Der'Tiru

All of the great sea is said to be the domain of the great shark Der’Tiru. At least once every year in the waters off the coast of Tiruhattun she can be found. She will stay in the surrounding waters for a week at a time, before heading out to the unknown depths. It is there that her worshipers pay tribute. Der’Tiru appreciates tribute in the form of any large creature, which presents a challenge to offering dread beasts of the jungle. To offset this, her most zealous of followers travel far out to sea. Out of sight of the shore is where great whales are found. Armed only with shark tooth tipped spears, they drive the creatures towards the shore where they can be slain close to the sacrificial floating platforms.   Acolytes of Der’Tiru dress in the hides from marine creatures. More prestige is given for the skins of predators, except for that of great white sharks. Early on in their worship, followers who donned the skin of a great white faced the wrath of the dread shark herself. Whether the white shark was slain or found deceased, wearing of their skins is forbidden. Though she objects to the wearing of her children, she does not punish her followers from consuming those they find slain. Champions of Der’Tiru are not chosen from the greatest hunters. The greatest among the deep divers will at times attempt to show dominance over the shark god herself. Most are consumed for their insolence, but some return marked as her champions. The method they used to differentiate themselves from those who fail is never spoken of. When they return marked, they are also covered in heavy bruising and struggle to move for weeks after the encounter.