Saltseers are mystical diviners who practice an ancient form of prophecy by evaporating saltwater and reading the residue left behind. Their tradition is most commonly found in coastal regions, salt flats, and among seafaring cultures that place trust in omens drawn from the sea. Saltseers serve as oracles, ritualists, and keepers of hidden knowledge, often consulted before long voyages, political decisions, or spiritual rites.
Call of the Salt
According to Saltseer tradition, every grain of salt holds a memory—an echo of the divine, the ocean, and the long-forgotten moments of creation. When brine or seawater is evaporated under controlled conditions, the salt patterns that remain are believed to reveal glimpses of the future, distant truths, or hidden influences. Apprentices often begin their path with a pilgrimage to sacred salt flats, where they learn to read the intricate crystallization patterns left by the sun. Over years of practice, Saltseers can learn to interpret signs through a mixture of intuition, training, and learned symbolism. Experienced seers may employ arcane sources of heat or specialized tools to refine their readings further. Saltseers can become highly respected in communities that rely on, or respect the sea. In coastal cities, they may hold positions as priests or advisors. In other regions, they wander as Saltwalkers, traveling from settlement to settlement with vials of sacred brine and carved saltstones, offering their services wherever they are needed.
Seers of the Sea
Saltseers are easily recognized by their distinct robes, often dyed in white, seafoam green, and pale blue, with hems encrusted in natural salt crystals. They carry evaporation basins, salt spoons, and personal saltstones or other ritual items carved with symbols that help them focus their divinations. Though mostly peaceful in nature, Saltseers are not defenseless. Many practice protective magic and are capable of creating Salt Circles, ritual wards used to repel spirits, bind extraplanar creatures, or sanctify ground. These circles are drawn with salt and typically strengthened with incantations that reinforce their magical properties. Saltseer tradition includes warnings about the risks of overexposure. Some believe that consuming too much salt or performing too many readings in a short span can lead to visions not meant for mortal minds. In rare cases, Saltseers enter a trance-like state filled with cryptic prophecies, or fall into madness, burdened by truths they can no longer interpret.
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