Asheindae

***Asheindae*** are the disciples and acolytes of the Order of Scripts. The goal of most *asheindae* is to become *majuyue* when they have completed their training, something that often takes decades to achieve.

## The Order of Scripts

All Order of Scripts shrines are staffed by a total of twelve *asheindae* and a single (rarely, two) *majuyue*. The *asheindae* play a vital role within these shrines, as they are the primary contact between the shrine and the people in the communities around them.

*Asheindae* are considered devotees to the gods. While most shrines are dedicated to a certain god, many are not. *Asheindae* must be able to serve all of the gods, as well as the people, in order to be successful.

## Training

All *asheindae* follow a similar training protocol. Their progress is measured in a series of beads and necklaces comprising 144 beads each. The beads are called *shiveren*, while the necklaces are called *hante*. They are tasked by the *majuyue* of their shrine to complete various tasks that perform a service to the shrine, the gods, or the surrounding community. When a task is completed, they earn a bead. In order to complete their training, they will have to complete nearly 21,000 tasks.

Much like the *shiveren* beads themselves, the training tasks are divided by their guiding principle. The four principles are life, death, justice, and darkness.

The ideas of life and death are converse to what many cultures might expect. For a death-related training task, an *asheindae* might be asked to prepare an herbal remedy to heal an illness, or see to an expecting mother. They are, in effect, handling death by both addressing the possibility (the ill patient might die, for example) and overcoming it.

There are no shortcuts through training, and many *asheindae* retire before completing their full regimen of tasks.

## Ascension to *Majuyue*

Simply completing training and receiving the full muster of *shiveren* beads is not enough to automatically guarantee a promotion. However, it does qualify an *asheindae* for consideration if they wish to move into the role of majuyue. Promotion may become a possibility when a position becomes available, or they may be given the opportunity to act as a secondary *majuyue* for a shrine if it is particularly busy. Because the number of *majuyue* is far smaller than that of asheindae, openings are rare and an *asheindae* must be willing to travel extensively if they hope to find a position.

## Retirement

For many *asheindae*, their career ends long before the completion of their tasks. Retirement is the most common cause for someone to leave the Order.

Former *asheindae* may choose to leave the position behind for a number of reasons, but family is the primary motivator. Many asheindae became involved with the Order of Scripts as young girls. When they reach the sovereign marriage age, they frequently leave to settle down and have a family of their own. Others may retire to provide care for a loved one, or to assist a relative in rebuilding a homestead.

Retirement is considered a natural part of an *asheindae*'s life, rather than being viewed as quitting. Former asheindae are held in great respect by most *miranen*. They also traditionally retain part of the asheindae uniform, as they typically continue wearing both *benaha* and a portion of their *hante.* Some former asheindae elect to only continue wearing the *han*, which are the necklaces dedicated to the god Shiven, due to a deep-seated belief that removing them would cause their death.