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====== At’enite Priesthood ======

Followers of [[gods:atena|At'ena]] are known as **At'enites** on [[settings:jaern|Jaern]]. On [[settings:cahyali|Cahyali]], she is known as Seherine, and her priests are called **Seherites**.

**//This section of the page is split into regional categories. The "Orthodox" temple of At'ena (the one that has been most thoroughly described and explored in previous iterations of the// [[:pfc|AQ: Jaern]] //system and world) is presented first, and is most commonly found and practiced on Jaern in the regions of [[settings:jaern:lojem|Lojem]], [[settings:jaern:ageron|Ageron]], and [[settings:jaern:therhine|The Rhine Archipelago]]. If a section doesn't exist, it may be a Work in Progress, and open to suggestion and workshopping. Contact the current At'ena God GM((David E. @name6092)) and a Story Board member if you have ideas!//**

===== Jaern - Lojem, Ageron, and The Rhine =====

=== Origins ===

The most popular origin myth in Lojem, Ageron, and the Rhine on Jaern purports that At’ena is in the collective consciousness and wisdom of all peoples at the end of time, bound together into a single entity, of full omniscience and knowledge. This At’ena then surpassed time itself, and acted to begin moving through time in reverse, obscuring and hiding knowledge to make the world imperfect and unknown, so that the people of the world could discover and understand it in the proper flow of time. This myth suggests a tautological and paradoxical At’ena whose origin and existence requires itself, and has no beginning or end.

=== Culture ===

For the majority of the Jaernian priesthood’s history, only females were ever considered or accepted into the faith as clergy. It was believed that non-female followers of At’ena could never develop the skills and abilities to read signs. However, with the mantle of At'ena passed to Freyja, the traditions from the Frøsland At’enites began spreading across Jaern. Now, all individuals are considered for the priesthood regardless of gender, but some of the traditionalists members still hold prejudice against non-female followers.

=== Structure and Organization ===

Most of the members of a Convent are **Readers**. They have learned to recognize signs, and keep a close eye on events occurring in the outside world.

A very few are gifted with //The Sight//, a mystical power that allows them to see future events. These **Seers** are secluded at the Convent, and the Readers report their observations to them. When anyone comes seeking advice, the Seers are consulted, for it is believed that At’ena herself supplies these visions of the future.

With the new tradition from Frøsland, a third section of the At’enite temple was founded. After the threat to the Reto’tempo and At’ena herself, the **Gard’okulo**, or the **Keepers of the Eye**, were created. These At’enites are particularly talented Readers who travel the world of Jaern, looking and reporting omens and signs of greater catastrophe. The Gard’okulo are capable of learning magics that are safely guarded by the At’enite temple, capable of powerful divination, manipulation of time, and affecting fate itself. The Gard’okulo usually travel with adventuring parties, the first line of defense against world-ending cataclysms.

Many servants and civilian employees reside at the Convent and are responsible for the daily tasks to maintain the members in their proper lifestyle.

=== Requirements and Duties ===

After the Frøsland tradition came and the Gard’okulo was founded, the requirement of female virginity was dropped entirely, as married women from Frøsland were seen to be able to interpret signs and commune with At’ena with no impediment.

Now the only requirement to enter the priesthood is a demonstration of wit and intuition.

== Apprenticeship ==
At’enites seek out young individuals, quick of wit and of even temperament, to induct into their order. The families of these chosen look upon such an invitation as an omen of good luck and great honor, and thus rarely refuse the Convent’s summons. For the chosen, it could mean a life free of the cares and pains of ordinary life.

Additionally, there are those that apply to become a priest of At'ena, and are assigned an apprenticeship.

From the day they become an apprentice, the prospective At’enite spends their time shadowing and learning from a Reader, who teaches them to recognize signs and omens. Additionally, apprentices are expected to have a good knowledge of history and modern science, taking classes and embarking on studies only rivaled by Tarusian and Vormaxian apprentices. As long as an apprentice remains in good standing with the At'enite Temple and makes suitable progress towards their initiation, their room and board, as well as transportation and livelihood, is entirely provided for.

