The Shemsu-Sedjemhet: Order of Wind and Veil

1. The Veiled Ones (High Priesthood): Title: "Arisekhet" (Singular: Aris) – "Those Who Hear the Wind" Role: The spiritual leaders of the order, responsible for interpreting the Mirage Codex, presiding over major funerary rites, and communicating with the ancestral spirits. Interpret prophecies, banish ghosts Selection: Chosen by divination—a dying Aris whispers three names to the wind, and the one whose tears turn to golden sand first inherits the title. Distinctions: Wear seven-layered veils, each inscribed with a sacred hymn. They carry the Mourner’s Blade, used only to sever malignant ghosts from the living.   2. The Khet-Ibri: The Gilded Oracles (From "Khet" – Sacred Light / "Ibri" – Those Who Cross Over) Sacred Role: Living Reliquaries of Sharadiya’s power, acting as her voice in the mortal world. Elite mystics who bridge the living, the dead, and the divine. Initiation: To join the Khet-Ibri, you must be a twin, mutated or god scarred and you must pass two trials: The Test of the Veil – Their veil moves without wind, proving Sharadiya’s breath touches them. The Sand Baptism – Buried alive in a dune for a day and night, breathing through a golden reed. Abilities & Sacred Duties: Golden Prophecies – Their dreams are recorded by scribes as living scripture. Spirit Tongues – Can speak the language of the dead, allowing ghosts to borrow their voice. The Last Embrace – Only they can touch the unmourned dead without risk of possession. Distinctive Traits: Attire: Special layered veils . Gold-dusted fingertips. Taboos: Never cut their hair (each strand is a "thread to the divine"). Never refuse a question from a dying person.   3. The Sand-Speakers (Mid-Rank Priests): Title: "Kheru" – "Voices of the Dunes" Role: Conduct daily rituals, oversee birthing ceremonies, and maintain the salt-barriers that protect settlements from undead. Can commune with ancestors. Birth/death rites, ward necromancy Duties: Train novices in ancestral communion. Record new deaths in the Mirage Codex. Lead the Wandering Tribute for common folk. Distinctions: Tattoos of red hands on their wrists, within them are certain scars to show how many spirits they’ve laid to rest. Carry scarab amulets that glow when necromancy is near.   4. The Whispering Novices (Acolytes): Title: "Sahu" – "Those Who Walk Between" Role: Assist in rituals, gather the dead, and learn the language of the wind. Sometimes are nomadic with tribes Distinctions: Wear unadorned gray veils until they hear their first spirit. Carry a vial of their own blood—used to write their priestly name on desert waystone shrines upon promotion to allow the ancestors to know that they can commune with them.   5. The Unseen (Members who are not a priestly class): Title: "Kheperu" – "The Returned" Role: People with Mutations, The God-scarred, or former outcasts who have been sanctified by the order. They serve as: Gravekeepers for taboo burials (criminals, stillborn, the unmourned). Distinctions: Golden handprint branded on their brow.   Promotion & Demotion Advancement: Requires hearing a spirit’s true name in the wind and performing a successful Wandering Tribute. Fall from Grace: Veils are stripped if they desicrate a body (denying the wind its due). Exiled if they lie about a prophecy.

The Desert Remembers – The sands hold the voices of the dead; to forget them is to dishonor Sharadiya.   The Wind Claims All – The dead must be returned to the open sky; burial is a prison for the soul.   Mutation is Sacred – Those born touched by Sharadiya (God-scarred, extra limbs) are living blessings.   Speak the Unspoken – Names of the forgotten dead must be spoken aloud, lest they fade forever.   The Veil Never Lies – If it moves without wind, Sharadiya is near.   Feed the Unseen – Ancestors without mourners must still be given voice and offering.   Scars are Stories – Every mark on flesh is a tale of survival—never shame them.   First Breath, Last Whisper – A child’s first cry is Sharadiya’s laughter; their death rattle, her sigh.   Four Arms Embrace All – Sharadiya’s power is duality: twin souls, four limbs, endless mercy and might.   Sand and Blood Are One – The desert births and buries; life and death are the same storm.

