The Nuuen (pronounced NOO-en) are whale guardian deities worshiped by the tribes of Uulam. These spirits of the sea are considered by the tribes to be wise if largely aloof, and those living near the Ishkre Ocean frequently take their hide boats out into the water in hopes of seeing the eyes of their whale-gods and learning from their ancient knowledge.
Beliefs and followers
To the Uulam, size directly correlates to intelligence, and therefore the whales of the frigid Ishkre Ocean are to them possessors of great knowledge collected throughout their decades if not centuries of life. When the whale-gods disappear beneath the surface of the sea, where they spend the vast majority of their time, they do so to ponder all they have learned and confer with their kin. All this wisdom and knowledge is thought to be contained within the eyes of the whales, and so Uulam seeking guidance frequently take to their boats, setting off from the ice to search for surfacing whales in order to gaze into their eyes. Even aside from such voyages, it is not unusual for the Uulam to follow sightings of the Nuuen, especially when the seas clear of ice, as they are believed to lead the tribes away from danger and towards more plentiful lands.
What qualifies as Nuuen is not always consistent amongst the Uulam. Whales almost always are, but others consider some types of particularly large, long-lived sharks to be deific in nature as well.