Selene

The Sea Mother

Selene followed Valtena to this new and barren world. There, she fell in love with the glittering waves and haunting depths of the ocean. The waters spoke to her and called her ever deeper. She claimed the seas as her domain and filled it with life of every color and type. It pained her to see others take from her bounty, and her temper brought the wrath of the ocean upon the land. She flooded the plains and took back from the land what they had stolen from her. For forty-three days and forty-three nights, she drowned the world in her anger until the lord of the skies calmed her and dried the land.

— The Drowned Book

Artifacts

The Coral Crown

The Coral Crown is one of the most recognizable symbols of Selene. It's made of green coral that branches out in a ring. At its center is the Nenalien Crystal. The crown gives the wearer immense power over the ocean and ice. Even a small chip of coral from the crown can be used to create powerful potions or imbue an item with magical power. If not worn, it rests above the Coral Throne surrounded by stinging anemones.

Trident of Selene

Forged at the center of the Lava Forge, the Trident of Selene is made from a strange copper-like metal which can only be found along the walls of Selene's Trench It was forged by Hathchan prior to his exile, and the metal never rusts or corrodes in seawater. The wielder is able to command any sea creature no matter how large, and marine life is docile towards the wielder.

Ember Pearl

Qazakthein's greatest gift to Selene is the Ember Pearl. It's a large black pearl laced with veins of fire. The pearl is the only source of fire underwater and is used to light the braziers in the Obsidian Palace. It's incredibly hot to the touch being formed from the sun and dragon fire.

Nenalien Crystal

The Nenalien Crystal is made from a strange crystal that only grows in the Endless Ocean. The largest crystal sits in the Coral Crown. There are rumors that it can reveal secrets to whomever wields it. It remains as one of the greatest mysteries about the crown with no one knowing truly what it does.

Holy Books

The Drowned Book

If you're quiet and listen, the book will sing to you. It's as ethereal as the whale song, and only the priestesses touched by Selene truly understand it. For everyone else, the pages are blank and shimmer like light on the water. Submerge it and see how the images appear. Listen to it sing.

— High Priestess of Selene

Book of the Waves

The Book of the Waves is the most common holy text used by the temples in the Northern Nautical Confederation. It contains the myths about Selene and recorded conversations between her and some of her speakers. The heavy tome is used by clergy and laypeople alike who seek out wisdom and guidance before any kind of travel, getting married, or dealing with strong emotions.

Conch Song

The words of our goddess live inside the conch. No, it's not a book you can read. Hold it up to your ear and listen well. Whenever you have questions, ask them of the conch, and it will sing an answer back to you. Be warned, the answer may not be what you expect to hear. The melody is ceaseless, and there are times when people have asked it questions and received answers to questions they didn't know they had.

— Merfolk priestess

Holidays

Pearl Festival

The Pearl Festival coincides with when the White Oysters spawn. Each year, the merfolk who live in the shallow waters of the Fenveikuria Archipelago harvest pearls and reseed bits of sand back into the oysters. During spawning season, they are easier to open up without injury, and the merfolk create new oyster beds to keep the population growing. It's a popular festival and one of the only times when they'll trade with surface dwellers who highly prize the pearls in exchange for metal and supplies that can be found underwater. The festival lasts for two minor cycles until the oysters are done spawning.

Northern Victory Day

The year after the pod of whales beached at Utgerd, the Northern Nautical Confederation celebrates their victory against the Otorim invasion. Around the Confederation, there are processions led by the Priestesses of Selene around the town holding banners of whales and chanting "The Sea protects us!". Whale oil lamps are burned for days, and people make offerings to the Sea Mother for the safety of any who travel by sea or rely on the sea for work.

— Ilena

Nenalien Day

Nenalien Day is dedicated to asking Selene for fair weather and safe passage. There is a myth about how she took pity on a shipwrecked sailor and helped him find his way home. As a parting gift, she granted him a small piece of a Nenalian Crystals which could calm any storm. No ships leave on Nenalien Day, and fishermen bring their nets to the temple to be blessed and to make offerings. At midday, people who have lost a loved one at sea pour small amounts of scented fish oil into the water while reciting prayers about the ocean's capacity for life and death.

— Ilena

Horizon Anniversary

The dragonfolk of Galag Rok celebrate the wedding between Qazakthein and Sadulin on the autumn equinox. They shoot fireworks over the water, and it's one of the few days when more inland towns get to eat fish. Smoke is a common element in the celebrations as a visual representation of the unity between fire and water. It's a joyous day with dancing and unique delicacies.

— Ilena

Majestic Tide

On the night of the highest tide of the year, the elves of the Vrania Forest gather at the water's edge carrying leaf boats with lit candles. They sing to Selene for another year of safety and calm waters knowing her fickle moods and violent temperaments. They set the little boats in the water and let the tide carry them out to sea as an offering of peace to the Sea Mother.

— Ilena

Deep Water Day

When the merfolk come of age, they celebrate with Deep Water Day. It's the first time a young mermaid is ventures away from the shoal into the open ocean. The mother follow close behind to the outer edges of the settlement, and then the mermaid must swim out of sight and return. Coming back to the shoal where it's safe is marked with welcoming the mermaid first as a stranger and then as a friend.

Divine Classification

God

Realm

Endless Ocean

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Sea Mother, The Ocean's Bride, Winter Queen, The Sea Wife, White Woman of the Fog

Age

Immortal

Gender

Male

Eyes

Dark Blue

Hair

Turquoise blue

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Teal

Associated Species

Merfolk

Church/Cult

Divine Symbols

Fish, turquoise, green coral, trident, coral crown, ember pearl, whales, seals, sharks

Myths & Legends

The World Flood
Selene and Qazakthein
Taming the Leviathan
Whispers of the North