The Seven Houses of Rest
The first thing any person knows about the Shovani nation is that it is ruled by their god, Leviathan, a hydra the size of a mountain which sits in the center of their capitol city. Though Leviathan rarely speaks anymore, it's no exaggeration to say that the entirety of the lizardfolk nation's culture and traditions revolve literally or symbolically around their resident deity. From the standard Shovani greeting "In Shadow" (short for, may you always dwell in Leviathan's noble shadow) to the affiliation of each of the nation's castes with one of Leviathan's heads to the organization of the nation's military and ruling council.
It should be no surprise then that the capital features several buildings devoted exclusively to the enormous creature, including museums, worship halls and schools dedicated to its seven aspects. Surprisingly little is said, however, about the most direct interaction Leviathan's priesthood undertakes with the great lizard, for while Leviathan does not seem to eat or drink, it does need sleep, and when it is time to rest, each of the seven heads of the deity has their own "House of Rest" in the city.
Each house is a cathedral to some aspect of Shovani society and philosophy, made distinct by the fact that a little more than half of each building is simply a large opening where the creature can insert its head to rest. Some contain what are in essence enormous pillows, vast cloth bags stuffed with the feathers of the giant birds that populate the northern hills above the city. Elegantly constructed and as securely guarded as some fortresses, the seven houses are scattered through the city, available whenever the great beast wishes to lay down one of its heads. Despite their obvious designation as sacred spaces, however, almost no mention of the houses exists in either the religious literature or social consciousness of the Shovani people, with less than half even aware the buildings are collectively known as the "Houses of Rest" at all.
Perhaps it is a concern for security that keeps these houses from common discussion, though what could possibly harm Leviathan is difficult to imagine. Perhaps it is to protect the most elite of its clergy, who pray, meditate and commune near Leviathan's sleeping heads in the hopes of catching the stray thoughts of their mighty ruler and god.
For reasons not known to the public, three of Leviathan's seven heads are asleep at any given time. Even in the most dire of circumstances there are always at least three heads slumbering. When a rival nation's army provoked Leviathan into releasing a blast of destructive energy so powerful that it carved a canyon into the surrounding steppe, the three heads at rest showed no signs of disturbing themselves from the great cathedrals in which they reposed.
Which begs the question: is Leviathan just lazy? Is it tied so deeply to the realm of dreams that it can only manage to be partially awake at any given time? Do some of the heads not get along, and prefer to nap through the vigil of their less favored counterparts?
Or, perhaps, is even the ruling and guardianship of the national capitol somehow secondary to some greater, more mysterious task that the creature can pursue only from beyond the doors of sleep? Can even the city it rules ever fathom the dreams of a living god?
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