Orbaia, goddess of rain and healing waters
Orbaia, according to Davidovian mythology, is the daughter of the God of water, Van. and the goddess of the moon, Sel, thus making her half sister of Godyna, the goddess of music and arts. She isn't one of the most famous dieties of the pantheon as she didn't took part in many of the most famous myths but she is one of the most worshiped.
Mythological story
As it has been said, Orbaia is the daughter of Van and Sel, she is perhaps the youngest of the Davidovian deities as she is not mentioned during the War of the Gods but much later. The first important myth that she takes part in tells us about how during her infancy she was taught the arts of divination by the goddess Fer and how her visions alerted the gods about the plans that Khair had to unleash the orcs and goblins to destroy the first humans, dwarves and elves. According to another myth, everyone had a position in the celestial court, but poor Orbaia, because she was one of the youngest goddesses didn't have any and she felt useless. She was seen walking with her head down through the corridors of the palace of the gods, until one day, when she was walking through some heavenly gardens she came across her grandfather, Abbon Shabai. The king of the gods, noticing the sadness on her granddaughter's face asked her what was happening and she confessed her sadness and anxiety because she felt useless compared to other gods. He let the poor girl cry as she pleased, and once she had dried her tears, he began to caress her head and cheeks, and with one of his beautiful and wide smiles he said to his granddaughter:I have the perfect job for you, a very important one, from now on you will serve food to your grandmother, both here in heaven, and in the world of mortals.Thus spoke the king of the gods, and what he said meant that young Orbaia would not only serve food to her grandmother the goddess Tyr when a banquet was held in heaven, a position of great importance and prestige!, but she would also serve food to her grandmother in the mortal world (in the form of rain, which feeds the earth and makes plants grow). Abbon Shabai also added that:
Because of your kindness, my dear Orbaia, the waters that you will emanate, will be a medicine for those afflicted and sick. Many would praise your name, your kindness and mercy, so you would not feel useless, on the contrary, I gave to you a great responsability and a great privilege.Since then she also has worked closely to the goddess Zerah since, many times, when there is an storm it rains. Orbaia is said to have taught the first humans and elves about the medicinal and therapeutic properties of hot springs. After the The Siege of Dorstulon, the city of the Ten Walls Orbaia helped the heroes discover a hot spring where they could relax after capturing the city. Orbaia and her half sister Godyna are the ones that seem to have taught the first humans and elves the arts of theatre, music and singing. It is said that she, aside of serving food to her grandmother, and alongside Godyna entertain the gods at every banquet with their beautiful songs and dances.
Orbaia in the Ikarian-Oronai world
The cult of Orbaia, as with the rest of the Davidovian peoples is quite old. A temple to Orbaia was built outside Ikaria in 915 BP next to thermal baths that over the centuries became an immense bath complex thanks to donations from pilgrims and faithful who had bathed in its waters to be cured, as well as donations from different dynasties of Emperors of Ikaria. Her cult was very widespread among farmers and the common people in general. She was known by some epithets such as: the very kind and good-natured goddess, the one with clear waters, or the one with a wide smile (the latter alluding not only to her kindness, but also to her supposed great sense of humor). In nearby Oronia , Orbaia is the patron goddess of many villages and some important cities, such as Myron. There is in fact a famous oracle near this city where, it is said that there, one can hear the voice of the goddess among the sounds of the water from the great fountain. This voice is interpreted by the priests who transmit the message to those who ask the goddess a question. These messages can be predictions about the future, or even advices about how to cure a wound or illness and what kind of baths the afflicted believer should take. There is a college of priests who are in charge of studying and listening carefully to the sounds of the water in order to hear the messages of the goddess. The waters of the fountain of this sanctuary are considered sacred and have great healing power. Many faithful come to bathe or pray at the sanctuary and take water from the fountain in small ceramic jars. It is also said that this fountain of crystal-clear water is a door to the other world and that those who truly believe can even hear the voice of a loved one who already lives with the gods.Appearance
Orbaia is usually represented as a young girl in her teens. She is represented in two ways, one with her arms raised pointed to the heavens and with water emanating from his hands (the arms raised it is also a symbol of prayer and also of blessing). The other way is holding a a golden water jug that is overflowing and spilling water or with a paten doing a water libation; this can symbolize both the rain falling from the sky and the springs and thermal baths of which she is the goddess.
She is often represented with brown or white hair like her mother, but the oldest statuary represents her with dark brown hair. One of her most characteristic features is that she has eyes of different colour, one is coloured blue (symbolizing water) and the other green (symbolizing the earth).
by Callyxtus
Orbaia in Seria
Orbaia is known in Seria as Borvan (a name related to the Ikarian/Oronai Orbaia). Her sphere of action as a goddess is the same as on the other side of the Suris Strait. But it is in Seria where we find many myths related to the goddess that are not known or not very widespread in the Ikarian-Oronai world. Beginning with stories about her birth. Seris belief the goddess was born in Northern Seria, either in the Gulf of Meydatom or in the Springs near the Namin Mountains. It is said that that all the gods were present at his birth, and that within hours of being born she was already taking her first steps, and wherever she stepped, if the vegetation was dry, it came back to life, and from her small footprints roses sprouted. Another seris myth about Orbaia is the story of how the oases that form the Eastern Protectorate were created. According to this story the first humans were crossing the desert but couldn't find any water, and many were dying of thirst. Seeing this the goddess took pity of them and she poured water from the heavens and, as this water fell into the ground it created the rivers and oasis that are common in that region. Since that day onwards the inhabitants of the oasis cities have had Orbaia as their patron goddess and it is to her that they pray when there is a drought.Appearance
Borvan, the seris version of Orbaia has very similar iconography regarding how it is represented on the other side of the strait. The main difference here is that Borvan is dressed like a Seris princess with a very luxurious silk dress and a crown on her head. Usually she holds a water jug on one had, usually overflowing with water, and on the other hand she holds the so called divination disc, also called the wheel of fortune, which refers to its role as an oracle. Her hair is usually represented white as her mother's, and her eyes are green or blue (both of the same colour in contrast with her version in Ikaria and Oronia).
by Callyxtus
Prayer to Zerah
Holy goddess Orbaia, lady of vital rain and healing waters, Thou who healed the gods, thy healing springs and waters bring hope and health to mankind, have mercy on us and bestow thy blessings upon us your believers!. Oh mighty oracle, thy wisdom has saved us from disasters and thy words carry truth, most kind of deities, who works with our holy mother Zerah, listen to thy servants!.
by Callyxtus
I love her. I really like how she is represented differently in different cultures.
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