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Goddess of the Sea
Deity

"The ultimate strength of the Tidemother comes not from her worshippers' prayers or the fury of the storms, but in the weightyness of her followers' tithes. She is ever a greedy and vain one, always demanding much of her faithful, but those whose offerings are the most splendourful will be richly rewarded."

"On Nossa and the Seas of Aranor" by Lawrence of Calindra


Nossa the Tidemother, also known as the Queen Below, Glittering Lady, and The Storm and the Fury, she is the goddess of the sea, trade, and water. She is the mistress of the elemental plane of water and the keeper of Aranor's seas. 


History

Nossa is among the primordial gods whose existence dates back to Aranor's creation and has since held onto her seat of power, ruling as the nigh-undisputed ruler of the elemental plane of water, known among her worshippers as the Endless Sea. Her life-giving waters provided a vital component of Aranor's capacity to sustain the formation of mortal life and unlike the other remaining primordial deities of this world, she expects the gratitude and tribute of all whom would continue to enjoy her most precious bounty: it's wide seas. It is preached that she was the first to teach mortals the art of sailing that she might entice them to witness her works and bring her tributes from the land, out of which she treasures gold above every other whose luster will remain and never tarnish in her waters. She was first rediscovered to the Hoans of the Kahra'Alani (present day Daria) whom sailed far and wide to spread word of her teachings. 


Characteristics

In spite of being depicted almost exclusively as a beautiful humanoid woman within her modern worship, other, more ancient surviving imagery of her depict her as all manner of sea life, or in the Hoan tradition, various aspects of her being. As of the Age of Rediscovery she appears to have taken to her followers' more anthropomorphized image and thus has been known to appear to her followers within her own plane as an immense, swirling current carrying her ever-growing treasure hoard shaped into a feminine body composed of gold coins beyond measure, eyes clusters of priceless pearls, and billowing hair of latticed, many-coloured sails, looming ever larger as her worshippers enrich her physically as well as spiritually with the power of their worship. 

Her favour can be bought in treasure or earned in devotion, neither of which come cheaply, but once gained she is a steadfast patron to those whom have earned it. While she will accept tribute or genuine worship in equal measure, it is not enough for a lowly sailor to throw her a regular gold piece or for a king to sink a chest of pearls, any material attempts to gain her true favour requires a sacrifice to the full extent of their means, the same as she shall expect the undivided zeal of her true followers. Those whom fearlessly and fully devote their fortunes or lives to Nossa, however, shall rarely find themselves abandoned. While tempestuous, vain, and greedy, she is a loyal and loving patron of those whom recognize her splendour in full. 


Worship

Widely worshipped among many coast-dwelling mortals it is in the common interest of all to appease Nossa's fancies and to earn her favours, all according to their particular means, and to that end, her temples within wealthier sites such as larger cities come with far higher standards. A true temple of Nossa frequently doubles as an auction hall, market hub, and counting house in accordance with her desire for physical wealth and it's displays. As such services offered by Nossan clergy often comes at a steep price tag but they are frequently endowed with the very best tools, education, and facilities that money can buy, as it would not do for representatives of the Glittering Lady not to prosper by the grace of their goddess.

The most important tenets of the Nossan faith surround the concepts of independence and resourcefulness described in the earliest days by the Hoans as riding the storm. A worshipper of Nossa is expected to be willing to not merely survive but also thrive, reaching as high as their circumstances and means allow, or better yet, rise above them. Nossa will help only those whom help themselves, especially if they remember to sing their praises to their resplendent goddess.