One by one the villagers sought council with the Old Wise One. It was said that she had lived longer than time itself and knew everything. She could speak with the Gods and even visit them on the higher planes. Her house was filled with old manuscripts, papyrus and even stone tablets of various sizes with strange designs on them. She was so tall and thin that she had to stoop when moving around her house.

“No the name cannot be changed, it is the fathers right to pick and no-one may change it, however” here she stopped to run a bony hand down the right side of her face deeply in thought, “there may be a way. I need to consult the wisdom of the Gods.” With that she dismissed them with a wave of her hand as if dismissing an annoying fly.

Night after night she poured over her manuscripts, papyrus and moved the rocks back and forwards. It was in the early hours of the fourth night that she found what she was looking for. There nestled in the very top in the extreme left corner was what she had been searching for. Happy now that she had found the solution she was seeking for she turned to her narrow, lumpy bed and instantly fell asleep. The house reverberated with the sound of her snoring.

The next morning the word had spread. There must be an answer or else why would she have slept. All of the village knew by the sound of her snoring. Actually to say she snored would be an understatement for the sound she produced was more like the sound of breaking rocks tumbling down a cliff face with the clashing of waves against the shoreline followed by a cyclonic wind. If you can imagine those sounds combined you come close to the effect she had on the villagers.

Around her house they gathered awaiting her appearance. Finally she eased herself out the door and stood in the bright sunlight. This was one of the rare days when the sun peaked through the dismally dark clouds. A hush fell over the assembly and faces showed eager anticipation.

She raised a bony hand, fingers pointing to the sky. “I have spoken with the Gods. They have blessed my search and provided the answer. Her name is and as custom dictates Mara however I have discovered in the language of the Gods Mara means of the sea and even in older language than the Gods it also means greater. She shall be known as Mara, Goddess of the sea. I have spoken.” And with that she turned and returned to her house.