Niveen

### Goddess of Water

The dragon-goddess Niveen is worshipped by the White Elves. Her lower body consists of tentacles, while her upper torso and head is that of a dragon. Her symbol of a tentacled dragon is born on the shields of all elven warriors as they storm into battle.

Legends say that when the dwarves united under the first Wielder of Wrath, Oko the Despoiler, had brought the elves to near extinction, the most devoted followers pleaded for Niveen to grant the elves passage to safety. In response, Niveen froze the sea, allowing the elves to first escape to the Watch Station, situated on the island west of the Citadel of Far-Seeing, and from there on to the distant islands amidst the Sea of Ice.

As soon as the Ember Dwarves set foot on the ice, it melted away, plunging the dwarves into the depths to satiate the hunger of Niveen’s children: the underwater dragons.

   Niveen gave birth to these monsters, which have terrorized the oceans of Alpha Magenta ever since.

The underwater dragons not only yearn for dwarven flesh, but will also attack larger objects; making sailing fatal. A single underwater dragon is powerful enough to wrap itself around an entire ship, pulling it below the surface of the water, where it proceeds to crush it while tearing it apart with its teeth.

For this reason, the elves make sure to give tribute to Niveen before setting foot on their vessels. However, inside the large bay known as the Sheltered Sea in the North-Eastern part of Alpha Magenta, human fishermen have no trouble going about their trade. There, the water is too shallow for Niveen’s children to pass. So they stay in the deep water where they protect their mother’s slumber at the bottom of the sea.

While it might be safe to fish inside the bay, the rest of the races of Alpha Magenta still fear Niveen. That is except for the Ember Dwarves. They, almost to a fault, deny her existence.

That doesn’t change how Niveen is a powerful deity. Her most ardent followers choose to spend a lifetime in complete devotion to the Goddess of Water. Those Elves go by the proud name: Niveen’s Chosen. Any elven teenager can declare his or her intention to become one of Niveen’s Chosen. For a year, they must sequester themselves near the shore, and listen for Niveen’s words transmitted on the tide and waves. Only when they have taken in Niveen’s wisdom, may they attempt to swim from the Citadel of Farseeing to a barely seen island.

On this tiny island, a small spring is found underneath eight open arches, representing Niveen’s tentacles. It’s there that the young elf must bathe and accept Niveen’s blessing. Although, if one isn’t chosen, or has ventured forth too soon, Niveen’s scale-covered dragon children will swim in from underground tunnels and devour the seeker.

Upon successfully returning to the mainland, the newly anointed Niveen’s Chosen is given a large white pearl to signify their status. It’s to Niveen’s Chosen that sailors and adventurers alike seek guidance and blessing before launching a sea voyage.

Even in daily life, elves perform a ritual washing–preferably with sea water–to pay daily homage to Niveen. Those who rise in elven society will often go to great lengths to appease Niveen by building amazing fountains, bathing pools, and water features—the beauty of which would stun anyone not native to elven lands.

In death, elves are granted water burials. It’s believed that the deceased will turn into water before being swept up in Niveen’s embrace. The lucky few are understood to be reborn as one of Niveen’s dragon children. Niveen’s Chosen are certain this honor is their guaranteed fate.

All White Elves share the view of how the ebb and flow of water, and the fall of rain are all part of the cycle of life and death. They often use a spiraling knotwork of tentacles as a motif on anything holding water–like fountains and water pitchers–to mark the sacredness of water, as well as to represent the entwinement of life and death.

Balance is everything in elven society. Anything that is believed to tip the scale, either toward light or darkness, will call upon the members of the ancient Assassins Guild to take action.