Chapter 290 Extra: The King of the Four Elements’ Divine Water ‘Istia’

The four elemental lords, the water elemental lord.

In the continent of Faerûn, there are many divine priests related to water. Umberlee rules over the oceans and ocean storms, Valko protects those who navigate the waves, and Eldath rules over ponds, springs, and waterfalls.

Istishiya is more abstract than all these gods. He is a changeable and dynamic deity who is unemotional and unbound. He provides the circumstances in which life is born, not life itself. He provides a vital resource but clearly doesn't care how it's used.

He is depicted as anything from a giant water elemental, to a drop of rain, to a blob of water that looks strange to the waves on the ocean. He represents eternal transformation with a fixed, essential core.

He believes that just like water can pass through stone, its nature will change over time; or like water being heated and evaporating into water vapor, mutating from one state to another. He is the guardian of all underwater secret treasures.

Like all elemental lords, Istizia is relatively indifferent to his followers on the planet Abel-Toril. Istishiya's reaction was completely unpredictable, so (by this strange logic) the unpredictability of his reaction was rather predictable.

The reasons behind Istizia's actions are incomprehensible to most residents of Faerûn, including his admirers. The strange, unfamiliar and indifferent attitude of Istishiya and the other elemental lords left the wrong impression in the realms that they were just weak powers and that their followers were just weird cultists. During the Year of Troubles, Istishiya was not found in the Realms.

Istishiya always sends a representative to receive these tributes (and gifts for his devout followers): fine water-colored corrugated cloth, emerald or sapphire (from transparent to darkest color), exquisite ink or fuel, Or books or papers with unsolved or unsolvable riddles or mathematical puzzles written on them, these representations could be anything from his priests to fish to the water element.

The gifts he bestows on his followers are most often the ability to move easily through water, the knowledge to find things hidden in water, or changes in themselves (usually a creature's physical body with a polymorph spell, sometimes a transformation). is a sudden insight into a difficult problem) that allows them to accomplish goals that were previously unattainable. Which of his admirers he chose to favor or ignore seemed to come from a whim.

The incarnation of Istishiya

In written records, Istizia only appeared in incarnation form three times on the planet Abel Toril, one of which occurred when the Sea of ​​Fallen Stars was formed. Istishiya appears as a 20 to 30-foot-thick water column that can effortlessly cross or cross any obstacles in its path.

He has also been known to split water into two or more parts to confuse his enemies. The sound of his movements sounded like waves crashing on the shore, while his voice was the sound of running water, streams, and gentle rain and dew. He casts spells from the following domains and schools: Domain: Elemental Water, Healing, Weather; School: Elemental Water.

Special Attack/Defense:

As long as there was water somewhere between the time of his first divine visit and his departure, the crystal wall Istishiya in which his divine presence came is regarded as a native creature of the main material plane. This makes him immune to the harmful effects of spells such as Antimagic Field, Protection from Evil/Good, and Holy Word on creatures from another plane. He is also completely immune to any spells that have adverse effects on water, such as turning water into dust.

Istishiya can easily submerge and capsize any ship of any size in 1 round, and stop or slow any surface vessel in the same amount of time. Istishia can use the same abilities as any elemental water type. Whenever Istizia successfully attacks with his Wave Fist, the target must succeed on a -2 saving throw vs. breath weapon or drown.

Those who are not drowned take 15d6 points of damage per successful attack. Magical items that grant the target the ability to breathe underwater function normally and prevent this effect, but Istishiya can immediately destroy any such item by forgoing a normal attack. Objects targeted for destruction do not gain a saving throw. Istishiya cannot destroy the artifact in this way.

By spending 2 rounds merging with a large body of water, Istishiya can leave the battlefield or the Material Plane at any time.

Other appearances

Istishiya sent manifestations to the realms more times than he sent incarnations to the realms. Any important source of water is regarded by his followers as a manifestation of the Lord of Water. Rivers, lakes and streams were considered sacred, as were the seas and oceans, fountains, rain and even puddles.

Istishiya sometimes sends servant creatures (such as water elementals and tritons) from the plane of water to fulfill his orders or aid followers. He will also send aquatic creatures such as fish, dolphins, whales, octopuses and even Leviathan. The appearance of water in a well or in barren land is considered a symbol of Istishiya's providence.

church

All specialty priests, skitarii, lurkers, and shamans of Istishiya receive religious knowledge (pan-Faerûn) as a non-weapon proficiency bonus. In addition to their required proficiencies, Istishiya priests are strongly encouraged to learn navigation or weather observation.

In addition to their normal magical domain, all shamans of Istishiya receive the elemental water as their primary domain. Istishiya's special candles can even burn underwater and will not be extinguished by contact with liquids, although they can still be extinguished with fingers or candle covers.

Before the Troubles, all elemental cults had priests in their ranks. Currently, only the exclusive priests remain. It is not clear why Istishiya worked for years to convert his clerics into specialty priests, but Istishiya's church teachings say that this change was to allow the specialty priests to focus on the elements of their Lord, and Not other tasks.

