Merleau, Lady of the Lakes, Rivermistress

 

 

Symbol:  A blue disc scattered with diamonds

Home Plane:  Elysium

Portfolios:  Lakes & Running waters

Worshippers:  Fishermen, Travelers on Water, Freshwater Creatures, Farmers

Worshipper’s Alignment:  Any non-evil

Clerics: CG, CN

Domains: Chaos, Healing, Travel, Water

Favored Weapon(s):  None

 

Description:

 

Merleau is depicted as a pale-skinned woman with flowing water for hair and blue eyes. She is most often illustrated as emerging naked from a pool.

 

History/Relationships:

 

Merleau concerns herself with the well-being of all bodies of fresh water. Her interactions with other deities are few. Among her allies, she counts Ysanne, Tirith, Gylwyn, Lyden, Pwyll, and Ceiwen. Merleau opposes Dana for the destruction she wrecks through fire. In principle, she opposes all evil deities. However, Merleau makes her opposition passively, counting on the cleansing motion of water to wash away and erode all opposition over time.

 

Dogma:

 

Water nourishes life. Water is motion; stagnation brings decay. Protect the waters from all who poison or restrain them. It is not the intent of water to be a destructive force, but it is a part of the balance of nature that the old be washed away to make room for the new. Be like water; work steadily towards your goals knowing that, in time, all obstacles will erode before you.

 

Clergy and Temples:

 

The worship of Merleau centers around water. Her temples and shrines are found alongside lakes and rivers in both city and wilderness. As protectors of the waterways, Merleauns actively monitor the regions around their temples. Those who abuse the waters will find themselves reminded of the gifts they harm. The clergy of Merleau is not inclined towards violence, but they will become increasingly insistent if ignored, looking to the government and whatever other methods avail before succumbing to violence. All clerics of Merleau are female. Clerics or Merleau pray for their spells in the morning as the first light strikes the water. Under those unusual situations where a cleric must pray separate from her temple, she uses a bowl of water poured as the sun rises. Merleauns eschew metallic armor and weapons, wearing only robes or magical protections. Merleauns sometimes multiclass as druids or rogues. The passive approach her clergy take does not often coincide with a background as a fighter. Likewise, Magic outside water is not traditionally pursued, nor does Merleau support paladins. The prestige classes of divine champion disciple or divine seeker are available to upper level clergy.

 

Special Abilities:

 

Merleaun clergy gain special abilities as they progress in their dedication to theLady of the Lakes. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are supernatural abilities usable at will by the caster only.

 

3rd level – the cleric can walk on fresh water at will

5th level – the cleric can breather fresh water at will

7th level – the cleric gains the ability to wildchange into a freshwater creature (1/day) as per the druidic power

 

Rituals:

 

Merleauan makes several rituals available to those who please her. They are detailed below along with costs and other pre-requisites. Before any of these rituals will be performed, Unless otherwise specified, these powers are usable only by the recipient of the ritual.

 

Gills of the Fish -  This ritual empowers the recipient with the power of water breathing for a total duration of one hour each day. This power automatically engages when the recipient is submersed. It can be dispelled as a supernatural power but can be re-activated in the following round. The ritual costs 500XP.

 

Tread the wave -  This ritual empowers the recipient to use the water walking spell once per day at the 6th level of ability. The ritual costs 100XP.