Nakhta
Nakhta is one half of The Senary pantheon's duo commonly referred to as The Family. Nefere is the parent god, depicted as father or mother. Nakhta is the child god, depicted as son or daughter. Nakhta in all aspects is the patron of duty and service. They also represent youth and children, innocence, spring and growth, change, and students. This deity is also referred to as "The Child", "The Brother", or "The Sister". The Family is also associated with the world's largest moon, Fella, as well as the night hours.
Nakhta is usually depicted wearing a children's tunic and tights or breeches and soft leather shoes.
Except in exceptionally rare circumstances, the Nakhtim must begin service in their childhood; they are often left in the care of the order as early as four years old and are not usually accepted after they are 10 or so. Service is not limited by race, species, or gender. The prime time for service to Nakhta is young adults, and they hold the most power in the hierarchy. Amongst their ranks, you will find clerics, paladins, regular priests, and mage-priests. Some clergy remain Nakhtim for their entire lives, but others will leave the service of Nakhta for another of the Senary after a certain age.
Dogma
Nakhtim take vows of chastity. They are required to be fully celibate until they are past the age of First Flight; after which time relations are only allowed amongst the clergy, and must not ever result in any offspring. They also take vows of obedience and service to their order, and vows of asceticism. All of their wealth and belongings, with the exception of a few personal items, are held communally. Duty and Service are the primary tenets of their faith.
Hierarchy
The youngest adherents of Nakhta are Hatchlings. These are the true children, considered not ready to make any commitments of their own but those that are sent to the temple by their families or are wards of the temple for some other reason. Once they reach an age where they can prove they have some understanding of their choices, they become Foundlings - usually between the ages of 6 and 8. Those who are not interested in the religious life stay Foundlings, while those who are at some point take 'soft vows' appropriate for children and join the ranks of theFledglings. Foundlings and Fledglings are raised and educated together. As soon as a Fledgling reaches the age of 15, or the equivalent for nonhumans, they are eligible to undergo The Dreaming, a mystical ritual shared by all of the Senary clergy. The Nakhtim are the only clergy of the Senary who are allowed to undergo The Dreaming before the age of 20. They must face The Dreaming before the age of 20 (or the nonhuman equivalent) to remain Nakhtim. Those who succeed take formal vows and begin their period of First Flight, the length of which varies by species but generally encompasses their young adulthood (for example a human might be considered an adult and undergo The Dreaming between 15 and 20, and then serve First Service until they are around 50 or so). Those in First Flight are the full members of the clergy, and make all leadership decisions for the Nakhtim. The organization and day-to-day running of the temples are thus in a constant state of flux, as one would expect of an organization being run almost entirely by its youngest members. Once a Nakhtim passes from young adulthood to middle age, they move to Second Flight, which is the main service body of the order; they serve as teachers and childcare providers for the order's wards as well as the public mainly, though any profession of service to others is acceptable. It is during this time that many will choose to enter into the service of a different deity, and such a change is not considered shameful. Those that remain Nakhtim by their old age, though this number tends to be few, enter Third Flight, and become the advisors and steadying force to the First Flight.
Temples
The temples of the Nekhtim rarely appear as temples at all; they are more often fashioned first and foremost like dormitories, schools, and orphanages. The dedicated worship space is generally located centrally in the compound, and is beautiful in its simplicity with white walls and wooden appointments. In many cases, the temples of the Nekhtim are located quite near to or adjacent to the temples of the Neferim.
Vestments
All of the Nekhtim wear brown, tan, or cream shirts, breeches, or underrobes with white or cream tunic or overrobe. The Hatchlings wear no overrobes or tunics at all, though when dressed formally for ceremonies, worship, or forays into the public eye they are given a smock-like garment made of a rectangular piece of fabric with a hole for the head that is cinched with a fabric belt to hold it in place. Hatchlings are also barefoot or wear simple slippers inside, only donning shoes if going outside and the weather necessitates it. Foundlings and Fledglings graduate to a sleeveless, collarless tunic, a leather belt, and simple shoes or boots. They may decorate their own clothing with embroidery if they wish. Adults choose tunics or overrobes of a style according to their preference, often with accents in yellow, orange, or purple.
Services
The main services the Nakhtim provide to their communities include schools, orphanages, and childcare.
Orders and Sects
The Traveling Teachers are Second Flight clergy whose calling is to travel to areas underrepresented by temples of Nakhtim and provide education and childcare services.
The Chosen
The vast majority of the Nakhtim are fairly run-of-the-mill priests and priestesses, going about their business with a lot of training and a small amount of divine help. But Clerics and Paladins are not uncommon; those who seem to have a more direct line of communication and aid from Nakhta.
The Favored
Nakhta favors worshippers who are teachers, children, young adults, students, and caregivers. It is not unheard of for particularly devout worshippers to be blessed or visited by Nakhta.
Description
Nakhta is depicted as a child, of any age from birth to the cusp of adulthood. There is no canon physical description for any of the deities of the Senary pantheon; artists often choose to match the physical descriptions of their own people, family, or audience. The exception is that they are always depicted with gold or yellow eyes, and with either halos or an aura of some sort. It is not uncommon to see Nakhta with a tiara or circlet.Nakhta is usually depicted wearing a children's tunic and tights or breeches and soft leather shoes.