== Initiation ==
As an apprentice nears completion of their studies, their instructor will decide the time for them to be tested. The instructor sets up a situation and creates false signs that signal a conclusion that they have prearranged. If the young apprentice accepts the events at face value and does not see through the deception, they are considered unworthy of the Convent and must return to their studies. Multiple failures may result in the apprentice being returned to their family, or given the opportunity to work as an attendant or instructor in the temple instead.

If they read the real signs correctly and realize the situation was prearranged, they are accepted into the Convent. The other members host the induction ceremony, and tattoo the All Seeing Eye on their forehead, nape of their neck, or on the backs of their hands. This tattooing is optional, but many believe that having a sign of At'ena on their body will help garner At'ena's attention.

In special circumstances, if the apprentice predicts an outcome other than the prearranged one, and it comes to pass, the Convent recognizes they have **The Sight**. These initiated Seers go through a special induction ceremony, and must learn to navigate the world either blindfolded or permanently blinded.

Sometimes, the elders of the Convent select particularly talented apprentices who are able to read real signs correctly, but are not gifted with The Sight, and conduct a secondary, induction ceremony. These initiates are gifted with a set of personal Augury tools, and brought to the Cloister to begin their Gard’okulo training.

== Duties ==
The members may do as they please, and the civilian employees see to their needs and wishes. The Seer of a Convent is obliged to be present and perform readings as needed for the Convent and chosen outsiders.

The Gard’okulo have additional duties beyond the Readers, and are sent out to travel the world, documenting and reporting signs of any possible world-ending calamity, and to help defend against smaller catastrophes. The **Sentinels** are responsible for the training of Gard’okulo initiates. Senior Gard’okulo can advance to become Sentinels, if they display a comprehensive understanding of the importance of protecting the Reto’tempo, and show a proclivity towards teaching and guiding others.

=== Worship and Practices ===

While the priests do not conduct worship ceremonies, those people who are truly devout feel a need to donate what they can to maintain the priesthood. Many people who primarily worship another deity may also worship At’ena to gain her favor and luck.

People often ask a Reader to interpret the signs surrounding an occurrence or an upcoming event. This is usually accompanied by some sort of donation, or gift to the Temple of At'ena. The Reader interprets the given signs and makes a prediction. The answer the person seeks is most often given as an analogy or parable, leaving the true decision making to the individual.

For very important questions, people visit the Convent and consult the Seer (most Convents have only one Seer). The Seer is generally hidden by a mask, or by more elaborate means. Seers must accept the question and offering asked, or refuse and give the offering back. If the question is accepted, Seers tend to give more direct answers, and possibly even share visions or prophecies to the asker. However, these visions and prophecies are almost always accompanied by the revealing of a harsh consequence should something favorable come to pass, forcing the asker to weigh the odds and make the decision and take the result, good and bad.

===== Jaern - Kratal =====

=== Origins ===

Kratal views At’ena as a Creator Deity, which had existed with Ra, Osiris, and T’or before all other gods and existence. At’ena in this myth was responsible for the creation of time and space, as a canvas for Osiris to separate Land from the Sea, and populate the land with life. Ra then created Light from the Darkness, to support the new life followed by T’or creating Law from Chaos, establishing hierarchies, and structure, and reason to nature. Finally, all four Creators created the first sentient race: Dwarves, and made them stewards of the world, to live within it and shape it to their will. The four creators then traveled away to the Holy Promised Land of Kratal, and from there, the other gods arrived or were created, and the other people of [[settings:torandor|Torandor]] evolved from Osiris’s creatures.

=== Culture ===

Kratal had high restrictions on who could be a member of the At'enite priesthood. The Tetrarchy had enforced that only female dwarves could be priestesses of At'ena and Osiris, and enforced that only male dwarves could be priests of Ra and T'or. They believed that this balance and boundary between the genders mirrored the balance and boundary of genders in their Tetratheon. Once Kratal opened their borders in 2550 SD, outside traditions began to circulate within, and Kratal began accepting all people into the priesthood, regardless of gender and lineage. However, traditionalists in the capital city of Driedheim have been in opposition with this, creating an unfortunate prejudice against some members of the priesthood.

