Cult of the Soulspeakers
Mythology & Lore
After Mea'hana created the first peoples, they thrived for many years in the prime of life and death was unknown to them. A young kenku, Na'huane, lived in the wilderness with his brothers and sisters. He would often hike far into the forest, bringing back wild berries and meat for his family to eat. One day, Na'huane ventured farther into the woods than ever before, passing deep into the roots of the mountains. He sighted a black deer, fat and with a magnificent pelt. Ah, thought Na'huane, this deer will feed my family for many weeks. He pursued the black deer for days but lost sight of it in the shadows of the mountain. Disappointed and weary, Na'huane decided to return home empty-handed. He stopped for a drink by a cold mountain stream when something reflected the sun into his eyes. Curious, he picked up the item. It shone in the sun, reflecting Mea'hana's light in gold. I will take this trinket back to my family, Na'huane thought, so I will not be empty-handed.
When he returned home, his siblings rejoiced in his presence. He gifted them the shining metal and his siblings were amazed at its brilliance. Na'huane's youngest brother, Ho'opuni, looked at the trinket and was filled with greed. Where did you get it? he asked his brother. In the mountains, Na'huane replied, as I followed the trail of a great black deer. Ho'opuni begged his brother to take him to the river, and Na'huane agreed, happy to see his gift so beloved by his brother. The next day, the two set out again for the mountain stream, though it took many more days to reach it for Ho'opuni was small and tired easily. At last, they reached the stream. Ho'opuni searched and searched for the metal that shone with Mea'hana's light, but he could not find any.
After three days, he grew frustrated and argued with Na'huane who counseled him to return home. Seeing his brother ignore his advice, Na'huane reluctantly joined the search, believing that once Ho'opuni had found the metal, he would come home. Another day passed. Na'huane was resting by the stream after many hours spent searching when a golden glimmer caught his eye. He picked it up. At last! he thought, now Ho'opuni has what he wanted and we can go home. Na'huane walked back to his brother, ready to share the good news. When he arrived at the campsite, he found his youngest brother staring silently at the metal Na'huane had first given him. That is a strange thing to be doing, Nahuane thought, unsettled by the gleam in Ho'opuni's eyes. I will keep this metal for myself until we get home. I do not want Ho'opuni to stay here forever.
Did you find anything? Ho'opuni asked. No, his brother replied, there is nothing here. But Na'huane was not a good liar and Ho'opuni did not believe him. Liar! he cried, you found more! Give it to me! He sprang at Na'huane, who fled from the younger into the woods. Please, he prayed to Mea'hana as he ran, take this terrible anger away from my brother! But Mea'hana had gifted the races with freedom and could not interfere. Ho'opuni chased him, anger and greed lending his small body the speed of an eagle. He caught Na'huane, ripping the metal from his brother's hands. Unbalanced, Na'huane fell and lay still. Ho'opuni did not notice, so entranced with the shine of the metal. Only when the sun had set and the light had gone out from the metal did he awaken from his trance. Na'huane still lay where he had fallen, and Ho'opuni could not rouse him. I have killed my brother! Ho'opuni wailed. He is dead!
Watching the scene in great grief, Mea'hana gathered up the spirit of Na'huane. My child, She said, in return for your devotion to your family, I will grant you a choice. You may go back to the living in exhange for your brother's spirit, or you may stay by my side. Na'huane gazed down at his brother's weeping figure. I will stay with you, Life Giver, he replied, though I ask one thing of you. Let me meet my brother again, one last time. Mea'hana thought for many seasons and came to her decision. You will meet your brother again, She said, but only after his death, for I cannot let such greed go unpunished.
And thus did Death come to the races of Aquevaia. Na'huane became the Soul Guide at Mea'hana's side, easing the passage from Life to Death for all the people's spirits. That is how he saw Ho'opuni again for the last time, as he guided his brother's spirit to the unknown no living thing has or will ever see.
Ethics
When Na'huane appoints his chosen ones, he asks only one thing in return: to respect the wishes of the dead. Therefore, it is an act of betrayal to keep a spirit on the living plane for longer than they desire or to summon them forcefully against their will. Those who forsake these teachings are cast from the Cult and named Voiceless; their curse is to wander the world for the rest of their days, never able to speak to any living thing.
Priesthood
Clerics of Na'huane are chosen by the Soul Guide, either when they witness the death of another living thing and see a vision of Na'huane's raven wings, or when they themselves are granted the right to return to the living after a near-death experience. As chosen ones, the clerics operate independently among the people, though they are easily recognizable by their black cloaks and raven feather headbands. All the clerics of Na'huane are equal in standing to each other and there is no organized hierarchy of clerics.
Granted Divine Powers
As worshipers of the Soul Guide, the faithful are granted the ability to converse with the spirits of the recently dead for a short time. They are also able to see spirits that linger on the earth, and, in rare cases with Na'huane's express blessing, can summon the spirits of those who have already made the journey to Death.
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