Mother Ocean â—†
When the skies were empty and the stars unnamed,
The ocean was endless and her depths untamed.
Freezing sadness chilled the sea to her bones,
Desperation from Myu, she cried out all alone.
​
From her words, a vortex, came the first of her kin,
Hundreds of aquatic creatures fitted with gills and fins.
For centuries Mother Ocean danced with them as one,
Yet her loneliness did not subside; could her creations be outdone?
​
Born from sand and seawater and salt came the Shae,
A product of affection, Myu's likeness they portrayed.
Of all her creations, the Shae were most prized,
To guide their development and growth, the Spirits were devised.
​
Formed from Mother Ocean came Day, Night, and Life,
Protector and the Unknown, and Death to avoid strife.
Land was solidified from the warmth of her love,
A warning she gave: Do not be tempted to go above.
​
For centuries as they pleased, building eternal empires underseas.
Harmony was soon to bleed from an inclination for greed.
​
In the aftermath of vice, the Shae were banished from the waves
Emerging to the surface, pushing past watery graves.
As they fell to shore and solid land, Myu's warning unobeyed
She cried and flooded the world, left alone and betrayed.
​
With an undying kingdom in a home lost to the abyss,
The Shae learned to survive on land, no time to remiss.
Mother Ocean cried out, voice lost to the sea,
A broken promise to one day reclaim her children,
whatever they may be.
MYU'S BALLAD
MOTHER OCEAN â—†
Myu, or Mother Ocean, is the ocean herself and the creator of the world. Everything was created by her, from the land to the seas to the creatures. As the story goes, she created life from her loneliness and eventually created the Shae, the first humanoid race. To aid the Shae, she devised the Spirits, entities (akin to minor gods) to help guide structure of the world and the development of her children.
It's thought that the actions of the Shae, broadly only known to be greed, upset Myu. Either she banished them to the surface or they left the ocean their own accord; whatever the reason, this prompted the evolution of the Shae into Humans. Myu was said to be so upset at the loss of her children that The Flooding, a period of a thousand days where she cried and flooded the world over, took place.
The ocean is tender and loving, yet also harsh and brutal. Humans are highly aware of Mother Ocean's temperament, and many strive to appease her with gifts and offerings. She is a primordial power, and some humans believe she will swallow them whole if given the chance. Others believe that her power and presence has dwindled over the years and view her as irrelevant in regard to the ways humans have developed. These contrasting views are further explained in Religion.
Some say she's working to reclaim her lost children. Humans with an especially large penchant for the ocean - those said to feel the physical call and pull of the tides - are thought to be influenced by Myu's pleas to return home.
Shae + Humans â—†
The Shae are the predecessors of humans. Equitable to merpeople, they were initially created by Mother Ocean and existed primarily during the years of Before Tide (years before The Flooding).
Though the dates of their survival are unknown, it's thought that they spent at least a millennium underseas building vast empires. Gargantuan, elegant structures, secrets to advanced magic, ancient treasure, hidden lore of the world's creation -- all of these were lost to time. Excavations are frequently done to descend into the ocean's depths and learn more about The Shae and their civilizations, but little knowledge has been uncovered. The language of the Shae has not fully been translated, the magic required to activate their technology is not understood, and much of their society is nested in areas of the ocean that are unreachable with current tech. All that is known is that the Shae were absolutely more advanced than humans.
The largest mystery surrounding the Shae is the reason behind The Surfacing, their move out of the water and onto land, causing them to evolve into humans. Some say they were banished, but why? Others say they were forced out of the water, but why? To this day, this is the greatest mystery that plagues scholars, and most research that goes into it is largely unsuccessful.
​
Aided by the Spirits, the evolution of the Shae to Humans was prompted by their move to land. The initial human population was substantially smaller than that of the Shae, and the land above the sea was said to be unforgiving. With all of the ancient knowledge of their predecessors lost to the waves, humans spent centuries rebuilding, growing stronger, and exploring. Hints of their aquatic ancestry is apparent within the design of humans: Colorful hair and markings, glowing eyes, a curiosity for magic and, sometimes, an inclination for the sea. Unfortunately, modern humans are limited by their form that adapted to survive on land, and it's believed that the magical capabilities of humans suffer from restrictions that the Shae did not have.
Now in 1799 AT, humans have settlements across the world. A majority stay close to the main cities, but there are small quantities of humans who have settled and thrived on smaller islands.
Spirits
◆◆ If you skip this section, it's recommended to check out the religion summary in the appendix!
​
The Spirits make up something of a pantheon of Mu (see Religion). Born from pieces of Myu herself, they were initially made to guide and direct the growth of the Shae.
The survival of Spirits is directly proportional to their following. New Spirits emerge when the need for one arises, and Spirits may die when the world fails to worship them. A number of Spirits are thought to have died after The Surfacing, but new Spirits were created to guide the newly vulnerable Shae on land.
Each Spirit has an elemental tie, related to one of the four forms of magic. Additionally, each spirit has a number of associations that they have become linked to over the years.
Humans typically have a Favored Spirit, or a Spirit that they most closely follow, fear, give offerings to, or ask for blessings from. Please note that Spirits are extremely passive entities; communing with them will never provide a direct response. Their presence is most commonly made known by changes in weather and astronomical events, subtle blessings and "miracles", and general feelings of comfort.
