Origin

Yanbetso was born in the silence after Laurits created the first life. Where light met the primordial sea, and the storms of Olurbri raged without remorse, a still depth stirred. From that depth rose Yanbetso—not from light, not from storm, but from the in-between. She claimed the sea not as a gift, but as a right. When Theina's moonlight created Shae and sent the beast-crew adrift, it was Yanbetso who cast them from her sacred waters into the Prime Material Plane, marking her divine boundaries. Her rage with Theina and Olurbri echoed for nearly a century, a storm that shook even the stars. From then on, she has been the keeper of what is lost, the judge of what is hidden, and the voice from the depths that no one truly understands.

Clergy

Yanbetso’s clergy, known as the Saltbound, are a drifting priesthood. They often travel aboard ships, serve in coastal villages, or live alone near hidden grottos. Garbed in seafoam robes and bearing tridents or coral staves, they perform rites at low tide, whisper secrets into jars, and maintain underwater shrines. Clerics may be called to retrieve drowned knowledge, sanctify wrecks, or avenge violations of sacred coastlines. The faithful use salt and ocean water in nearly every blessing and ward.

Tidebound Seer Variant Cleric Features

• 1st Level – Ocean’s Embrace (Su): You may breathe underwater and gain a swim speed of 20 ft. If you already have a swim speed, increase it by 10 ft. This is a continuous supernatural ability.
• 3rd Level – Secrets Beneath the Surface (Ex): +4 bonus on Sense Motive and Decipher Script checks to uncover secrets, lies, or hidden knowledge. You may use Detect Thoughts once per day (DC 10 + Wisdom modifier).
• 5th Level – Drowned Tongue (Su): You may speak with aquatic animals at will, as per Speak with Animals, but only for sea or amphibious creatures.
• 8th Level – Waveform Shift (Su): Once per day, you become partially fluid for 1 minute/level. Gain Evasion, +10 ft. swim speed, take half damage from bludgeoning, and +2 bonus on Escape Artist checks.
• 11th Level – Abyssal Warning (Sp): Once per day, cast True Seeing for 5 rounds. Gain +2 dodge bonus to AC vs. revealed creatures.
• 15th Level – Maelstrom’s Wrath (Sp): Once per week, summon a Maelstrom as per the spell (Stormwrack), with double duration and +1d6 damage per two caster levels.

Ocean Domain (Custom)

Granted Power: You gain a +4 bonus on Swim checks, and you may breathe underwater for a total number of minutes per day equal to your cleric level. These minutes need not be consecutive.

Dogma

"What sinks is sacred." The sea keeps what is lost; all things return in time.

"Truth flows beneath surface lies." The currents know all; the surface hides only briefly.

"No one rules the sea." Sovereignty belongs to no king but the tides.

Embrace chaos, respect salt, and honor the drowned.