Maresia, the Goddess of the Sea and Islands, has the mission to preserve the planet’s natural resources. However, her brother Aurio, driven by greed and a desire for revenge, has other plans and manipulates humans to achieve his goals. Imprisoned in a cage at the bottom of the ocean for 500 years, Maresia finds herself unable to fulfill the mission entrusted to her due to her brother, watching helplessly as the planet degrades. Life on Earth is at risk and depends on the liberation of Maresia, who will have to fight against Aurio’s unbridled ambition.

The idea arose through the unexpected and surprising contact with screenwriter Rita Roberto by Professor Eduardo Leite, Ph.D., founder and coordinator of OSEAN—an interdisciplinary research center focused on green and blue economy, eco-entrepreneurship, green accounting and sustainable finance, digital innovation and sustainability, and social inclusion. This contact was motivated by the need to spread their message in a creative and multidisciplinary way that would captivate the masses. The objective was to disseminate this message both within and outside the academic sphere, in collaboration with other research centers committed to contributing to a more sustainable planet and more developed and equitable societies.

OSEAN presents itself as a sustainable ecosystem for the European Outermost Regions (ORs), focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. It is formed by a network of researchers who act as a unified organic entity. With active participation, OSEAN aligns itself with the programs of the European Union and European funds applied to science, technology, ocean conservation, and maritime affairs. Its mission is to research, develop, and promote sustainable practices in the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the European Outermost Regions.

The ORs encompass nine regions located in the Western Atlantic, the Caribbean basin, the Amazon rainforest, and the Indian Ocean: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, Réunion, and Mayotte (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain). OSEAN recognizes the potential of the ORs as global-scale models for Europe’s food and energy autonomy, ecological transition, sustainable tourism, social inclusion, and civil society organization participation, among others.

Considering its scientific areas and fields of intervention, OSEAN aims to make an impact on the community and gain recognition for excellence not only from its peers but also from society itself through its fundamental and applied research. The Research Center’s conduct is based on the best international scientific practices. It was clear from the beginning that the project’s objective is to convey a global message of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and biodiversity and does not serve any form of self-promotion for the OSEAN Research Center.

Maresia, the Goddess, daughter of the God of the Sea, Poseidon, and the Goddess of the Forest, Asling, was born in 1400 on the island of Madeira. When she turned 18, after a small ceremony where she was given adult responsibilities, her parents gifted her the European Outermost Regions. During the ceremony, she promised to take care of the ORs, biodiversity, and the natural riches of each island, harnessing the unique assets of each region through their valorization and preservation of nature.

However, Aurio, Maresia’s older half-brother, born out of Poseidon’s relationship with a human, had always envied the possessions bestowed upon his sister. Ignoring the inheritance of the Tropical Forests, he never accepted the beauty and wealth of the islands that Maresia received. Out of vengeance and jealousy, Aurio devises a plan to conquer the paradise islands from Maresia and traps her in a cage at the bottom of the ocean.

After killing their father and stepmother, he uses his powers to manipulate humans to conquer the islands. Guided by Aurio’s wind power, explorers disembark on the island of Madeira and begin the occupation process.

Over time, Aurio becomes the owner and ruler of the European Outermost Regions and other areas on the planet. He aims to exploit natural, human, and technological resources for profit and conquer all other regions surrounding the islands stolen from Maresia.

We witness images of progress reflected in the destruction of the biosphere, deforestation, abusive consumption of natural resources, exploitation of poorer people, and the environmental burden imposed by the imposition of human habits and customs. However, Maresia is imprisoned and unable to stop Aurio’s ambition.

In 2023, Emily, a researcher and biologist desperate for a solution to the planet’s degradation and species extinction, such as that of the Hope Turtle, continues the research started by her parents and seeks out Maresia and her loyal companion, now transformed into legend. Emily works undercover in Aurio’s oil exploration company with the goal of finding Maresia and the Hope Turtle.

With the help of Leo, a simple employee of Aurio, Emily manages to find Maresia after several underwater scientific expeditions. As Emily touches Maresia, due to her deep and emotional connection with nature and exploited peoples, various images of the current world flash into her subconscious. Maresia weeps so much that she causes a tsunami. The increased water pressure allows Maresia to free herself from the cage where she was imprisoned.

In the final encounter with her brother, Maresia sees Aurio greatly weakened, suffering from respiratory, skin, and joint problems. Being a bastard child, Aurio has developed health issues similar to those of humans exposed to various risk factors. However, even realizing that the development policies he pursued over the past 623 years have resulted in poverty, destruction of natural wonders, war, and various public health problems, nothing makes him relent or give up his thirst for power, and he is willing to fight against Maresia.

