Temple of Anahita

Seht is a major deity in the pantheon of Haresh, and is the main recipient of worship from the Ahibanu and Durami Khaneshar. As such, themes of blood and water are common in sects that revere him. He may appear in various forms depending on the ritual or occasion, both in waking and in dreams.

Appearance
The principle form, or avatar, Seht takes in Hareshi culture is that of a horned viper (debatable). Alternatively he may appear as a man-shaped mass of writhing snakes, or in a form similar to one of his acolytes. Occasionally, especially to the Ahibanu, he appears as a normal man or a very large, pale-skinned man with black wings.

Significance to Ahibanu
For the Ahibanu, Seht represents an acceptable intermediary between the mortal world and Anahita. It is speculated that the god and goddess are lovers, though any official lore on the matter has been discarded or forgotten; much more importantly, Seht gathers adulation as the high priestesses siphon off magic, and he gives this concentrated worship to Anahita. He also acts on her behalf, enforcing her will and granting certain children her blessing before they are born, as well as allowing other devotees to receive it afterward. He accepts sacrifices of food, livestock, and certain people marked with the honor of giving their lives to Anahita.


Significance to Durami Khaneshar
Among the Blood Hunters Seht is revered as a blood god, who taught the first of the tribe the art of living off pure life force. The tribe hunt for human sacrifices at regular intervals, and they hold other festivals throughout the year in his honor. He never appears as a man to them.

Sisters conduct this ceremony for anyone joining the temple whether neophyte, Mahdi, or Nasir al Din. It officially and magically binds them to the temple and to the service of Seht and Anahita. Following this ceremony, the individual is allowed in some of the closed areas of the temple.


Typically, Inductions are small and fairly private with the individual taking the vows and the Sister who brought him/her to the temple. Another Sister may preside over the ritual, and others may be in attendance if they wish.


During the Induction, the woman (or man) brought to join the Ahibanu must make a small offering of her own blood to Seht in one of the bowls beneath the censers in the main sanctuary. A Sister will then guide her through the vow: "By birth and by blood, I am bound to the Ahibanu. My gift I return to Seht and his goddess, Anahita. This I offer in service and devotion until the day comes that they take me into their arms again. By my words, I am bound."

(Note: For women who are not Blessed and those joining as Nasir al Din, the vow changes slightly: "By blood, I am bound to the Ahibanu. This I offer in service and devotion until the day comes that Anahita and Seht take me into their arms again. By my words, I am bound.")


When she has completed the vow, if she has been found acceptable, instantaneous healing will flash through her. While such quick knitting of the skin is quite painful, afterward not only will the cut she made be healed, but also will all scars and wounds. If she has not been found acceptable, she will die immediately, however this is rare. (Note: The Sister presiding over the ritual does not power the healing nor the possible death. It is a function of the temple and the ritual itself.)


Neophytes
A neophyte's Induction joins her to the Ahibanu. Before it, she has no status among them and is restricted to the open areas of the temple until she is ready to go through the ritual.

Mahdi
Blessed men must also take vows, however unlike neophytes, they are given little time to prepare for the ritual. They must take the vows, or the Ahibanu must kill them for their sacrilege. Mahdi do not rise in rank, so this is the only ceremony joining them to the temple.

Nasir al Din
Those wishing to become Nasir al Din come to the temple of their own volition, therefore they are often eager to take the vows as soon as possible. Like the Mahdi, they do not rise in rank, however they are afforded rights and privileges within the temple similar to initiates.