Since the Godswar, the Istishian church has added a small order of Cultivators and an order of Skitarii to fill the gaps once filled by the more common clerics in the ranks of the priesthood. . In primitive or nomadic societies, Istishiya is often served by shamans.

There are four main sects of followers of the Lord of Water: the Magnificent Storm Sect, the Holy Sea Sect, the Moist Path Sect, and the Elemental Transformation Sect. These sects cooperate with each other, although differences have emerged. Generally speaking, the Istishiya faith is constantly evolving, with new sects breaking away from or being absorbed into the old sects every few decades.

There is a unified hierarchy of sects throughout the faith, and many of these sects dictate how the priests of a particular place of worship should view and practice their religion. The Cult of the Grand Storm believes in the purifying power of Istishiya. In its eyes, Istishiya cleansed the land and sea of ​​impurities and purified the air. "Stormers" (as they are called) always try to be present during storms or other severe weather.

The cult of the Holy Sea believes that the vast body of water represents the body of Istishiya. Its members pray to calm seas and protect ships and ports from the power of the Water Lord, but they also call upon the ocean to unleash the wrath of Istishiya on those who oppose the sect.

Many sages feel that the disasters that befell Thay (where the chiefs often courted the church of Kassuth) were not the interference of Umberli or even hostile powerful mages, but the result of this sect of the Church of Istishia. .

The Moist Path sect believes that the rivers and streams of Toril represent the far-reaching influence of Istishiya's power. Its members view rivers and streams as the veins and capillaries of Istishia, noting that there is no place on Toril that is not shaped in some way by water - even if it is shaped by its lack.

Finally, the Elemental Transmutation Sect believes that just as water changes from one form to another and yet exists forever, so too does life change from one state to another and yet continue. Life exists in bodies on the surface of the Prime Material Plane (such as the planet Abel-Toril), and spans many planes of existence, and when life ends in one plane, it is simply in another. , into a form more suitable for this plane. Therefore, the water cycle is a symbol of the entire universe.

Istishiya's priests often built shrines on the shores of bodies of water. Capital temples are found mainly in port towns and cities. Other Istishian cult sites are entirely underwater and therefore inaccessible to most surface dwellers to comment on their history or legends. Nonetheless, the Istishian shrines remain in the oral and oral traditions of aquatic races. plays an important role in written history.

Typical Istishiya temples are built of quarried sandstone or marble with elegant lines. They are usually located on docks or near water, or contain many streams, ornamental pools and fountains, making water an important part of their landscaping. part.

Most priests of Istishiya serve the needs of the faithful in a region or are attached to a specific shrine, temple, or holy place. However, the church believes that staying in the same place, immersed in the same group for too long can stagnate, so all Istishian priests will be moved to a new ordination on a rotational basis (so all priests Not traveling or learning a new position at the same time).

Generally speaking, a priest will serve in one place for 5 years, and then on the anniversary of the major festival closest to the date when he becomes a formal priest (Midwinter, Green Grass Festival, Midsummer Festival, Harvest Festival, or Moon Feast) Move to a new position. A priest or his congregation may apply for an extension of service for an additional year, up to 10 years of service in one place.

At that time, the priest must move to a new position. Delegations are overseen by the famous Oversight Council of Elders, and much of the church politics of the Istishian faith revolves around overseeing the actions of the Council, or attempts to influence its future actions. Needless to say, these lifetime appointments to the Commission will be fiercely contested when such positions become vacant due to death or retirement.

The head of the Istishian faith - the Dolphin Regent - is led by the "Great Oracle" Seldesai Dalinaris, the faith's first high priestess and first aquatic descendant. A hereditary position inherited by the firstborn son (regardless of gender) of half-elf) bloodline. Currently, Dolphin Rainbow is Aquil Senasira, a 12-year-old male aquatic elf living in a hidden palace city somewhere in the Traceless Sea. However, the position is more prestigious than practical. The Church is effectively in the hands of a council of the faith's seven regional chiefs, called chief priests.

The novice priests of Istishiya are called seekers. After completing a series of at least three one-on-one study sessions with a senior priest of the Istishiya cult (a type of apprenticeship in the faith), an Istishite novice becomes a full priest.

In ascending order, the titles commonly used by priests are as follows: Cardinal Servant (formal priest), Fountain of Gods, Tidebringer, Skull, Full Blood (senior priest), Monsoon, Typhoon Oracle (head of a temple or large shrine) ), Grand Typhoon (the senior or elder chief of a temple), Chief Stratus (the head of regional temples and shrines), and Dolphin Regent (the hereditary leader of the faith).

Those who have killed or severely defeated an enemy of the Church (usually a high priest of Kassuth or a powerful fire-based creature) may have the honorary title "True" added to their title. The exclusive priest of Istizia is called Water Walker.

doctrine:

The religious core of Istishiya is the belief that all things are interconnected and cyclical. Each element has its place, but in the end water will prevail over the others because although it may be modified by its environment, its fundamental essence will remain, and in the end, it will in turn modify its environment.

Istisiya's faith teachings say: "The earth is dissolved by water, and fire can be extinguished with only steam, and the gas turns into clouds, and then falls into rain, and the eternal cycle is completed." Istiziya believes that he will Be the great equalizer and balancer of the elements.