1. Community Worship (Public Rites): For the living, the dead, and the yet-to-be-born.   A. Monthly Rites (Led by Kheru Priests) "The Calling of Names": On the new moon, the community gathers at a wind-carved altar. The Kheru unrolls a scroll of the recently deceased, and each name is spoken into a clay jar, then shattered—releasing the soul to the wind. Participants: Bring a handful of sand from their home to mix into the clay jar, symbolizing unity.   "The First Blessing of the Sand" (Birth Blessing): Within three days of birth, a Kheru priest rubs the infant’s brow with sand mixed with the mother’s blood. The child’s name is spoken to the wind and is blessed. If the desert echoes it back, the child is marked as a rebirth of an ancestor and will be dressed in special clothing.   B. Annual Rites (Led by Arisekhet High Priests) "The Feast of the Ancestors": Held when the Hearthstone Moon is fullest, families bring cloth strips inscribed with ancestral messages. The Arisekhet weaves them into a massive ribbons, hung between two pillars to "catch" wandering spirits. Taboo: No one may cut the threads—doing so severs a soul’s connection to the living for 50 years.   "The Wandering Tribute" (Funeral Ceremony): The deceased is laid on a woven reed bier and carried into the dunes where a A dakhma (Persian: دخمه), also known as a Tower of Silence is built. The Kheru chant until the body is placed on the tower, where it is left to the elements and vultures or wind scatter the body—a sign the desert has accepted them. If the body remains untouched after three days, the family must undergo a purification rite.   2. Personal Worship (Daily Devotions): For individuals, families, and lone wanderers.   A. Household Shrines Every home keeps a "Wind Nook"—a small alcove with: A clay bowl of sand (refreshed weekly). A bone whistle to call ancestors. A lock of hair from each family member (replaced yearly). Daily Practice: At dawn, a pinch of sand is tossed into the wind while murmuring: "To those who walked before, guide those who walk now."   B. Ancestor Offerings: For the first 5 years on the anniversary of a death, the family prepares: A meal of honey, salt, and dates (left on the roof for spirits). A story told aloud—something the deceased loved. If the food is gone by morning, the ancestor has left a special blessing for the year. If untouched, a Kheru must perform a cleansing.   C. Two-souls (Twins), Mutations & God-Scarred Veneration Those touched by Sharadiya’s gifts (extra limbs, golden eyes, etc.) are seen as living shrines. They are given first choice of food at gatherings. Strangers may ask to touch their scars for blessings. At age 12, if they choose they undergo the "The Test of the Veil." If their vail moves without wind, they may join the an elite group within the priesthood known as The Gilded Oracles, otherwise they can choose to be a part of the Unseen or regular priesthood.   3. Secret Worship (Hidden Rites): For the priesthood alone.   A. The Mirage Codex Ritual: Only the Arisekhet may read the Codex, and only at dusk, using: A glass dagger to turn pages. A blindfold woven from grave-shrouds to "see beyond the living." The words fade by dawn—any prophecy unspoken is lost forever.   B. The Forgotten Feast: The Kheperu (mutant priests) host a meal for ghosts no one mourns. They leave milk in a cracked bowl and burn hair for fragrance. If a shadow lingers after the feast, the spirit has accepted the offering.   How Outsiders Participate Faizum Citizens: May leave offerings at waystones but cannot join rites. Amjadian Nomads: Give tribal talismans to the wind, asking for safe travel. God-Scarred Refugees: Bring misfortune coins to the Kheperu as payment for sanctuary.   Key Rituals by Rank Arisekhet – "The Weeping Judgment" (Decide if a Haunting ghost should be freed or bound). Kheru – "The First Blessing of the Sand" (Check for mutations or markings and bless newborns). Sahu – "The Grave’s Perception" (Spend certain nights among the dead). Kheperu – "The Feast of the Marked" (Blessing and feast presented to those who are marked or twins).