Veika (vey-kah)

Veikas (singular: Veika) are the only remaining "children" of Ako, otherwise known as the first beings that it has ever made. Unlike the Emberi, they do not die after a hundred years, and their power has allowed most of them to survive through difficult times. Therefore, they are amongst the very few on Domhan who do not have a Regret. However, just because they do not have a Regret does not make them flawless; as a matter of fact, some would say it makes them MORE flawed. Without the Regret to drive their lives forward, and with immortality and nigh-infinite power at their fingertips, the Veikas must find ways to occupy themselves.
The Veikas are the leaders of the different countries of Domhan (with one exception). They are extraordinarily powerful, as they were made when Ako's power was still at its paroxysm. Therefore, none dare contest their might. Well, almost none - Aramach dares to defy them, as he knows full well that the Veikas are capable of dying, as has been proven in history many times.
Though people know that the Veikas are capable of dying, nobody truly knows what happens to their souls. Because they were created by Ako, most suppose that they can reincarnate, as well. Any person reincarnated or born with a Veika's soul would likely inherit a part of their power - and, more than likely, a part of their personality as well. Unsurprisingly, the Veikas are not very willing to entertain this subject.
Veikas are as physically and mentally varied as the Emberi, though most of them have wings or appendages that allow them to fly. They are supernaturally powerful, and wield magical weapons. As a group, these weapons are called Ako's Gifts.
On very rare occasions, Veikas grant Emberi that have earned their favor a fraction of their power. These people are known as the Roglaw.

The Extent of a Veika's Power

When Ako was still on Domhan, all knew that it was omnipotent and omniscient; nothing could happen on Domhan without its knowing, and it could be anywhere at a moment's notice or manipulate the fabric of reality at its whim. Unfortunately for the Veikas, they are not as powerful as their creator was. Of course, they still possess god-like powers, but their omniscience is limited, and only relates to the domains they are concerned with.
Let us take the example of Trokair, the god of law. Countless crimes take place every day on Domhan, even just in the The Junction, and Trokair is informed of each and every one of them - like a mental "ping" that they receive. Luckily, over time, the Veikas have learned to tune this ability, so as to not be driven mad over time; so greater affronts or deeds "ping" stronger in their minds. For example, if a thief stole a banana from a market stand, Trokair would be informed that such a crime took place, but it is so minor that he would barely be aware of it, and likely forget it immediately. But if a master thief stole one of the Gifts from another Veika, the sensation would be like a very powerful headache, and as impossible to ignore.
From that point on, the "range" of a Veika's wrath (or blessing) is unlimited; they only need to be aware of it to act upon it. Of course, they still need to choose to do so, and a Veika's energy is not infinite, as Nyoka was quick to find out. Therefore, Veikas are very careful to smite or bless only the truly deserving, and otherwise inform their devout worshippers of anything that they choose not to take care of personally. The Emberi are keenly aware of these limitations, and some even exploit them to get away with great misdeeds.
However, they are also aware that if a Veika can see you, then they can see the very quality of your soul, including all of your past misdeeds - including those from past lives. Therefore, many find a meeting with a Veika to be undesirable, even if they think their soul to be of a great quality.