Mheja

❝ We must cleanse. To be sure it does not happen again, my kin, we must cleanse. Gaze into Her mirror and be drowned clean. For the good of our people, let it all drown. ❞

— Ketah, Matron of Mheja

## Mheja

### Overview

The **Mheja** are an unusual branch of the Bloodmoon. In both appearance and involvement, they prefer to be out of sight and hidden deep within their own territory. Their isolationist tendency commonly have them revered as "**Forest's Eye**". The family is bound by their duties — to a hyper-obsessive extent — to upkeep temples tributed to Guardians, as well as the spirits themselves. Beyond this, most do not venture far across Silk Branch River, much less allow visitors, clan or otherwise, to cross.

### History

   Sekya Mheja (Sek- tree. -ya Associated with the full moon.), consorted to the Wolf Guardian, was the first to take the mantle of protector. She created a family with the purpose of catering to every Guardian's needs. Through daily offerings, ritual, and temple upkeeping, the territories across Thornsnarl maintained balance. Often, Sekya would be present in temples to assist the families and their totems communicate. It was not uncommon to find a Mheja harmoniously involved with the going-ons of rituals and festivities.

The murder and butchering of Qihja, the Black Stag and the internal conflict to follow, the land suffered severe imbalance and corruption that overwhelmed the family. Amongst the chaos, the temple dedicated to the Wolf was thrown to the worst of the corruption in the woods of Okohwe territory. Sekya, desperate to save her beloved, ventured with priestesses and huntresses in Okohwe in an attempt to rescue the Guardian. None were heard from or seen again.

Ketah Mheja, eldest daughter of Sekya, now sits as Family leader. Her abrupt leadership during her mourning enabled her to act out of resentment. She erected a river to divide her Mheja from the ongoing conflict within Bloodmoon, warding trespassers with sentient waters that thrash violently if crossed; coining it the name "**The Silk Branch River**", referring to common sight of torn clothing clinging to the river-side banks. In seclusion, Matron Ketah enforced the family to focus on their duties — no longer will the Guardian be left out of sight. They will be followed, guarded, watched, and protected for every second of the day. While it is mere due-diligence for them, to the others it is strangulation and enslavement.

### *Mia-Em; "New Soul"*

While a Guardian Spirit is immortal, its vessel is not. For generations, the Mheja has been in charge of Mia-Em (Me . ah - Ah . Em), a Passover ritual that selects a successor to a Guardian's vessel. A Spoken must demonstrate values and flaws that align with their birth totem to be selected as Candidate. If chosen, the Canidate will have the choice to share souls with the Totem, until death completes the binding ritual. Alternatively, the Candidate can forgo '**Halving**' and become one with the spirit right away. The Spirit will merge into the Vessel's body and transform into the totem animal, physical and whole, and be able to walk among Bloodmoon. ((*FFXIV Lore, similar to how being from other stars must be entrapped inside a vessel in order to walk freely on the Source.*))Because of how long a Guardian's vessel can live, this ritual is hardly common. It occurs, at the least, once every thirteen years.

#### *Gheth-Va; "Cleansing"*

There are temples throughout Thornsnarl that require housekeeping. While families within their respective territories can tend to their own temples as they please, the Mheja will be seen entering temples to cleanse the space of corruption, ere it becomes swallowed as the Wolves' temple did. This process can take an hour, a day, a week, or even months. True to their nature, the Mheja will isolate themselves within these temples until their duty is complete.

> « *There is no reasoning with Ketah. What does she know? She neither cares for the spirits' happiness, nor her family's. She has lost her way and is guiding Mheja to follow.* »
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> — Short-tempered Stationed Temple-hand
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## The People

### Appearance

Direct descendants of Sekya are gifted her deep brown complexation and lengthy hair that range from chestnut-brown to shock-white colors. Outside of the main pool of characteristics, the Mheja vary in height, weight, eye-color, tail length, and ear shape. It is universal that they identify themselves with aetheric tattoos on their forehead, around their eyes, or on their necks that can also range in colors.

Braids, twists, dreadlocks, cornrows and beads are favored in decorating loose and textured curls. It is common to see beautiful feathers and custom braid clasps looped in male or female hair.

Without question, they are gifted with the beauty Sekya was primarily known for. Full lips, almond shaped eyes, paired with an often warm, silk accident. Despite this, they do roam outside their territory without decorative veils to cover their face. Whether hung above their nose, or an entire mask to obscure their face. This is to symbolize separation from physical validation, and to practice reservation that binds them to their duty alone. Women and men may choose to be without mask, if it is their choice. Those who wish to honor tradition but be free from veils may use a more sheer covering that reveals their face.

### Ranks

Sekya Mheja - Previous Matron (deceased)

Ketah Mheja - Active Matron (Active)

Arah'to Mheja - Master and Trainer of Children of Oak; Chosen of Ketah (Active)

Fhehu Mheja - Voice of Her Lady; Diplomat for Mheja Family (Active)

Tsuri Mheja - Member of Children of Oak; Clansmember (Active)