Gozreh (GOZ-rey)

N diety of Nature, the Sea, and Weather

The Wind and The Waves

Respect the sea and the sky, lest we bring you ruin.

-Hymns to the Wind and the Waves

A timeless entity birthed from the first wind to stir the vast oceans, Gozreh wanders the world in the air and the seas. Sailors drop boxes of cargo as offerings to avoid a fatal storm, hoping to please the Wind and the Waves, even though they know that such pleas are far more likely to go unnoticed as they are to draw their deity’s attention. The deity’s temperament is fickle and their fury swift, hurling bolts of lightning and dragging to the crushing depths those who dare befoul the natural world. Gozreh is the sea that encapsulates the land and the wind that moves its surface, the birds that traverse the sky and the clouds that shield them.

Gozreh is a deity of two aspects, depicted in art as one, the other, or both, depending on where the piece is featured. When coming from the ocean, she is shown as a woman with hair made of sea-foam rising waist-high from the waves. Over land and from the sky, he is drawn as an old man with a long beard, flecked black and gray by storm clouds with eyes of lightning. When depicted together, such as along shorelines, the two are portrayed reaching towards each other, their fingers separated by the smallest of margins. Yet these aspects are not separate: they represent the Wind and the Waves, but the deity is both of them and also neither, for they transcend the mortal concepts of gender and body.

Much like the winds and seas, Gozreh is temperamental and prone to sudden outbursts of wrath. They see all, flitting from the north breeze to the eyes of a starling to the roots of a mighty oak on the other side of the world. Those who pollute nature or destroy the unspoiled wilds might feel a sudden storm of Gozreh’s wrath descending upon them, but such fits are unpredictable and indiscriminate, sometimes striking years later and upturning the lives of nearby innocents with no tie to the original trespass. While Gozreh is volatile, they are not malicious. Their rage ceases as quickly as it begins, leaving the sky and waters calm again. The Wind and the Waves sees and feels everything at once, and they do not have the luxury of remaining focused on a single act of desecration for long.

Gozreh is a worldly deity, their interest focused on the weather and living things. Land has little meaning to them, save that the soil gives foundation to trees and fire clears the way for new life. Such things are not reviled by Gozreh’s faith; they are simply considered unimportant on their own. Creatures likewise exist and then they fade, ceding their energy to what comes after. The Wind and the Waves cares more for the wilds, unspoiled by mortals and free to ebb and flow as it sees fit.

Gozreh’s clergy and followers represent a wide variety of gender identities. The deity’s dual nature resonates with these worshippers, and the faith accepts all identities as part of the natural order. The church doesn’t place an emphasis on marriage in particular, and seasonal trysts are equally as common among worshippers as unions that last for life. Members of some of the more secluded sects of the faith remain celibate and isolated, residing in the most remote mountains or shoreline caves and reflecting on Gozreh’s independence from relationships—after all, as a deity of dual natures, Gozreh is never truly alone.

Most of Gozreh’s followers wear their hair long—sometimes all the way to the ground—and weave seaweed, coral, or shells into it in intricate patterns. Clergy who can do so grow their beards long, often braiding them into tangled tresses. It is not uncommon for Gozran priests to grow their beards or hair to provide nesting material for small, local creatures, matting their hair over several months before cutting this hair to create small nests. Only the occasional priest houses small birds, frogs, or rodents in their hair while it is still attached.

The most devout members of Gozreh’s faith stay as far from civilization as possible, living deep in the woods or on barren coastal shores. Those who are more sociable often take positions on ships, where they serve as navigators and are seen as good luck charms who can help the ships avoid the fiercest of storms. These “gale-speakers” come ashore only to change to another vessel and are highly sought after by ship captains. Gale-speakers are not bought, however, choosing their own journeys and favoring vessels with far-flung destinations, waters rarely touched by anything but the Wind and the Waves.

Relations with Other Religions

Gozreh is largely indifferent to other deities unless they threaten his domain or existence. She rebukes Abadar when his farms encroach too much the wilds, and the Master of the First Vault takes it as a personal affront when one of his cities suffers because of severe weather. Gozreh hates Nethys and Rovagug for their desire to destroy the world, Gorum for the scars battles leave on the land, and Urgathoa for bringing forth unnatural, undead abominations. He is alternately affectionate and cool with Desna, for while the sky and stars are a good match, Gozreh can be jealous of travelers' prayers to the Song of the Spheres.

Gozreh is genuinely friendly with Erastil, for he believes only Old Deadeye fully appreciates all aspects of nature. Informally, Gozreh considers the beasts of the earth and crops planted by humanoids to be Erastil's, while the sky, sea, fish, birds, and wild plants belong to her. Although no specific deity heads the Green Faith, Gozreh is on good terms with the countless nature entities who support mortals of that religion, as well as with the Eldest of the First World.

Holy Books & Codes

Gozreh's Hymns to the Wind and the Waves is a collection of prayers and rules that provide guidance on showing respect for the natural world through personal behavior. The exact message varies by temple, as each tends to preserve only the sections relevant to local needs; certain bardic colleges have large collections of church teachings, but no known temple bothers with all of them. Most excerpts from the text are carved on wood plaques or walls, as paper and parchment tend to mold and rot after decades in the vicinity of salt and water magic. Some temples carve selections of prayers onto driftwood and cast them into the sea where the currents carry them far away to wash up on foreign shores; a few sister temples have been trading prayers with each other in this way for generations.

Holidays

In addition to various regional holidays based on harvests, seasonal high and low tides, the appearance or concealment of often-submerged reefs and menhirs, and similar phenomena, most members of the church celebrate two common holidays.
Currentseve (7 Gozran) : The original meaning of this holiday's name is lost to time, as it doesn't refer to any specific event relating to water or wind currents. In modern tradition, it is a daylong fast in anticipation of the first sprouting plants of the year (in planting and gathering communities) or the spawning season (in fishing communities). It represents the fact that feast and famine are natural cycles; by abstaining from food, worshipers redirect spiritual energy to other lives so that they may multiply and provide food when needed.
Firstbloom (Vernal Equinox): The Vernal Equinox marks the start of a New Year on the Calendar. In farming communities this holiday also marks the start of the planting season, and is typically celebrated with dances and other fertility rites.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Edicts cherish, protect, and respect nature in all its forms
Anathema bring civilization to intrude on the wild, create undead, despoil areas of natural beauty
Follower Alignments NG, LN, N, CN, NE

Aphorisms

Adherents of Gozreh typically speak with a bluntness that belies their shrewd insight. Most followers prefer acting over speaking, and axioms vary from temple to temple. Common phrases often consist of simple statements used for giving everyday wisdom.
The storm also passes: As dark as the skies can turn, weather and emotion are both temporary. Life continues, event after event, and while lasting impressions are made, the clouds will eventually clear. Followers of Gozreh use this as a mantra or calming advice for those who come to them in despair.
By the tide and the tempest: Worshippers speak these words to seal solemn oaths, making a promise to both of their deity’s aspects. This aphorism is used when swearing in a new acolyte, offering a sacrifice to Gozreh, or threatening retribution for a trespass against nature.

Religions

• Gods of Tengaria