The Book of Salt

The Book of Salt is the central religious text of the Church Serpentine. While a lot of sea worship is disparate, uncentralised folk belief, this text has somewhat united these beliefs through the Church since the Bloody Years.

History
The Book of Salt was compiled sometime during the 3rd and 4th centuries AC prior to the founding of the Church. It consists of various accounts of Leviathan Priests from across the Great Dark Sea which have been compiled into a single text.

Chapters
The Book of Salt is divided into 49 chapters. Many of these were written by specific Leviathan Priests, while others were assembled by editors.

Testimony
'The Testimony of a Witness to the Flood' (shortened to 'the Testimony'). This is the first of the texts, and it is written as an eyewitness account of how the Empire ended, and, therefore how the Leviathan came to be.

It descibes how the rulers of the Empire lived with great riches, in houses of gold and glass, while its subjects lived in dirt. In desparation, and in anger against the gods for allowing this to happen, its citizens turned to the Abyss to strike against the Empire. This was done in a bargain with the Hells.

There was a great war in Circadia between the forces of the Overworld and the Underworld. At its end, the Abyss struck out against Astra, shattering her into a thousand pieces. The Abyss, however, looked to consume those who summoned it, and tried to flood the world. In a confluence between these two great powers - the godhood of Astra and the void of the Abyss - the Leviathan was born, taking hold of the sea. It locked the Abyss in the bottom of the ocean. It has done so ever since.

Priests
A history of sea worship and the succession of Leviathan Priests. Describes a number of 'proper practices' including marriages, funerals, and Dreaming.

Waves
A collection of philosophical musings.

Phlebas
This is the account of a seafarer, Phlebas, who washed up on an island with his skin pale, his mouth and eyes spilling saltwater, and his heart unbeating. After giving his words to the Leviathan Priests there, he died.

Phlebas describes how, when his ship was destroyed in a violent storm, he fell to the bottom of the ocean. In its darkest depths, the Leviathan spoke directly into his mind. They related to him how they held the memories of those who died in the Cascade, and Phlebas often refers to them as 'The One Who Speaks For The Drowned'.

The Leviathan tells Phlebas that their followers must prepare, since once day there will be a time when people will call upon the Abyss once more. When this is done, the Leviathan's time will end, the oceans will dry up, and darkness will fall upon the world again. They urge Phlebas to prepare, and to search for a way to hold back the Abyss themselves.

To the Church Serpentine, this event is known as The Great Dessication.