Dawa
Spheres of Influence: The Sky, Wind, Freedom, Adventure, Curiosity
Epithets: The Eagle, The Distant, The Traveller
Common Domains: Arcana, Forge, Knowledge, Life, Light, Tempest, Trickery
Dawa is a zephyr, a gust, a wind that fills sails. Dawa takes many forms, including Dawa the Eagle — a partly humanoid, female form — in which she and Purnoz are mates. Dawa the Hawk takes Ptomir as a lover. Purnoz’s jealousy is the cause of violent thunderstorms. Dawa and Sala created all of the other deities, except for Skura, who is Dawa’s twin.
Dawa is widely worshipped, from Doma in the south to the Oppa people of the far north. While the Urek worship her as the god of the north wind, the Oppa see her as the south wind.
Related Demigods & Intermediaries
Typhoon: The god that brings the strong southern storms, worshiped by many as the god of all south winds.
Zephyr: The god of balmy western breezes.
Eolus: The god of the east wind.
Vahna: Iswari worship Dawa through intermediary spirits, called Vahna, known for their mischievous and capricious character. Iswari use strings of small bells to create perimeters around their homes, protecting them from the Vahna. Yet the Vahna also protect the Iswari and relay their prayers.
Festivals & Worship
Festival of the Sky
Dawa is worshipped during most celestial events but especially the winter solstice, during the two day Festival of the Sky.
Offerings: Offerings are made before and during a journey, especially one by sea or of great distance; by those on a quest; by explorerers; when encountering new cultures and ideas; by the oppressed or imprisoned; and before Typhoon season.
Flora and Fauna
Flora: Silverbark Pine, Dandelion
Fauna: Couatl, Eagle, Shipbird, Albatross, Snow Goose, Snowy Crane, Snowfall Moth, Ice Spider, Snow Wyrm, Nokka, Tufted Snowcat
Devotees
- The Triad: the shifting relationships between Dawa, Ptomir, and Purnoz are widely considered to be responsible for the weather, especially thunderstorms and typhoons. A majority of sailors worship these deities together, as the Triad. Many on land also worship the Triad, including at the Temple of Fair Weather in Moru Kel.
- Those who need a strong breeze for flying kites pray to Dawa. The Seta decorate shrines to Dawa with snakeskins and the feathers and claws of eagles and seabirds. They also employ augury, reading the flights of birds to determine not just weather and good fishing grounds, but auspicious times for a treaty or marriage and all manner of other omens.
- The Charter Club worship her in her role as god of exploration and adventure.
↞ Previous: Aerta Next: Koros ↠