Shaping the Sea

When the gods, it is said, were dividing the world between them, Osprem chose for herself the seas. In that timeless time, before Pelor and Nerull began their endless dance, the ocean was calm, still, and fresh, and Osprem wished to keep it so, for the sake of the mortal races who would be born. But Umberlee her sister grew angry, and complained that the wide realm of the waters would be stagnant and dead. She made her case before all the gods, and the heavens grew thick and dark with storm clouds. If they would confine her power to the land, she said, then Ehlonna's trees would be hurled into the sky, Moradin's fires extinguished, Olidammara's deceptions all blown away, and Pelor and Sehanine's light would never reach the ground. And this is one of the Three Great Rages of Umberlee.

Nerull, in whose darkness is peace, and Fharlanghn, who was quite taken with this idea, spoke against her, but the gods upheld Umberlee's right to bring her wrath to the sea. And Osprem bowed her head, but she wept, and the seas became salty with her tears. And this is why, though Umberlee's influence stirred up life in the waters, it has not destroyed that life also.

It is said that Atanasurinya of the elves built the first ship, and sailed out with a crew of four hundred. Alas for them, whom Umberlee struck down with a tempest, such that only seven returned. They spoke of a message from the storm queen: "The world is not just for you."