	Disciple of Life, Lay on Hands, Blessings of Knowledge	3	2	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
2	2	Song of Rest	Magical Sight, Shifting Tides	3	3	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
3	2	---	---	3	4	2	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
4	2	Ability Score Improvement	---	4	4	3	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
5	3	---	Undrownable, Awakened Mind	4	4	3	2	---	---	---	---	---	---
6	5	---	Aura of Protection, Cleansing Waters, Revealing Touch	4	4	3	3	---	---	---	---	---	---
7	5	---	---	4	4	3	3	1	---	---	---	---	---
8	6	Ability Score Improvement	Aura of Devotion, Ultimate Protection	4	4	3	3	2	---	---	---	---	---
9	6	Song of Rest Improvement	---	4	4	3	3	3	1	---	---	---	---
10	6	Divine Intervention	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	---	---	---	---
11	6	---	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	---	---	---
12	6	Ability Score Improvement	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	---	---	---
13	6	Song of Rest Improvement	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	---	---
14	7	---	Tranquility, Thousand Forms, Cleansing Touch, The Third Eye, Illusory Reality	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	---	---
15	7	---	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	---
16	7	Ability Score Improvement	---	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	---
17	8	Song of Rest Improvement	Supreme Healing	5	4	3	3	3	2	1	1	1	1
18	9	---	Watery Defence	5	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1
19	9	Ability Score Improvement	---	5	4	3	3	3	3	2	1	1	1
20	10	---	Divine Intervention Improvement, Curative Wave	5	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1