Personality
Nakhta is most often sweet, earnest, and playful. Occasionally they can be mischievous or downright "naughty", though more so in the parables and fables told to children to encourage good behavior. Like a mortal child, Nakhta tends to feel emotions in the extreme and expresses themselves quite emphatically.Worshippers, Clergy, and Temples
The ClergyExcept in exceptionally rare circumstances, the Nakhtim must begin service in their childhood; they are often left in the care of the order as early as four years old and are not usually accepted after they are 10 or so. Service is not limited by race, species, or gender. The prime time for service to Nakhta is young adults, and they hold the most power in the hierarchy. Amongst their ranks, you will find clerics, paladins, regular priests, and mage-priests. Some clergy remain Nakhtim for their entire lives, but others will leave the service of Nakhta for another of the Senary after a certain age.
Dogma
Nakhtim take vows of chastity. They are required to be fully celibate until they are past the age of First Flight; after which time relations are only allowed amongst the clergy, and must not ever result in any offspring. They also take vows of obedience and service to their order, and vows of asceticism. All of their wealth and belongings, with the exception of a few personal items, are held communally. Duty and Service are the primary tenets of their faith.
Hierarchy
The youngest adherents of Nakhta are Hatchlings. These are the true children, considered not ready to make any commitments of their own but those that are sent to the temple by their families or are wards of the temple for some other reason. Once they reach an age where they can prove they have some understanding of their choices, they become Foundlings - usually between the ages of 6 and 8. Those who are not interested in the religious life stay Foundlings, while those who are at some point take 'soft vows' appropriate for children and join the ranks of theFledglings. Foundlings and Fledglings are raised and educated together. As soon as a Fledgling reaches the age of 15, or the equivalent for nonhumans, they are eligible to undergo The Dreaming, a mystical ritual shared by all of the Senary clergy. The Nakhtim are the only clergy of the Senary who are allowed to undergo The Dreaming before the age of 20. They must face The Dreaming before the age of 20 (or the nonhuman equivalent) to remain Nakhtim. Those who succeed take formal vows and begin their period of First Flight, the length of which varies by species but generally encompasses their young adulthood (for example a human might be considered an adult and undergo The Dreaming between 15 and 20, and then serve First Service until they are around 50 or so). Those in First Flight are the full members of the clergy, and make all leadership decisions for the Nakhtim. The organization and day-to-day running of the temples are thus in a constant state of flux, as one would expect of an organization being run almost entirely by its youngest members. Once a Nakhtim passes from young adulthood to middle age, they move to Second Flight, which is the main service body of the order; they serve as teachers and childcare providers for the order's wards as well as the public mainly, though any profession of service to others is acceptable. It is during this time that many will choose to enter into the service of a different deity, and such a change is not considered shameful. Those that remain Nakhtim by their old age, though this number tends to be few, enter Third Flight, and become the advisors and steadying force to the First Flight.
Temples
The temples of the Nekhtim rarely appear as temples at all; they are more often fashioned first and foremost like dormitories, schools, and orphanages. The dedicated worship space is generally located centrally in the compound, and is beautiful in its simplicity with white walls and wooden appointments. In many cases, the temples of the Nekhtim are located quite near to or adjacent to the temples of the Neferim.
Vestments
All of the Nekhtim wear brown, tan, or cream shirts, breeches, or underrobes with white or cream tunic or overrobe. The Hatchlings wear no overrobes or tunics at all, though when dressed formally for ceremonies, worship, or forays into the public eye they are given a smock-like garment made of a rectangular piece of fabric with a hole for the head that is cinched with a fabric belt to hold it in place. Hatchlings are also barefoot or wear simple slippers inside, only donning shoes if going outside and the weather necessitates it. Foundlings and Fledglings graduate to a sleeveless, collarless tunic, a leather belt, and simple shoes or boots. They may decorate their own clothing with embroidery if they wish. Adults choose tunics or overrobes of a style according to their preference, often with accents in yellow, orange, or purple.
Services
The main services the Nakhtim provide to their communities include schools, orphanages, and childcare.
Orders and Sects
The Traveling Teachers are Second Flight clergy whose calling is to travel to areas underrepresented by temples of Nakhtim and provide education and childcare services.
The Chosen
The vast majority of the Nakhtim are fairly run-of-the-mill priests and priestesses, going about their business with a lot of training and a small amount of divine help. But Clerics and Paladins are not uncommon; those who seem to have a more direct line of communication and aid from Nakhta.
The Favored
Nakhta favors worshippers who are teachers, children, young adults, students, and caregivers. It is not unheard of for particularly devout worshippers to be blessed or visited by Nakhta.
Common Myths & Stories
Nakhta & Nefere by devinsxdesigns
Nakhta
pronounced NAH-keh-ta
Pantheon
The SenaryPair
The Family (with Nefere)Titles
The ChildThe Sister
The Brother
Clergy Demonym(s)
NakhtimSymbols and Sigils
Birds - most often eagles and owls, often depicted wearing a small crown.Common Domains
Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Trickery, UnityCommon Associations
FellaThe Night
Duty
Service
Youth & Children
Innocence
Spring
Growth
Change
Students
Favored Colors
WhiteYellows and Oranges
Purple
Favored Metals and Gemstones
SeleniteMoonstone
Silver
Favored Professions
ChildrenStudents
Teachers
Professions that Serve Others
Children
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