Mae'Ahso Faith

The Mae'Ahso Faith (full name: Mae'Ahso niv le Anujan Verjah (meaning the Holy Eye of the Sleeping God in Najer) is a denomination of the Lost Gods faith, generally practiced in and around the city of Nahrayn. The religion worships the goddess of heat and perseverance, although it is also henotheistic due to being part of greater Lost Gods worship as well.

Mythology
Followers of Mae'Ahso, commonly known as Medajeru, believe that the physical world was formed by an outpouring of energy from a higher plane, which created the first gods, worshiped collectively by the Najer as the Verjah, or Lost Gods. Ajvudah is considered to be the youngest, metaphorically speaking, but also the most powerful. The Verjah were several orders of magnitude stronger than any deity before or after, but were peaceful creators in nature. Together, Ajvudah and the rest of the six Verjah created what would become the world, expending the majority of their vast power as well as their essence to do so.

Other deities would create celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, stars, and other planetoids. They would also create the first humans, and other sentient races, whom they placed on these various worlds. The Verjah told the people of these races that their reality would come to an end as suddenly as it was created, and the energy that formed reality would return to where it had come. The key difference, they said, would be the memories and experiences made on these worlds, creating a type of energy that was similar but wholly different from the rest.

The sentient races were created for this purpose- to make choices, interacts with others, and most importantly, progress as individuals. Therefore, those who are able to progress in life will be more potent and powerful after death. Those who fail to change, or impede the progress of others through hatred, destruction, and stagnation, will be weaker and may even be lost forever.

Accordingly, it is the eternal duties of the deities to instruct sentient races to make positive choices. Many gods have many ways of teaching, and not all of them are benevolent or helpful. Followers of the Verjah, including the Medajeru, believe that while any religion that promotes progress is beneficial, the teachings of the original six deities are the most pure and correct out of any others.

Ajvudah
Ajvudah began as the "youngest" of the Verjah, though her power was equivalent to, if not greater than, her siblings. Together with them, she created the world, using up the majority of their vast power in doing so. She resided at its center, tending to her "brother" Taramsej, as he was the eldest and was weakened. She heated the world from the inside, making the continents to move, and creating a shield around it to protect the planet.

Very early on, an evil force attacked Ajvudah and Taramsej, whom Medajeru to be the two most powerful Verjah, and stole their power. Their intentions were unknown, but their actions caused a warp in reality, interfering with the planet's spatial stability. They took what they had stolen from Ajvudah and used it to create a pocket dimension known as the Nether, a twisted and dangerous place that they filled with evil beings.

They intended to secret this world away from all others, and suspended it in the void, but Ajvudah managed to retain a connection to her essence. Using materials formed of her power, namely obsidian and flame, she devised a means to create Nether Portals, and showed her earliest followers how to build them.

The Lost God
The attack sent Ajvudah into a coma, a state of slumbering half-death. She lost the ability to intervene significantly with the world she helped to create. Her abilities were limited to small boons and cursings, as well as whispers to her closest followers. Najer Scholars believe that Ajvudah was the first god to be "lost." Many of her followers fell away, as she was not able to communicate with them as clearly as before. Soon, only a small faction of nomads remained as her sole devotees.

This group of nomads named their group the Mae'Ahso faith, meaning the Holy Eye, as they were determined to both seek her out and act as her eyes in the world. They called themselves the "Medajeru," meaning seers in the Najer language. The Mae'Ahso eventually ended up in the Wandering Deserts of Nieden, mingling with other groups. They and the other groups would go on to become the first Najer people, the first inhabitants of the Wandering Deserts.

Worship of Ajvudah became widely-known and its practice increased marginally. They and the followers of the remaining five Verjah eventually performed a partial unification of their worship, recognizing the common origin of each of their gods. The Medajeru were counted among the smallest of any denomination, but the six factions were counted as equal parts of a whole.

Eventually, society began to fracture, and about 8,000 years ago the seat of power of the six sects, Qwarakan, collapsed into anarchy. The six sects scattered across the deserts. Although they no longer lived alongside each other, they still counted each other as brothers and sisters in faith. Many people from each sect lived in the same villages and coexisted peacefully for the most part.

Around 4,000 years ago, a series of droughts and heat waves afflicted the Wandering Deserts, destroying the fortunes and livelihoods of many. There was widespread despair and anger, which led some to persecute the Medajeru and others that worshiped Ajvudah. They stole their goods, beat them in the streets, and even cast them out of the cities entirely.

Many were even forced to renounce their faith or their lives. Still more perished because of this, but the more determined part of them accepted an exile voluntarily. Somehow, they began to congregate and wander through the desert, which was perilous as the heat and droughts had only gotten worse over time. Over half their number perished, and it seemed like the rest of them might go the same way.

