The Empress of the Tide

A symbol representing the Mistress of the Tide.

## (Deity)

### Titles

- The Empress of the Tide- The Shadow of the Sea- The Eyes and Ears of the Depths- The Rainbow of the Ocean- Daughter of the Conqueror

### Worshippers

Undine, Merfolk, Sea Elves, other aquatic races and any summoners of the surface world.

## (Clergy)

### Symbol

A tribal painting of an orca whale, drawn in the style used by the Adaros.

### Church Attributes

Might (+2)Reactions (+6)

Durability (+4)

Connections (+10)

Miracles (+6)

Loyalty (+2)

## (Affiliations)

### Opposed Entities

The Colorless One, Dingo

Ronda the Merfolk was the former Empress of the Tidal Empire. Once an outcast of her people, Ronda is currently regarded as one of the most powerful and influential leaders in the history of the underwater world. After a recent battle with the Fifth Horseman, Ronda absorbed his power, ascending from the rank of Demon Lord to the rank of Deity.

## History

Ronda acquired divinity by battling many of the most powerful beings who threatened her world. She also acquired much of her power from her strong bond with her outsider companions who regard her as their leader. Ronda's relationship with her summons has always been unique. She regards them as more than servants and sees them as friends and family. The time and effort she has put into protecting her outsider companions and helping them find their place in this world has also been one of the sources of her power.

The turning point, however, came when Ronda's father was defeated in battle. A powerful warlord with legions of Adaros at his beck and call, when he was defeated, she was given access to a portion of his mythic power and became the new leader of her people. For most of her life, Ronda had tried to deny the Adaros blood flowing through her veins, but now she has risen as their new figurehead.

Ronda is a being who has lived in multiple words and experienced many world-altering events. Initially, when she was starting her career, Ronda was a devoted follower of chaos and worshiped Proteans. However, in time Ronda would set her site on a new target, engaging in a long battle with the Demon Lord Dagoff. Upon his defeat, Ronda would absorb his power, becoming a Demon Lord herself.

Ronda did not become a true deity until after she defeated the Fifth Horseman, a being whose actions caused the gods to fall, in combat. Once again, Ronda would absorb the power of her fallen foe, but would lose her life in the process. Ronda's actions would allow her to shift to the Chaotic Neutral alignment despite her status as a former Demon Lord.

## Home

Ronda previously resided in Sirenea, the capital of Tidal, where she worked as the ruler of her empire or responds to the need of her faithful. Ronda typically relied on the assistance of her outsider companions and her magic to keep up with her many roles. When she had free time, she enjoyed tinkering with or researching some manner of magical artifact or individual in her laboratories.

## Appearance

Ronda's appearance has always been unique among her people. Half-Adaros and half-Merfolk, Ronda's appearance often caused her to be feared and shunned as a child, leading her to eventually form bonds with outsiders. However, Ronda's appearance has taken a further shift lately. She often relies on polymorph spells to take more powerful forms, and thanks to a recent incident on Odrif's Obelisk, began changing colors rapidly, which resulted in new abilities.

When Ronda became a Demon Lord, she would display with red hair and red eyes. Now, Ronda's two halves, her Demon Lord side and original body, would merge, leaving her with purple skin and hair, but similar features overall.

## Followers

The majority of Ronda's followers are those who call the Tidal Empire or other locations in the ocean their home. Most of them are spellcasters or, at the very least, dabble in magic. However, her followers are not limited to below the depths, as she has become a symbol for summoners who view her philosophy on outsiders to be the most correct way. In addition, when her father, Ryker, was slain in battle, it was his daughter Ronda who took up the mantle. As such, the once nomadic and predatory tribes of Adaros, who were left leaderless for some time, now follow her teachings.

Anyone who follows the Mistress of the Tide is naturally curious, seeking to explore both the material realm and the planes beyond along with their outsider companions. They view outsiders not as servants, but as people worthy of respect. They are also natural seekers of knowledge who prefer to use magic and non-magical means to study a situation prior to engaging in combat.

## Obedience

Performing one's ritual for the Mistress of the Tide is straightforward, and may look different among the different members of her faith. The devotee must dance with their outsider companion, and it is only when the two reach perfect harmony that her blessings are bestowed. Gain a +4 sacred or profane bonus to knowledge planes checks. The type of bonus depends on your alignment—if you’re neither good nor evil, you must choose either sacred or profane the first time you perform your obedience, and this choice can’t be changed.

## Boons

1. **The Conjurer's Gift:** *Planar Ally, Lesser 2/day, Planar Ally, Greater 1/day*
2. **Summoner's Possession (SLA):** Once per day, as a full-round action, the user can enter the mind of one of their outsider's. This effect functions as the possession spell with the user's HD being used in place of their caster level. Effects that would prevent or end the possession spell also impact the Summoner's Possession.
3. **Summoner's Charm (EX):** When negotiating with outsiders, all users of the summoner's charm gain a +10 competence bonus to their diplomacy, bluff, or Intimidate skill checks. This is regardless of the creature or its alignment.

## Divine Gift

Ronda grants her followers a way to hear their outsider's thoughts. By performing a ten-minute dance with an outsider, the follower becomes capable of hearing their outsider's thoughts as if using the telepathy spell. This effect lasts for 24 hours and works across all distances.

## Clergy

As a newer deity, Ronda's clergy is only slowly beginning to become organized. Her followers are generally accompanied by outsiders with who they have formed a bond, and the majority of her followers reside under the sea. Most of her followers have studied foresight and have been known to show occasional glimpses into the future and, in rarer cases, the past.

## Temples and Shrines

Though Ronda's temples and shrines are few and far between, they generally feature large summoning circles to use in drawing outsiders, and feature classes on how to learn more about and form strong bonds with their kind.