The Soulweave

The Soulweave is the belief in Vahiji and the spirits that surrounds them and finds its practitioners chiefly in the Ketrikkhaz Archipelago, however with the naval nature of the Dulinri, the belief finds practitioners among many of the coastal cities in Ikune.

Vahiji and the spirits

Vahiji, "Carrier of Fate's Scale", "The Cosmic Balance", "The One Who Watches". Those are among the names that are used when practitioners of the Soulweave gather for their rituals to call down the spirits that Vahiji commands, in search of good fortune and protection.
For these practitioners, Vahiji is known as the one who tends to the cosmic balance of the universe, though it is also taken as a fact that Vahiji was the one who created it originally yet this takes lesser importance than the continued balance of what is and will be. Despite being the one who oversees the balance, Vahiji distances themself from the matters of their practitioners. Instead, spirits act as intermediaries that influence the world, usually in subtle ways so as to keep the balance envisioned by Vahiji.

The Spirits

The spirits which aids Vahiji come in many forms; born from a plane above that of reality known as the Aether, one which is only a single step removed from Vahiji's own domain. The spirits are formed within the Aether and given birth as they come closer to that of reality. Each of these has a distinct personality and name which only few know, but can give one the power to subjugate them if wielded properly. Their duties are to aid Vahiji in maintaining the balance of the cosmos by influencing the world in Vahiji's place, most do so subtly, though the more capricious may do so through illness and inflicting misfortune.
This influence is not limited to such, as what the spirit oversees greatly affects what they would do, such as the more nature bound spirits such as a river one may influence the shaping of a river through centuries and affect what lives within it. Others that are bonded with a person may influence the person instead to stay on the course of the balance.
When a person is born, their soul, considered separate from the spirits of the Aether, is tethered to a spirit. Typically a younger one, though some sects believe that great people attract the aid of stronger spirits, however this is not agreed upon universally with some believing only a single spirit is tethered to a person whereas others believe many can be and can become tethered during life.
Regardless of this, a spirit that is tethered to a soul provides it with the Breath that flows through its body and gives them the gift of life. As long as the soul is tethered, it will provide the Breath, though those who lose it may find that the spirit may not be the same to return, should they regain the Breath.
As long as the spirit is tethered, it will attempt to influence a person's soul, yet no one is bound to follow it and rituals and sacrifices can be made either for its guidance and assistance, or to protect oneself from its influence.
Despite their advisory role on ones soul, a spirit is not considered a paragon of virtue or moral, and it is stressed among practitioners that ultimately one's conscious actions are considered a reflection of their soul's purity and one they will be ultimately judged on by both practitioners in life and Vahiji in the afterlife.

Rites and Rituals

Rituals are common among practitioners, for whom it might take many shapes and forms. From holding a token or charm to more elaborate rituals led by a Soul Keeper. The most common of these rituals are the ones to ask for guidance from the spirits, often combined with ones that attempt to invoke protection against malicious spirits. Typically the stronger a spirit is, the more elaborate the ritual has to be, with the strongest requiring multiple participants and sacrifices given to the spirit. The specific shape of these sacrifices can vary but typically it consists of food the spirit likes and tokens or other objects it may take a liking to or has significance for the subject of the ritual.
Another common ritual is one that only a Soul Keeper can perform successfully, a divination of the spirits which helps to identify the presence and names of spirits in the area and lets them try to gain insight into the nature of the spirits. This is an action which can easily rile up the spirits and anger the most good-natured ones, so it is rarely done without sacrifices and protection prepared and wise Soul Keepers avoids overdoing it to avoid being the target of their anger.
In contrast to this, there is a simpler ritual to imbue protection into that of a token, with a common person typically able to perform these rites, though as with most other rituals it is one which is only made stronger as it becomes more elaborate and the right spirits being called to assist with its completion.

Rites for the dead and afterlife

When someone inevitably dies, it is a cause for both sadness and celebration. A dear friend has passed, but now their soul will pass on to the Aether where their experience will become a part of that which is taught to the spirits and will influence newer spirits that may come into being. A process said to take a year and a day to finish, after which the soul is permitted to pass on to be judged by Vahiji, who will decide on the final fate of the soul. Some are reincarnated, others sent back to the Aether to teach or learn from the spirits and those who are considered to have upheld the balance are permitted to pass on to Vahiji's realm.
But before a soul can come so far, the body needs to be prepared. The most widespread rites begin even before death has arrived, with practitioners arriving to say their goodbyes if possible, particularly family and close friends.
After this, the body is prepared to be cremated by their family, with the night before the cremation being used to gather and sing songs to remember the dead, with the exception of the one who stood the deceased closest who is instead to watch over the body until dawn when the cremation is to happen. It is considered a great mark of shame to fall asleep during this watch, as it may allow ill-intended spirits to influence the soul before its departure.
During the cremation is when speeches and an eulogy is given by a close family member, followed by a meal done while the attendees mourn the deceased.
After the meal, the body is cremated to help free the remnants of the soul to travel to the Aether, with the mood generally taking a more positive aspect after as people celebrate the soul's travel and gives it a final memory of those the deceased knew in life to take with it to the Aether.

Type

Religious, Other