Valkur - The Captain of the Waves

DECRIPTION

Valkur is newer deity, having only risen to prominence as a Lesser Deity in the past 300 years. It was believed that Valkur may have once been a mortal sailor who challenged Umberlee and emerged victorious. Thus, he embodies the opposite traits of Umberlee. While she is malicious, vain, and greedy, he is jovial, kind and generous.
In some areas where Umberlee's church is strong, sailors dare not mention Valkur's name for fear of angering the Queen of the Deeps, but such attitudes are becoming less common as Valkur continues to defy the Sea Queen without significant retribution. In general, most coastal populations view Valkur as a rising power who fights for them against the Gods of Fury, albeit one who is somewhat unreliable and hence cannot be counted on without fairly consistent entreaties to focus his attentions.
Sailors say that if you can hear his booming laugh in the roar of thunder, Valkur will guide you through the storm safely. Valkur never holds a grudge, but when angered, his voice cracks like rolling thunder.

MANIFESTATIONS

Valkur sometimes uses dolphins as his sign that his presence is near. Though, this could be a case of mistaken identity with Deep Sashelas On extremely rare occassions, Valkur appears in the open seas, as a transparent figure made of water.
WORSHIP
The church of Valkur is only loosely organized, with clergy members coming together to worship only when serving on the same ship or in port at the same time. Some clerics of Valkur captain sailing ships that sail the seas. Most serve as officers on some ship or other. Few clerics of Valkur serve on pirate ships, but many enjoy serving their homelands as privateers. While in port, Valkur’s clerics provide care and small amounts of monetary support to sailors down on their luck and to families whose chief breadwinner has been lost at sea. Other clerics run shipyards or administer fleets of merchant ships. Valkur’s clerics are also fond of contributing to (if not totally sponsoring) seaborne exploration and long-distance trading expeditions because of the challenges and opportunities they present.
Since the clergy is a reflection of the god, they strive to appear tranquil, slow to anger, and not prone to sudden changes of plans, opinions, or mindsets. Their reliability is impeccable, since they want others to see that the faith is solid and trustworthy. Their patience is hard earned, because Valkur isn't as trustworthy as a devotee might wish, and the priests need to live with their god's chaotic behavior.

DOGMA

There is nothing more invigorating than challenging the elements. The feel of wind and spray on one’s face and the deck pitching beneath one’s feet is the greatest feeling in the world. If humankind is to expand its reach, daring men and women must defy the odds and dare the impossible. The thrill of exploration is sweeter than wine or rum. There is always risk, but without risk life is empty. Life is to be lived and damn the consequences. One’s loyalties are first to one’s mates, then to one’s ship, and then to Valkur, who protects all sailors. Rely not on Valkur’s hand to always extract you from difficulties, for such is coddling and leads to a lack of challenge and the room to grow. Rather, Valkur helps those actively solving their own problems by helping their plans work.

RITUALS

Clerics of Valkur pray for their spells at around dawn, whenever the first hint of a breeze begins to stir. The church of Valkur celebrates only one holy day per year. The Shattering is always held in early spring, but the exact date varies from year to year. The festival is held to mark the end of winter and the beginning of the sailing season in the North and is celebrated even in the South where the winter ice does not block or trouble ocean travel. Valkur is said to communicate to his High Captains the exact date of the festival each year, and it often varies from city to city. The Shattering is marked by the unfurling of many new sails throughout the port districts or coastal cities and the christening of at least one new ship that then departs for its maiden voyage crewed by Valkur’s clergy. Valkur’s clergy regularly perform over a dozen separate ceremonies in the course of their duties. Most of these rituals are related to ships and voyages, including ceremonies at a ship’s christening, before departing on a voyage, when arriving at a new port, and when returning to the home port, among others.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

TITLES

• Captain of the Waves
• The Mighty

DOMAINS

• Chaos (Trickery)
• Good (Light)
• Ocean & Air (Nature)
• Protection (War)

PORTFOLIO

• Sailors
• Ships
• Favorable Winds
• Naval Combat