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When someone passes on, they can look forward to either having a restful, blissful existence, or they can be selected (or choose) to participate in three groups. This does not bind most, but some are chosen to be one or another while others have a choice. It is not a punishment in any way, but rather one that is rewarding and uplifting to the being or their charge. Without them, things would not go well for the living. These spirits are often referred to as legend, or myth, each species having their own ideas. Some species are more in tune with the Sahren, while others are completely ignorant of it. The Sahren is made up of the Ninjetti, the Saraphi and the Morashai; each with their own tasks and jobs to do.
Structure:
The structure of the Sahren at first look would appear to be loosely held, a sort of old style way of running things. Elders are greatly respected and often have the highest sway in things. An elder is determined on age rather than the number of charges they have had. From this, a council heads the main body of the Sahren. Two ‘representatives’ are appointed from each branch to be on a main council. Within the council, plans and problems are discussed that would affect the whole Sahren and decisions are made. Major decisions are brought to The One, though no one has ever spoken to this being. This being is the one in charge of everything and is the one who is responsible for actions taken and assignments. Each of the representatives have their own normal tasks as does every other being in the Sahren, but they have their duties to the council on top of them. For example, both the Ninjetti representatives have charges. Netrana is the more known of the two having Cougar as her charge. Heskal, a Ninjetti to a lesser-known being is her peer. Both are two of the oldest of the Ninjetti and have seen quite a few things in their times. The One appoints who becomes a council member, though a candidate is allowed to back out if he or she so chooses to.
The One:
Who or what this being is, no one knows. No one has spoken directly to them or has directly heard their voice. It is omnipotent and all-powerful, knowing all things that have been, is and will be. Is the one who makes the major decisions and brings to the attention of the council or one of the three branches directly depending on the situation. The information is said to just come to you, like a thought out of the blue. Some living species claim to have had this happen to them. This could be a decision or an idea that they never thought that they could ever come up with. There is nothing disproving this, and probably isn’t entirely unheard of. However, more often than not it communicates to the Ninjetti, Morashai, and the Saraphi rather than the charges themselves.
How they came to be:
Unlike the other three branches, Ninjetti are not picked from volunteers, but are more often appointed (sometimes even when they do not want to). They are chosen by The One for their capabilities and skill: their ability to handle a charge to the extent that would be needed. Matching is always done with care by The One, and will always be a perfect match (regardless of the opinion otherwise by the Ninjetti pair). The charge always has characteristics of that animal and more often than not, its their favorite animal (though sometimes this isn’t the case. It may be an animal you never thought you could relate too). However, since a Ninjetti was once living, their personality will be variable from creature to creature.
When a being dies, they are given a choice (those not designated to be Ninjetti). They can choose a blissful, carefree afterlife or they can become a Morashai or Saraphi. There are no species restrictions as any can be any of the three. Those that do well are rewarded with leave (breaks), more tasks, or ‘retirement’ depending on their wish. Of course, there is always shifting of tasks to incorporate those less skilled if they so choose to participate in the Sahren. No creature would be given a task they could not handle, no matter how hard it may seem to them.
Ninjetti, the “Spirit Animals”:
Your soul as some would say. They are connected with you and act as your confident and guide. They often appear as a transparent image of that animal either outside of you or in dream within your mind. The animal themselves chose their methods of appearance. Being spirits, they have no solid form and therefore cannot appear as one. With no solid form, physical harm is impossible as are anything else physical. You cannot touch them if they so chose. Some SA’s will steady their form enough to actually ‘touch’ you, but if you were to try to do something, your hand would go through them. The structure for guiding their charge is left up to them. There is a little bit of training and instruction for a new SA before they are given a charge, but its up to them to do what they feel is right. Experience has always been seen as the best teacher. Personalities are as varied as any other species, but often they compliment their charges’. Ages also vary with some SA’s being hundreds of thousands of years old. Many don’t remember exactly how old they were while some had so many charges they cannot even begin to count them all. Always a SA will remember something about each of their charges, a more personal relationship, the more they will remember. The number of charges doesn’t always give a higher ‘ranking’. Heskal has had many over his long existence while Netrana had only two.
A SA will be let known ahead of time whether or not their charge is ‘special’. A special charge is one who fulfils a legend, or will do something that will affect the greater good (or bad depending). Some SA’s get their work cut out for them if they should get one of these situations while others have a charge that just has to survive life at its simplest level. These particular SA’s are seen as having the abilities to handle stressful situations to either them or their charge. If a SA gets a special case, later on when its time for a new charge, they get the option of taking another special case or getting one that’s not so upfront. Sometimes a SA has nothing external to do, as some species do not believe in the Ninjetti. These SA’s merely act as subconscious thinking, giving hints through suggestive mind words or dreams. Others appear regularly to their charge and have conversations with them.
Although they have no physical form, things can still occur to a SA. Some SA’s have a weakness in the emotional level. They do care for things, especially their charges (even if they may never show this). A very powerful magical procedure could force the two parts away from the other. This is similar to splicing oneself from their spirit. This is a very dangerous and potentially damaging procedure. This tends to give an emotional unbalance to the Ninjetti pair, though it has a greater affect on the charge. They will feel empty inside as if they had a part of themselves removed (which is true). This can lead to any number of things: depression, irritability, irrationalism, quietness and that of loneliness. Sometimes this can weaken a charge physically or magically as well, especially if the bond was very close. This could ultimately create irreversible troubles should the separation be drawn out for a long time. Reuniting a Ninjetti pair is a lot easier than it is to separate. All they have to do is be brought to the same area as the other and the SA will return to the charge.
