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Melahr

Su-mehr Qiamp    Culture      Melahr
And thus Melahr arrived. It saw the world, from the mountains to the sea, and the forests and the grasslands between, and carved a path in blue-green water. It wove a serpent's body into earth, disappearing into the abyssal depths of ocean. With the river came the steady drip of time, and all creation shuddered to life.
— Annals of Creation, Part I

Time Flows Like a River

Melahr is the common name for the patron deity of regions around the Mehr River. Melahr created the Mehr, and in doing so, also created concepts of time, aging, and dying. In order for water to flow, time must progress, which means life cycles also proceed. Every river branching off the Mehr, and every subdivision of time, are considered Melahr's children.   The god is depicted as an endless serpent, long and winding like the Mehr itself, with three eyes, one each to watch the past, present, and future. Most vessels used for water clocks have a serpent on them, but never show the tail. It's said if a human were to see Melahr's tail, it would signal the imminent end of the world.   The common belief is that Melahr resides in the crystalline palace on the glittering moon, as with all other gods. However, some believe the Mehr River is Melahr Itself - the river is Its body, the Abyssal Sea is Its endless tail, and Its head is somewhere in the mountains at the Mehr's origin.  

Interactions with Mortals

Despite being ever-present, from the passage of time to the flow of water, Melahr is the least likely to intervene in human affairs in any significant way. Time affects all things, so even a small act could interfere with other gods or cause a cascade of unintended changes. Melahr more commonly sets something in motion and lets mortal kind control the outcome.  

Blessings

Blessings of Melahr come in the form of convenient timing. An extra hour here or there, an opportunity at just the right moment, or work passing faster than expected.   The largest blessing was the creation of the flood season. Prior to that, the Mehr would flood unpredictably and cause significant harm. This blessing relegated it to a single season, allowing people to prepare and even benefit.

Curses

Melahr will curse those who disrespect the world around them, especially those who cause harm to the river or interfere with its desired flow. These curses are inconvenient timing - surprise deadlines and missed chances.   The most notable curse from Melahr are the ghosts present in Su-mehr Qiamp. In retribution for taking advantage of a blessing, neglecting the land, and not providing an offering.

Information

Associated Region
Mehr River
Associated Concepts
Time
Water
Rivers
Death
Preferred Offering
Pears, especially those grown locally
Represented As
An endless serpent
Children

Trivia

In the ancient languages of the region, the same word is used for both "time" and "water".   Euphemisms for death include phrases like "taken by the current" or "passed downstream", especially in Su-mehr Qiamp where annual flooding means the phrases can also be literal.

Read More

- Mehr River -   Whether Melahr's creation or Melahr Itself, the Mehr River is the region's lifeblood and source of prosperity.
- Ghost of the Twilight Pear -   According to legend, the city of Su-mehr Qiamp once angered Melahr and is cursed to this day with hauntings of ghosts.
- Festival of Halinn -   This annual festival held in Su-mehr Qiamp honors Melahr and the blessings the river provides through community effort.

Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2025

Answering: "A character known for their numerous progeny"
Visit Those2Nerds's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage
All work is copyright Rin Garnett 2025, all rights reserved. Background image by Dawn Hudson with edits by Rin Garnett. This is a short-term project for Summer Camp 2025. If you're interested in more of my work, check out wow that's a lot of stars.


Cover image: by Rin Garnett using assets from Karen Arnold and Maria Gandolfo
  • Metadata
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Character
World
Su-mehr Qiamp
Category
Culture
Author
Those2Nerds
Publication Date
27 Jul, 2025
Creation Date
10 Jul, 2025
Last Update Date
2 Aug, 2025
Visibility
Public
Views
17
Favorites
6
Comments
1
Work In Progress
Tags
roots everyday submitted

Comments

Author's Notes

"On those who step into the same rivers, different and different waters flow" – Arius Didymus


Please Login in order to comment!
Councilor of the Inner Sanctum Serukis
Jul 31, 2025 13:40 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

My favourite part is the taboo behind depicting the tail. I love the three eyes too.

Emy x
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025

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