Description
The covenant was sealed when Duke Karthos cast a chest of the settlement's finest pearls into the deepest channel of the Tidal Expanse while speaking the ancient words of offering taught by the eldest Vaitafe shamans. The pearls sank beyond sight, and for three days nothing happened. Then, on the morning of the fourth day, the tide brought in a bounty of treasures: gold coins from a ship lost centuries ago, a chest of silver ingots still bearing the seal of a forgotten kingdom, and strange artifacts of unknown origin that glowed with residual magic.
Since that first gift, the ocean has continued to provide. Each month, the receding tide reveals treasures deposited in a specific cove that the Vaitafe call the Giving Shore. The gifts vary wildly in nature and value: sometimes mundane trade goods from recent wrecks, sometimes ancient relics of considerable power, occasionally items so strange that even the settlement's wisest cannot identify their purpose. The ocean seems to select items that will benefit the community, though its definition of "benefit" sometimes proves mysterious.
The treasures do not appear randomly but follow patterns tied to the settlement's behavior. Months when the community has been generous, hospitable to strangers, and respectful of the sea tend to bring greater bounties. Periods of selfishness, cruelty, or environmental disrespect result in meager offerings or, in extreme cases, the delivery of cursed items that bring misfortune until properly disposed of. The elders teach that the ocean watches and judges, rewarding virtue and punishing vice through its gifts.
A treasure-keeper oversees the Giving Shore, cataloging each item that appears and ensuring fair distribution according to traditional protocols. Items of practical value go to those who need them most. Magical artifacts are evaluated by the settlement's wise ones before being assigned or sold. Gold and trade goods flow into the community treasury, funding improvements and supporting those in need. The treasure-keeper also maintains the monthly offering ritual, casting a portion of the previous month's bounty back into the sea to maintain the covenant's balance.
Benefits
Each month, the ocean delivers treasures worth 2d6 x 100 gp (average 700 gp). Once per season, a significant magical item washes ashore (minor wondrous item or equivalent, DM's choice). The settlement gains +5 Prestige as tales spread of the ocean's generosity toward the Vaitafe. Additionally, any settlement resident who dies at sea has their body returned to the Giving Shore within one week, allowing proper funeral rites. The Duke may petition the ocean once per year for a specific item; there is a 25% chance the requested item appears within the following month.