Nerissa was the goddess of Theryssa and Thiravos, with power over water and earth. She was among the first gods created in Malverand, the mother of Lucilla, and the grandmother of Garrik. Lucilla unmade her during the invasion of Xalmyrra.
Appearance
Nerissa formed a body from water, with long blue hair, flowing water for eyes, and a translucent blue robe. On land, she changed into an earthy form with brown hair streaked with gold, brown eyes, and robes made from glittering sand.
Personality
Nerissa placed the safety of Theryssa and Thiravos above the lives of people elsewhere. She preferred isolation and negotiation, but accepted war against Xalmyrra to keep the gods away from her own nations. She was affectionate with Nero and Pyragos, though she also directed their choices. She felt lonely and sought friendship with her wielder.
Magic
Nerissa controlled tides, carried people across the ocean on waves, and shaped water into maps and protective bubbles. She could listen through the water near the shore. Her earth magic raised rock walls and moved the seabed to create a tsunami. She restrained bodies by controlling the water within them and drew moisture from the surrounding land into bubbles that pressed against shields.
Wave Shard
Nerissa formed pacts with wielders through her wave shard, granting them her water and earth magic. She spoke to them through the shard. It lost its power when Lucilla unmade her.
History
Malverand and the islands
Nerissa was created from a god core containing the essence of thousands of mages. Her former wielder, Remiella, feared Raphael and remained apart from the wars around her. Nerissa tricked her into overloading. Remiella died, millions of people were killed, and the continent broke into islands. Theryssa and Thiravos escaped Malverand's rule, though Nerissa was weakened until their inhabitants restored her strength through belief.
Eremion temporarily occupied the nations during the war that destroyed Malverand. Nerissa later rescued Pyragos, gave him some of her followers to sustain his existence, and removed the influence that had invaded his mind, including in the God Realm. He settled in Thiravos. She shared ancient knowledge with the brightest minds of both nations, helping their technology develop. Nerissa promised Isandriel to conceal Malverand's history, and erased its records in return for peace. She lived on an island whose gate sequence she kept to herself.
Nero and Pyragos
After years without a wielder, Nerissa chose Nero in 5208 AX, when he was twenty, to meet the dangers facing the islands. She advised him to negotiate with King George when Blackcrag's fleet arrived. The consuls agreed to provide George with an heir in exchange for knowledge of better essence engines. Nerissa pressed Nero to father Lucilla's child, Garrik, who was then given to Blackcrag. George left engineers to teach the islanders.
Nerissa opposed Pyragos's wish to seek Isandriel, fearing the danger of returning to mainland Valrindor. When he later returned as Renneth, she drew his attention in Hanamizu and led him through a gate to Pelagos. She recognized him. After Renneth formed a pact with Maric, she began teaching him again on their journey to Rahmavir.
Nerissa used Raphael's interest in recruiting her to investigate his plans and the Source. When the cavern at Zarephon collapsed, she descended to protect Nero. He escaped through the earth. Nerissa's disappearance from the God Realm made it appear that she had descended to kill the others.
Invasion of Xalmyrra
Gabriel froze Pelagia and threatened its people to force their cooperation with Raphael. Nerissa accepted an attack on Xalmyrra in exchange for protection for the islands, and agreed to share gate knowledge and sequences. She insisted that Garrik be spared and brought to her. Her longer plan was for Lucilla and Garrik to unmake the gods once Lucilla had mastered the power inherited from Isandriel.
Nerissa believed Lucilla still needed time to learn. Lucilla already possessed the power and concealed her progress. During the attack on Erenmyr, Nerissa moved the seabed to send a tsunami inland. She later descended to defend Nero against Orin and immobilized him with her water magic. While she held him, Lucilla seized her wrists, unmade her, and severed her connection to the God Realm to prevent her escape. Orin was freed, and Nero's wave shard became inert.
Relationships
- Lucilla and Isandriel: Lucilla was Nerissa and Isandriel's daughter. Nerissa trained her harshly as a child and prepared her to become head consul. At Isandriel's request, she concealed his identity and Lucilla's unmaking power. Lucilla opposed her mother's decision to attack Xalmyrra and ultimately killed her to stop further harm.
- Nero: Nerissa trained and protected her wielder, treating him with motherly affection. He resented her control over his pact, his relationship with Lucilla, and Garrik's departure. She acknowledged what she had put him through and sought his forgiveness and friendship.
- Pyragos: Nerissa and Pyragos were lovers. She wanted him to remain with her in the islands and feared his search for Isandriel, but asked him to return if he found trouble and tell her what he learned. She welcomed him back as Renneth.
- Garrik: Nerissa was Garrik's grandmother. She required Gabriel to spare him as a condition of her cooperation and intended him to help Lucilla free the islands from the gods.