Emily, Leo, and Maresia, using the European Outermost Regions as living laboratories that set the trends for development, attempt to spread the message of sustainability and restore the planet through various actions that support the most vulnerable communities.

Refusing to let her brother die alone and convinced that they are stronger together, Maresia manages to convince Aurio to join the cause and regain his health. Maresia, Aurio, Emily, and Leo strive to reverse the situation, using the ORs as a lung capable of restoring balance to the world. They embark on a global fight for biodiversity preservation, providing more inclusive tools and creating greater wealth to be distributed more fairly and equitably among communities.

MARESIA

Goddess of the Sea and Islands, daughter of the God of the Sea, Poseidon, and the Goddess of the Forest, Asling, Maresia possesses a unique, enviable, and unchanging beauty as she does not age. She has the power to connect with nature, breathe underwater, and swim at great speed. Affectionate and caring, Maresia possesses an unparalleled sensitivity that deeply unites her with humans, animals, and plants. She has always been devoted to her family and treated her brother as an equal, never expecting to be betrayed by him. This betrayal has become difficult to bear, along with the destruction of the ORs and consequently, the planet. Her objective is to reclaim the European Outermost Regions and, together with scientists and entrepreneurs, restore the beauty that was stolen by Aurio. Maresia is uncertain whether she will ever be able to forgive her brother for holding her captive and jeopardizing the future of the planet.

AURIO

A bastard son born from the relationship between a mythical god and a human, grew up consumed by envy toward Maresia. He doesn’t feel like a god or a human, and this anguish has turned him into a bitter being. He envies his sister’s empathy toward all beings on the planet and covets the territories that were bestowed upon her, where she peacefully reigns. As the older brother, born out of wedlock, Aurio possesses the power to command the winds and alter the tides’ paths, but he always wanted more: more power, more territories, more money, more influence. His ambition is to seize everything that Maresia possesses, including power over humans, animals, and plants. Narcissistic and greedy, he didn’t hesitate to kill his father, stepmother, and betray his sister to gain more power and control. Being half human and half god, Aurio suffers the consequences of the planet’s destruction. At 623 years old, unlike his sister, he has aged, lost agility, and is at risk of losing his life. As he realizes that the destruction of the planet may be irreversible, he will regret the evil he has done.

TOMÁS

Biologist, entrepreneur, activist, and altruist who is deeply passionate about nature and all its resources. Tomás works tirelessly to assemble a multidisciplinary and transnational team of scientists to make life on the planet more sustainable. He has a particular interest in preserving endangered species, such as the Hope Turtle. Tomás’s parents, former scientists who were close to discovering the whereabouts of Maresia and the Hope Turtle, were annihilated by Aurio. Growing up, Tomás heard stories about the legend of Maresia and the need to preserve the Hope Turtle, a species with a special connection to the Goddess. Since the death of his parents, Tomás has vowed to investigate and protect the species, as well as uncover the truth about the legend of Maresia. These objectives lead him to put himself in danger and work undercover for Aurio.

LEO

He is one of Aurio’s most obedient employees due to the fear he harbors, but he also possesses the kindest heart. Despite being terrified of his boss, he agrees to help Emily in the search for Maresia because he fears that Aurio will destroy the planet where he lives and is concerned for his own life.

POSEIDON

The God of the Sea, protector of waters and sailors, found stability in his wife Asling. Handsome and temperamental, he had an extramarital affair with a human, resulting in the birth of Aurio. After the woman’s death, Poseidon took his illegitimate son to be raised among his family and the other gods. Asling never welcomed him warmly as the child represented her husband’s betrayal. Perhaps that’s why Aurio has always been rebellious and envious. These feelings were something Poseidon tried to combat. The God of the Sea is aware of a prophecy foretelling the end of planet Earth, and he intends to use his wisdom and the powers of his two children to prevent it. However, Aurio’s ambition will overshadow this desire.

ASLING

The Goddess of the Forest and all that is green, her presence is seen by the other gods as a kind of lucky charm. Very introspective, Maresia sought from her the gift of connecting with the different elements of nature, as Asling is also the goddess of Dreams. Unable to have more children, she becomes obsessed with Maresia and rejects Aurio. Looking at him means confronting the memory of the fleeting relationship Poseidon had with a human. Asling has always had a tumultuous relationship with Aurio and never trusted him. She tried to warn her husband about it, but Poseidon refused to listen to his wife’s words.

HOPE TURTLE

A turtle species threatened by the increasing pollution of the planet. The various generations of the Hope Turtle always stay close to Maresia, providing her with protection.