However, one man stepped up. His name was Tejarel, and he claimed to have heard the voice of Ajvudah commanding him to gather the Medajeru and lead them to safety. He gathered the followers of Ajvudah and led them to a remote part of the desert, a near-intersection of two rivers. He declared that this would be the place they would build a city that would be a sanctuary for them. He continued to receive revelation from Ajvudah, and through him, the Medajeru built a grand city far from any other civilization. They called this city Nahrayn, which referred to the two rivers it was built around. Tejarel ruled the city for many years, and there was continual peace during his reign.

Guided by Tejarel's descendants after his death, Nahrayn continued to prosper and expand in power. They are credited with the independent creation of the process of forging non-meteoric iron, which they then spread to the other people of the Wandering Deserts. They became well-known and very rich due to this, prompting others to join the city and accelerate it's growth. Although Nahryan grew more diverse during this time period, it retained a strong emphasis on the Mae'Ahso path and it's connection to Ajvudah. They built statues of their goddess and wrote about her and their history. They also recorded the genealogy of their leaders.

It's rise was later matched, as about 850 BB, the neighboring Mahait Seyohdom began a meteoric rise to power, conquering much of their surroundings, which happened to border Nahrayn. Nahrayn and a number of other communities took a stand against this imperialism and banded together to fight the Mahait, leading to a period known as the Tribal Wars, a long series of conflicts between the two powers.

The battles stalemated for many years, draining the resources of both civilizations. Although both were weakened by the end of the Tribal Wars, a critical strike by the Mahait led to the collapse of Nahrayn, it's people either fleeing, being captured, or getting killed in the ensuing chaos. The city was abandoned, too far for the Mahait to inhabit, and it fell into ruin and was buried in the sands of the desert. This was the darkest point in the history of Mae'Ahso and the Medajeru, as almost all of the followers of Ajvudah were killed or fell away from the faith.

Rekindled
Over 600 years passed, and soon even the ruins had fallen out of memory. However, Ajvudah guided a descendant of Tejarel, the founder of Nahrayn, to rediscover the city. This descendant's name was Hirudo Hijam-faj niv Talvos, and it was he who would bring life into the city again. He discovered ancient papyrus scrolls and stone tablets buried underground, perfectly preserved for hundreds of years. They told him the history of Mae'Ahso, Ajvudah, as well as the truth about his family history.

Divinely empowered, he began rebuilding the city and restoring his forefather's legacy. He also began building, in secret, a sect of followers who would once again bring Ajvudah to prominence. He was stymied in his efforts by his responsibilities as governor and later Emir of Najer, but the sect continued operations until and after the end of his rule. The son of Hirudo, Alsham Hirudo-faj niv Talvos, joined the sect and eventually became its leader, but he too was preoccupied by obligations, and so Mae'Ahso stagnated somewhat during his reign. He eventually introduced the faith to his son, Jakkev Talvos, who began to study and research it ravenously. It is presumed he is the new leader of the faith in the modern day, though this is unconfirmed.

Tenets and values
Ajvudah values self-introspection, perseverance, and determination. Ajvudah's idea of progress is focused on the self-- to take on the world and come out changed for the better. To give up in the face of adversity or difficulties, or worse, to never try at all, is to defeat the purpose of living. Unburnt tinder is not tinder at all. Those who worship Ajvudah are both the trailblazers and the last man standing. They respect both creation and destruction, the cycle of rebirth. As such, they are enamored with the transformative power of fire, whether as an oven, a forge, a hearth, or anything else, but can be found in any occupation or station, from the struggling beggar to the persistent diplomat.

Rituals and traditions
Worship of Ajvudah is achieved through a meditative action of transformation. Something as simple as building a fire can suffice provided it is thoughtful enough, but the more meaningful a process, the more likely and more powerful a connection with the divine will be. A smith might reforge a finely crafted sword, an artist might paint over a beloved canvas, and a merchant might sell a prized artifact. It all depends on the individual and what they hope to achieve. This exchange of personal meaning is pleasing to Ajvudah, as it demonstrates her followers' devotion and strength.

"Flame guarding" is a ritual or game that is practiced by followers of Ajvudah. Participants must carry a lit candle with them through their entire day and prevent the flame from going out. Those who undergo this test gain respect, but as it is also very easy to fake by re-lighting one's candle, there is little reward for completing it other than the proven self-knowledge of one's determination. Children also play shorter variants of the game where they attempt to blow out each other's candles.

Meditation is also a common practice, wherein adherents are encouraged to cleanse themselves of their fears, worries, and desires, and evaluate their lives with a clear mind. This is thought to be the best way to commune with Ajvudah, as well as to ward off the influence of imposter deities hoping to draw Ajvudah’s followers away with tricks and alluring whispers. Frequently, meditators will bring a soul lantern or other focus to aid in their concentration.

