Manann

God of the sea and the creatures within.  Most sailors and fisherfolk at least pay him homage; he is also worshipped by the residents of coastal and island regions throughout Keradrin.

As the god of the sea, Manann is called upon for fair weather by sailors and ship's captains; folk of island and coastal regions also seek his protection from extremes of weather.  Fisherfolk and coastal dwellers who depend on the produce of the sea also seek Manann's favor for safe and bountiful harvests.  In some traditions, Manann is believed to be the brother of Tanimaut.

Manann is most closely associated with Sehanine and her daughter Sernosivend; as the deities of the moon and the stars, working sailors depend on their guidance as much as they do that of Manann to ensure long voyages proceed safely.

Sailors will make a sacrifice to Manann as they embark on a new voyage.  This is usually an informal ritual where each member of a ship's crew takes turns stepping to the rail and casting their sacrifice into the sea.  The sacrifice is usually a small item, often of value only to the person sacrificing it -- semi-precious stones, a coin or two, a prized item of clothing, or even a sought-after piece of food are all considered worthy sacrifices in Manann's view.  Land-based temples or shrines dedicated to Manann usually feature an altar constructed of piled driftwood, agate pebbles, shells, and sea glass, to which worshipers will contribute over time.  The older the temple, the larger the altar.

In most coastal communities, a festival is held to honor and petition Manann on the second or third full moon of autumn, the time when storms often begin building and drive many craft from the sea until spring.  A small open boat will be loaded with sacrifices to Manann -- many similar to those offered by outbound sailors -- and rowed the length of a longbow shot from shore and anchored there.  The rower will then leap overboard and swim to shore, after which a team of archers will fire flaming arrows into the boat to burn and sink it.  A similar ritual is followed by some of Manann's worshipers who wish to be buried at sea.

Because Manann is considered the god of all sea creatures as well as of the sea itself, all sea creatures are considered sacred to him to some extent, and fisherfolk are careful to never harvest to excess.  The albatross and the dolphin are his most sacred animals, and to kill one of these for any reason is considered a great offense to the god.