===== Cahyali - The Sublime Veld (Dahabu, Buyuk Vahsi) =====

=== Origins ===

Most of Cahyali believes Seherine (At'ena) is the goddess of foresight, wisdom, and the moons. Ancient Dahabi myth said that she was created by Peregrinus (Ra) and Tenebrus (Rudri) when Cahyali lay still and unmoving, half of it shrouded in dark and the other emblazed with light. Seherine was given the task to travel the sky and place the constellations, planets, and moons upon the firmament, weaving lines and art across the horizon. However, seeing the unmoving world below, she urged her parents to gift movement to Cahyali, so it could turn and see the beauty she had placed in the sky. From that point on, day and night were no longer permanent and unchanging, and time began to flow in the world. It is said that Seherine and Thoth (Tarus) mark the passage of time, so that it moves in a predictable and ordered way, forming the seasons.

=== Culture ===

The elves of Dahabu that migrated to the lands and caverns of Buyuk Vahsi after the fall of the Ancient Dahabi Empire see Seherine as a goddess of travel and fortune. They have no restrictions on who could enter the priesthood, and believe that those with an unquenchable wanderlust and keen eye are meant to be Seherites. Many Seherite temples also function as travel agencies and guilds, where one can find guides to traverse the wilderness, beseech seers for advice and tidings of their journey, and stock up on supplies for survival.

===== Cahyali - The Abundant Expanse (Ruefang, Raikougan, Ulos) =====

=== Origins ===

In Ruefang and the Raikougan Archipelago, as well as some parts of Ulos on Cahyali, Seherine is called Sehe XingNiang 璱河星娘 (Ruefang) or Sekawashin 璱河神 (Raikougan) or Seha Singniang 璱河싱니앙 (Ulos). After the fall of the ancient Dahabi empire, these cultures adapted Seherine's myth into their own. She was believed to be a mortal Dianxia (殿下) or crown princess of the last emperor of the Shuibian dynasty that ruled over what is modern day Ruefang, Raikougan, and Ulos. This crown princess was named Shuibian Seheyun, her name roughly meaning “Bright River of Jade among Clouds.” However, during her time as Dianxia, a court preceptor mage opened a portal to the Ghost Realm (what modern day mages believe could be either the Beneath, Kurago, or some other monstrous plane of existence), triggering an invasion. The Dianxia trained in the ways of divine immortality, and acted as a general and tactician in the fight against the evil forces that spilled into Cahyali, but was eventually defeated and killed in the fall of the Shuibian Dynasty. It is said that when she died, the immortal dragons of Ruefang wept tears of white and green jade that formed the stars and moons in the night sky, and they enshrined Seheyun as an immortal xian, the goddess of war, wisdom, stars, and the moons.

=== Culture ===

The Seherite Temples or Sehe Shenmiao of the southwestern nations are found in two types. Public temples are seats of foresight and prophecy, where the seers and readers of Sehe Xingniang spend their time reading futures and possibilities, and painting scrolls that depict events of auspicious or calamitous nature. These temples can serve as an advance warning system for large-scale dangers, such as a monstrous invasion or the arrival of an insidious villain. Additionally, these temples accept donations in exchange for answering personal questions and auguries, similar to the orthodox temples of Jaern.

The other type of temples are the Private Temples, where some Seherites are trained in the ways of their namesake, Shuibian Seheyun. These Seherites are marked to become warrior-monks on the path of xian, and cultivate their divine powers at the same time as training martial ability. These priests are sent to defeat evil and seal away demons and monsters that threaten the people of the world.

In both types of temples, women have historically been preferred as the ideal initiate, but there are no restrictions on who can or cannot join.