“Brick-laying” is another practice that involves using Netherrack to create Nether Bricks. It is thought of as a metaphorical process- as the soft and ugly Nether stone is broken down and heated up, it becomes strong and smooth. It gives hope for the power of transformation and the potential for change in the followers of Ajvudah. Congregation of worshipers might build an altar out of the bricks they have created, a literal monument to their progress and devotion.

Syncretism
Although Mae'Ahso worship focuses primarily on Ajvudah, adherence to certain other Lost Gods are common. Taramsej is one, due to his closeness to Ajvudah in theology, as they share dominion over the deep things of the earth and share similar ideas about how one ought to act. Kleoz'amar, a minor deity mainly followed by the Habbei Pom, is considered to be the "daughter" of Ajvudah in the sense they share similar domains, and so many people follow both Ajvudah and Kleoz'amar.

Ajvudah is also sometimes considered to have an antagonistic relationship with her "sister," the Lost God of Water, Gafa. This stems from a combination of their opposing elements and contradicting doctrines.

Symbols and signs
Ajvudah is deeply linked with the Nether- some believe it to be a corrupted form of her essence, or at the very least fuelled by her immense power. Accordingly, many of her symbols are brought from that other realm. Most notable are soul lanterns and the fire within them, which are lit with nether sand. The sand is not only evocative of the sands of the Wandering Deserts, but its flame glows a particular shade of blue, fuelled by Nether energy. Some religions believe blue fire to be a sign of their deities, and indeed it may be utilized by their gods, but the followers of Ajvudah know that soul fire comes from the Nether, and the Nether’s power is Ajvudah’s.

Ajvudah worship also has a peculiar tradition of “borrowing” the symbols of other Verjah. Some might connect Ajvudah with Duyani’s sunflowers, because sunflowers need warmth and light to grow. Others might connect Ajvudah with the diamonds of Taramsej because diamonds need heat to form. A few even connect Ajvudah with the Bells of Menkauhor because of the delicate process of forging needed to create a bell.

As detailed in the Rituals section, Ajvudah worshipers also see Netherrack and Nether Bricks as a symbol of change and rebirth. Since the Nether is so tied to Ajvudah, and is thought to be of her essence by some, the creation of Nether Bricks is seen as representative of her followers as well as restoring a small piece of Ajvudah’s essence to a purer state.

Holidays
The Festival of Embers is an event that takes place in the exact middle of the year. It is a time of stories, reflection, and celebration; In it, followers will describe the challenges they overcame and the things that they gave up. Participants may also show off the new things they have created or accomplished during this time, with some even making a spectacle of their works. Depending on how self-aggrandizing they are, though, they may be criticized as tasteless or insincere in their worship.

Food also flows aplenty during this festival, as tradition dictates that anyone with even a scrap of cooking experience should bring something to share. Bread, stew, potatoes, drinks, anything. Games and performances also abound. Despite its nature as a religious festival, outsiders and non-worshipers may also participate, though generally only through invitation from friends and family.

Marriage
The ideal for Ajvudahite marriage is a complementary pairing. It can be two people with different sets of skills, or the same profession, or opposite personalities; it doesn’t matter as long as each partner enhances the other and drives them to be better. Equal partners are seen as especially ideal, but difference in status is acceptable as long as both respect each other for who they are. Infidelity and physical, emotional, or verbal abuse are abhorred, with some sects even enforcing harsh punishments on those who violate those standards.

Love and marriage are seen as a religious obligation beyond self-improvement- almost an enlightenment of sorts. A journey of self-improvement is hard, but harder still is the journey of understanding and appreciating someone else, then helping them improve as well. A deep spiritual and emotional connection are vital for the foundation of a good Ajvudahite marriage. For that reason, marriages among the followers of Ajvudah may occur at higher ages and at a lower frequency than is normal for others.

Miracles
Like other deities, Ajvudah will grant her favor to the most diligent and earnest of her followers. She rewards those who have overcome great obstacles, those who get up after life knocks them down, and those who remake something that was ruined. She punishes hypocrites, the weak-willed, and those who give up their oaths and obligations.

Her miracles may include, but are not limited to: Her cursings may include, but are not limited to:
 * Increases in energy and willpower
 * Strong and powerful enchantments on armor and tools
 * Long-lasting and even-burning fires
 * Good fortune in creative endeavors and relationships
 * Emotional fortitude
 * Difficulty in repairing broken objects
 * Bane of Arthropods and Smite on all your swords
 * Uneven fires and burns
 * Bad fortune in relationships and creative burnout
 * Emotional imbalance

Etymology
The exact reason behind the name of the sect is unverified, but is thought by some to originate from the name of an old mystery cult that practiced a more intense form of Ajvudah worship. General practitioners inherited the name and symbology of this group as they faded away long ago and adopted it in the mainstream.