​
NOTE ON DEAD SPIRITS - Spirits die when they are no longer worshipped. Because a majority of Shae records have been lost to time, many accounts of Spirits are thought to be unrecorded in human archives. From uncovered art, it's thought that anywhere between five and ten Spirits died after The Surfacing. Associations for these Spirits are unknown, though they're believed to have primarily been Water Spirits. The seven Spirits listed below are the only living Spirits along with the Goddess Myu.
AESHU
SPIRIT OF SUN AND DAY
Element: Fire
Associations: Light, warmth, protection, children
​
The few records found of Aeshu indicate that he was revered prior to The Surfacing, thought to have been born from submarine volcanoes and the need to separate day from night. As the only known Fire Spirit, his presence in Before Tide was believed to bring both light and warmth to the darkest depths of the ocean, illuminating all. Despite this, he significantly lacked in followers compared to Lu until humans evolved.
​
After Shore, Aeshu has become a symbol of the sun and survival. Acts of kindness and charity are done in his name, and he is thought to be the guardian of children.
Incense and bonfires are the most common offerings to Aeshu, though his most devout followers trek to the top of active volcanoes to offer precious minerals.
LU
SPIRIT OF NIGHT AND MYSTERY
Element: Water
Associations: Secrets, magic, history, mystery
​
Born from the depths of the sea at the same time as Aeshu, Lu represents secrets and unknown in contrast to her partner's truth. Lu is believed to have been the most worshipped living spirit prior to The Surfacing due to the Shae's reliance on her presence to guide their pursuits of magic.
In modern times, Lu enjoys a wide array of scholarly and magically-inclined followers who seek to unlock historical and arcane secrets. It's thought that the historical secrets of the Shae are, in part, so difficult to obtain and understand because of Lu's refusal to cooperate. Some say that Lu doesn't yet believe that humans are ready to have the same knowledge that their predecessors had.
KERU
SPIRIT OF LIFE AND DEATH
Element: Water
Associations: Beginnings, endings, love
Keru's influence before and after The Surfacing has never wavered. She brings Myu's children into the world, and at the end of their lifecycle, brings them back to the sea. Water births and burials ensure this cycle is completed. To keep the departed on land is the greatest sin in Keru's eyes.
Due to this cycle, Keru is heavily associated with beginnings and endings, including that of romantic and platonic love. Romantic companionship and platonic partnerships both undergo similar courting rituals, professing love in the ocean "until we're reclaimed by the sea" or "before we're swept away by the waves", respectfully. Both rituals are highly serious in Keru's eyes, and as such, courting commonly takes place over the span of years in Mu.
FEERU
SPIRIT OF SOCIETY AND ORDER
Element: Earth
Associations: Civilization, structure, order, law, wealth
Feeru existed pre-Surfacing, though their importance and associations expanded as humans evolved. For the Shae, their expansive empires and buildings were created in Feeru's name, who shaped the structure and law within their societies. Present day archeologists and politicians view Feeru as a source of influence.
Feeru pressures lawmakers to create a just and fair society; wealth in the hands of one means nothing if the greater society is suffering. Additionally, Feeru spearheads the unification of the world. Because of these, they are often used in two main ways: To pressure the nobility into making active change, and as a reason to create a unifying empire across all of Mu.
DOL
SPIRIT OF HUMANS AND LAND
Element: Earth
Associations: Nature, animals, land exploration, goals
Dol is the third youngest living spirit and the first to be born after The Surfacing. Initially born to help the Shae navigate the harsh land above the waters, Dol's celestial influence supported the evolution of the Shae into Humans. This was initially seen as an act of treachery by Myu, who believed that Dol was damning her children to the surface.
In modern times, Dol is a fearless representation of humanity. Having aided in their survival and evolution, Dol is a symbol of the everlasting strength of humans and their ability to succeed and overcome trials. Dol's blessings are often requested by humans as they embark on their own dreams, and Dol pushes humans to explore, grow, and thrive in a way that the Shae could not.
RAE
SPIRIT OF STORMS AND TRIALS
Element: Water
Associations: Rain, thunder, shipwrecks, rewards
Rae is the second youngest Living Spirit, second only to Vyo. Rae was born out of Myu's distress concerning The Surfacing, following the thousand days she cried and flooded the world.
Associated with storms, Rae is thought to be most related to Myu's volatile temperament. His frustration can be seen in the form of violent weather and crackling storms, making him a precarious factor for travel. Aeshu is worshipped for protection and Vyo for safety against Rae. Those who pray to Rae do not ask for blessings - rather, it's a matter of appeasement. Rae is often worshipped by adventurers and sailors.
Without risk, there can be no reward.
VYO
SPIRIT OF TRAVEL AND FORTUNE
Element: Air
Associations: Health, family, breezes, communication
"May Vyo's wind be favorable," is commonly told to strangers and loved ones preparing to travel, no matter how large or small. As the Spirit of Travel, Vyo is most commonly prayed to in order to ensure safety along the journey, making them a common Favored Spirit for sailors and merchants alike.
Vyo's wind is also associated with good health, efficient communication, and bringing families together. Whatever it may be, Vyo is worshiped to bring good fortune and stability.
As the youngest spirit who became popular in After Tide, throwing letters, petals, or small trinkets into the wind are ways to appease them.