The connection between a Ninjetti pair is often described as a parent-child or an elder-child relationship. Its’ not uncommon for the relationship to even be best friends either. This is more often the case for the younger SA’s, as they may feel a same-generation connection with their charge than one who has an old SA (though to say old does not imply that they seem their age). As is the case with all relationships, arguments are not unheard of. Two people who are so similar in thought and in ideas tend to disagree strongly on things (though those of a feline pair seem to be more susceptible to this, being that they tend to be more stubborn than most). However, arguments in themselves aren’t wholly bad. It brings a different prospective that one or the other wouldn’t have thought of, either by one’s belief or something that happens to come up due to the argument.
Living species have their own beliefs and ideas dealing with Spirit Animals. Some greatly revere and respect them as superiors while others see them as peers or good friends. Another little tidbit that occurs in some species (such as the Morpherans) believe that life-mates must have compatible SA’s. This means that if you have a feline SA, your significant other must be feline as well. This is of course a belief and not true species wide. Biologically and genetically, the species of your SA will not affect anything.
Saraphi, “The Guardians”:
They are very much like the earthen Guardian Angel. These beings tend to watch over specific person or a group of people that they cared about in their life. They help them in ways a SA could not. They act as an outside source if you will. They can give the feeling of being within you (i.e. touch your heart so to speak), though they are external beings. They have a more or less omnipotent view of things dealing with those under their care. They can advise, be a comfort, or act as the light at the end of the tunnel. They are not attached to their watch (except perhaps emotionally) and are freer to move about compared with a SA (who is bound to their charge). Their appearance is also transparent, but they can appear solid (though can never be touched). Sometimes they gain wings, but not always.
Morashai, “The Balancers”:
These beings have their work cut out for them. They do not stay just in one place or with one particular person. They go where they are needed, patching things or fixing things in order to maintain the universal balance. Omnipotent as well, they know everything of what was, is and will be about their task, even of things that may not really be relevant to the task itself (though could be in some incidences). They never reveal everything to those they help of course, often times revealing very little and always do the least amount as possible to get things flowing back on track. They remain as they were before their death (resembling that species) but have the trademark translucence of the Sahren. They are not allowed to show themselves to family as it may cause a conflict of interest. Therefore, their tasks will never bring them into full contact with family, though sometimes they will get involved with friends. How they go about completing their task depends on the task itself as well as the one doing it. They can appear to any they wish to and come and go as they please without being noticed. Many times this is the branch that a warrior will go to, since a quiet afterlife is often far from their mind. This branch is the most active as it deals with many different aspects and plays a wider role. A Morashai can choose whether or not to take a task, but many take what is given to them. If they have dealt with a similar situation or a particular group or groups of beings, they get first choice over those who haven’t. Familiarity often helps things go more smoothly than one who is new to the topic or group they are dealing with. Though, if the first time was a less than perfect matching, another will be sent in their place. (However, if this was due to attitude problems on the behalf of those they are dealing with, they may still get sent anyway if they are knowledgeable about the situation).
Powers:
SA’s tend to have an element signature, especially if their charge is magical. Generally, it is a complimentary one (like wind and fire), but this isn’t always a case and it’s not all-inclusive. They are quite powerful, more so than any other branch, and their ability is quite extensive (especially the older ones). However, very rarely do they use their powers, doing so when absolutely necessary. All SA’s, regardless of who they were before, are magical in this way. As for the others, they keep what they had in life with a magical being keeping their powers they had when alive and a non-magical being not having any magical properties. Magic really is not something that they tend to need as they rely more fully on that of communication and persuasion: advising and nudging those about them into doing things in their own way. Therefore, communication and knowledge (both smarts and streetwise) are good to have for the Morashai and Saraphi.
More about Pairings:
A Sa, after their first charge, will get to have a choice whether they want to continue as a Ninjetti or take a different path. More often than one thinks, the SA will choose another charge. Sometimes a SA will feel that they could have no other charge after theirs passes on, but they are always encouraged to take on another by others in their branch and in the Sahren.
SA’s as well as Saraphi are always paired with like orientation. You will never see a good Saraphi with an evil charge or visa versa. Very rarely a neutral will be given a loosely good or evil SA, or a loosely good or evil charge will get a neutral SA. Other than this, mixing of orientation is non-existent.
Pairings for SA’s are always similar gender, but on very rare instances, a female could get a male SA or a male could get a female SA. The latter of the two is more common (although rare within its own right) than the first. As to why this even happens, no one is sure. Often times it’s fabled to mean great things, or a sign that things will come depending on which species myth you analyze. A Saraphi can watch over either or both genders, and a Morashai deals with both.
Retirement:
As it is jokingly called in the Sahren, is the period after which a being no longer serves. Sometimes the service is bypassed straight to retirement if the being feels they cannot contribute anymore to the world of living. It’s called heaven to some, paradise to others, an eternal and everlasting peace from the hardships of life. A being can return to the living plane for a short visitation to those they love, but this is usually not partaken, as some believe their goodbye was good enough. They can still keep watch of the goings on in the universe if they so choose, but they no longer live in its influences and thus can be perfectly fine being separated from that of the living. These brief visitations explain the visions some get, or some ‘advise from an old friend’. Any one of the branches can come here after they feel they’ve done all they can or wish to do for the living. There is no set stopping point, with no criteria or judgment to it.
