Cradle Ash

The protection of Elian

They come in the night, dear girl, quick as you like. You won't hear their footsteps or the creaking of your door - they are as silent as a shadow. You won't even hear the babe cry. Bewitch them, they do, to make them sleep before they spirit them away.

— A woman to her pregnant granddaughter

In the more remote villages in the forests and plains of Serukis, fear of the Koushan Mai is more intense than it is in more populated areas. The stories of child snatching, human sacrifice, and demonic rituals seem more plausible in the wilds. As such, there are numerous superstitions practiced in these areas that are meant to protect from these perceived threats.
The most common and widespread of these is the use of cradle ash.

Superstition

According to rumours, the first week after a child is born is the most dangerous and the most likely time for them to be snatched by the Koushan Mai.
To prevent this, the placenta - or afterbirth - is burned along with various herbs and flowers. The selection of plants varies from place to place, with each village having a combination they believe is the best for deterring would-be child snatchers. Common choices, however, include Elian's breath or King's grace. As the fire burns, various prayers are offered up to Elian, the Lord of Fire, asking for him to bring his protection to the child.
The resulting ash is then spread on the bottom of the child's cradle every night for the first seven days of its life.

by susannp4

Fact or Fiction?

The Koushan Mai do not and have not ever snatched children from the cradle. It is, in fact, a rumour trotted out in order to justify the ill-treatment of them by the Seruic majority.
The practice of cradle ash, though it brings some small measure of comfort to the parents, does not actually provide any form of protection. It does, however, often cause respiratory issues in the young baby.