All sects of the Istishiya faith avoid personal conflict and direct confrontation when dealing with unbelievers. They believe that as long as they reach where they are going, the essential truth embodied by the Lord of Water will convince everyone of his power.

This is not to say that the credit will ignore events happening around them, but that they are quietly pursuing their goals along a more low-key path. Members of the faith follow the path of least resistance to achieve their goals, just as water takes the most convenient path to the sea.

Novices in the Istishiya faith are instructed as follows: "The Eternal Istishiya accepts change while staying true to who you are. Do not try to be someone you are not; instead, transcend yourself and become Individual excellence is revealed to the world. Be flexible but reasonable.

Just as the rainwater flows from the folds of the mountains to the sea instead of from the peaks, so the truths of Istishiya should spread throughout the world according to their natural course and not through the forced guidance of forces.

The mysteries of life are worth enjoying and pondering, but be aware that some answers come not in this form but in another form, not in this world but in the next. Recognize that the cycle of life mirrors the cycle of fate; be prepared to pay the price or reap the rewards for your past or future actions. "

Daily activities:

Many visitors to the temple wonder why Istishiya's priests teach novices how to make pottery. The craft was useful both as a source of income for the church and as a teaching tool for the faith.

Using water, Istishiya priests could mold the clay into the desired shape, dry the new pot in the air, bake it over a flame, and (often) use the finished product to hold water or Other liquids. This interplay of elements is demonstrated in the process of pottery making, as is the mutable nature of water and its ultimate triumph.

Keeping waterways clean is one of the church's main goals, and this responsible, long-term goal makes the Istishians a more acceptable elemental "pagan" in the towns they visit. (Wantless pollution of rivers, streams, seas, and oceans would not only offend several other nature and water gods, but would also be considered an insult to Istishiya.) The church's other ongoing goals are to bring aquatic life back to life. and better connections between aquatic life and terrestrial inhabitants.

With many priests of the Istishiya sect, all water dwellers can unite in purpose and work together under the benevolent guidance of the Istishiya church. This goal is completely impossible to achieve, and it presupposes the extinction of many major faiths. However, their persistence in this goal has not shaken - but this does not mean that they have any doubts about other major aquatic faiths. Any malicious intent.

Holy Days:

For followers of the Lord of Water, every morning begins with a silent prayer drinking water in the name of Istishiya, and every night ends the same way. The church celebrates high and low tides with celebrations.

During these celebrations, new members of the faith would be thrown violently into the sea or lake, or leap into fountains or ponds, thus committing themselves to Istishiya. During these communions, aquatic emissaries of the Aquatic Church from Istishia often house the faith's terrestrial communities, and in turn, the Aquatic Church entertains surface visitors with magical abodes.

The Wave Shaking Ceremony is a ceremony for the exclusive priests of the Istishiya Sect to celebrate reaching a sufficient skill level to summon the water element from the water element plane. Before the meaning begins, there is an hour-long reading and chanting, after which the water element is summoned.

The elemental will then take celebrants on a wave drive across a large body of water. When it returns with the celebrating priests, the elemental will be garlanded, given gifts of fine first wine, and given fine jewelry, pottery, or sculptures to take back to Isti on its departure. The Kingdom of God of Siya.

Main Worship Centers:

Any large coastal city will have a place for the Temple of the Lord of Water among its many buildings. Such temples are usually located as close to the docks as possible. There are large temples dedicated to Istishiya in Luskan, Waterdeep, Cal Kalidir, Tesbree, and Calimport.

In the Inner Sea, the citizens of Susar, Starveil City, and Aragon are also proud of temples dedicated to the Lord of Water. The faith's holiest shrine is the Underwater Fortress Temple in the community where the Dolphin Regent lives. It is sometimes called the Dancing Dolphin Castle because of the dolphin theme on the Dolphin Regent's armband, but its true name is not known to those who sail the waters. It is said to have ferocious aquatic guards composed of monsters and various organized and intelligent creatures.

Affiliated organizations:

The Skitarii organizations of the Istishiya sect are respectively named: the Knights of the Seven Seas, whose members are born to breathe water; and the Knights of Eternal Truth, whose members are born to breathe air. The Skitarii of the Istishians guard the Holy Land, escort the faith's emissaries, and, on a personal level, continue their feud with the Church of Kassuth.

Advocates of this faith belong to the Pure Order of Mystical Transformation. Because their emblem resembles a mermaid, and the organization's name itself is so high-end, the cultivators of the organization are often colloquially referred to as "fish-like people" or "murlocs of the Lord of Water" - this Much to their dismay.

Priest's vestments:

The priests of Istishia wear turquoise robes with coral decorations for ceremonial occasions. The faith does not mandate details and matching of clothing, but shading or ripples, delicate embroidery or beading, or layered or zigzag structures are often used to convey the theme of water. The Waves of Istishiya are often engraved on gemstones set in necklace medallion pendants, brooches or rings. These gemstones are usually jade, emerald, malachite, aquamarine, or water opal. (End of chapter)