===== Cahyali - The Heartlands (Ley'Ork, Splint, Itlan-Youali) =====

=== Culture ===

In Ley'Ork, worship and practice of any magic is outlawed, including divine. There is no official temple of Seherine in Ley'Ork.

In Splint, they worship a mix of different aspects and beliefs of Seherine, and there is no singular identity and cohesive temple. The most popular interpretations are of Seherine Anandi the Fateweaver and of Seherine the Starweaver. Since there is no central order or organization, there are no restrictions on who may become a Seherite priest.

In Itlan-Youali, as well as some parts of Splint occupied predominantly by Zinaparo natives, people worship the deity of [[gods:tlayahucoatl|Tlayahucoatl]], god of cycles. In one sense, Tlayahucoatl is a singular aspect of multiple deities at once, but this belief is deemed heretical by the Tonatiu. The Tlayahucoatl Mysteries state that Tlayahucoatl is one being and indivisible into constituent parts. Priests of Tlayahucoatl usually select one or more domains to practice and preside over. Those that concern themselves with the domain of Fate resemble Seherites of other regions and cultures.

===== Cahyali - The Pale Reach (Nahrūl, Pthora) =====

=== Culture ===

Historically, worship of any god in northern Pthora was outlawed. However, recently the ban has been lifted by the Pthoran Triumvirate. As of now worship is still uncommon and few to no temples have been established. Nahrūl does not outlaw divine worship, but most Nahrūli devote themselves to worship of [[gods:ra|Peregrinus]] and Seherites are uncommon.

In southern Pthora, where the reach of the Pthoran government wanes to nothing, the Johtalit indigenous people do practice Seherite worship, in a way. They have no name for Seherine, and call upon her by invoking “spirits of the mind, stars, and wind”. Seers of the Johtalit, or shamans, fulfill multiple duties along with divining the future and reading the threads of fate. They may also be healers, teachers, and community leaders. Prospective shamans are raised from a young age to fulfill this position, and engage in a long period of apprenticeship with a tribe's existing shaman.

On rare occasions, a shaman or shamanic apprentice may be sent out from the tribe on a mission when they divine some great change or calamity for the tribe. The nature of this mission and the journey's distance varies, but many Johtalit seers become adventurers as they seek to fulfill this mission for the future of their tribe.

=== Structure and Organization ===

In the many scattered, often nomadic tribes of southern Pthora's Johtalit, a shaman, an indigenous Seherite, acts as a community leader. They are often just as influential as the tribal chief. The shaman does not necessarily trace their roots back to a high place within the tribe. When it comes time to choose a new shaman apprentice, the old one performs a ritual to see the future and divine which child within the tribe is best suited for the role of the next shaman.

From then on, the child enters into an apprenticeship, training in duties from reading the future to seeing hidden signs in the present. Duties understood as Seherite are not all they do; a Johtalit shaman usually also fulfills healing duties common to Asetites and teaching roles often assigned to Vormaxians.

===== Holidays =====

Once every ten years, when the calendar is adjusted by adding three days between the months of Pim and Gorn, the followers of At’ena celebrate the **Festival of the Foretelling**. The holiday allows the seers to predict things to come for the next ten years, and allows the clergy and followers to release their fears and forebodings.

On the first day, all meditate, seeking divine inspiration and comfort. On the second day a large feast is held. At the height of the feast, the local seer is led out and tells of future events in the upcoming ten years. The third day the followers and clergy are encouraged to seek out companions and celebrate life.

Children conceived or born on this holiday are considered a gift from At’ena.

===== Relationship with Other Priesthoods =====

Many At’enites believe that only At’ena has complete knowledge, so her priests may regard other deities as reflections or aspects of At’ena, and as such, they may believe that each contain some aspect or facet of At’ena’s wisdom. Some believe that Tarus and Vormaxia are aspects of At'ena concerned with the Past and Present, respectively. At’enites have cordial relationships with Vormaxian Libraries and Research Centers, and sometimes work in tandem with them to more easily see and find signs. Tarusian Archives are also sometimes utilized to properly document and decipher prophecies.