Sound Shephert

Records of the wandering academic Fiolin Sehneir. Fifth entry in his series on the Echalux, chapter 2.

Prelude

On my mission to explore, document and understand the Echalux and their culture I came across a particular striking difference between our species. The Sound Shepherd is a profession unique to Echalux culture and easily misunderstood. I myself fell into that trap during my first 3 years among them, believing the Sound Shepherd to be akin to a priest from my own culture.

Far from it.... although it hurts my academic pride to admit it, I was blinded by false assumptions. Causing me to stray in the dark for almost three years before realising my blatant mistake.

While it is true that their job also contains, priest like functions like caring for their temples and tending to the community that doesn't even scratch the surface. Calling it a job itself is an insult to the weight they carry around.

About the Echalux

To understand the Sound Shepherts role I first have to tell you a bit about the Echalux themselves, more importantly about the lands they live in. Their continent is devoid of sound, they are but a fleeting moment. No leaves can be heard dancing in the wind nor roaring of thunder and lightning. It is silent. The Echalux have developed a way of communicating through light but they never lost their ability to speak. A Luthen of several eras ago helped in the construction of their temples, they catch sound and trap them inside.

The rarity of noise makes it sacred for the Echalux, words are not meant to be wasted, thus their apprehension towards other species from different continents. They refer from wasting their temples for chattering and reserve it for the last dying words of their tribesmen. The temples are graveyards burying not bones and corpses but the whispers, prayers and knowledge of their ancestors.

Cultural significance

They are the heart of their tribes, beloved and cared for by everyone. They do not have to worry about food or shelter, it is all provided by the clan. But the appreciation they receive is not that among equals and resembles more the affection and dependence of mortals to a spirit guardian or something immortal. The Chaperone are as removed from their midst as one can be and yet deeply entangled with the tribes well being.

Despite their significant role among the community they never inherit a leading position. The Shepherd is trusted by anyone and a leaders position would only harm this notion. For it is not on the Shepherd to pass judgement on the living nor the dead, they are observers and a pillar for the tribe to lean on.

The Shepherds duty

Some say one gets used to death, nothing but a lie. I remember my first time assisting a clansmen with their passing words and witnessing their death. I wept for days and I continued to weep for every one that followed even now that my time has come, I weep. This will be your last and most important lesson.

— The last words of a Shepherd to their student

Although the Echalux do not have large cathedral, their temples are of a different beauty. Admits these silenced lands they provide an oasis of sounds, the whispers and echoes of past lives. Their knowledge left for the next generations. The Shepherds maintain the temples and make sure the sounds remains echoing for as long as possible before fading, often lasting for centuries. However they also console the grieving, weeping with them and mediate between arguments, but never passing judgement. It is just as much their duty to prepare the old and sick for their deaths, helping them to select their parting words as well as learning the ins and outs of every tribe member. For it is their duty to usher the last words of those who were taken unexpected and too early. The Sound Shepherds carry the legacy of those who passed and assist everyone during the last moments, making sure the dying words resound clearly and strongly.

However helping recording the parting sounds is only part of their main task. They listen in to the echoing wisdoms and recount them for the living whenever the need arises to remind them.

Training

A new Shepherd is borne into their role, scouted by the presiding Sound Shepherd. Their astonishing perception aiding them in recognising the potential of the new born. Thus from birth on they are trained and parented by the Shepherd. The role of mentor and mentee continues until the mentoring Shepherd dies, his death marking the transfer of the duty.