Eledals - Those that train for the shamanhood, Acolytes
The Eledals are a specially selected group of individuals, both men and women, who are chosen to train to be a shaman of Dal. Chosen after the Rites of Passage, these youngsters are usually between the ages of 13 and 14 at the time they begin their training. The training includes several steps.
First step: Education
The young Eledal is educated in the ways of Dal. They learn to how to read the scrolls and interpret the teachings of Dal. They are taught the simple rituals, prayers, and how to live ones life as a Dalen or Dalend. During this time, the child lives with her family and attends sessions with the Dalen or Dalend who is teaching them. This usually lasts about two years. Then the Eledal is tested on her knowledge. A passing grade means the child moves on to the next level. If a child fails, she may be allowed to repeat the education or she may be given special help. Some children do not go on and instead choose another profession.
Second Step: Exploration
The Eledal now moves away from his family. He will go to live with another clan, usually in one of the large settlements within his tribe. Sometimes, if an Eledal shows exceptional promise, he will be sent to Tilitha to train. This step continues until the Eledal and his teachers believe he is ready to move on. Usually that happens within one or two years after starting.
During the exploration stage, the young person is encouraged to explore her spirituality. She attends long sessions of meditation and spends many hours in discussions with other Eledals and Dalends/Dalens. Sometimes, the Eledal is encouraged to go into isolation, somewhere deep within the forest to contemplate the meaning of something or to help solve a problem or bring insight to the youngster.
This is a very important stage in the education of the Eledal and some never make it past this stage. Many discover they do not have a true calling and instead become Ledri or healers. It is in no way shameful for a young person to decide not to continue after the Exploration stage. In fact, the youngsters are heralded as insightful and aware if they realize they belong elsewhere. Every young woman who is in line for the position of the Teila goes through this stage, but is not allowed to continue past Exploration.
Third Step: Sanctification
In the second step, the young person, who by now is between 16 and 18 years of age, begins the true training as a shaman of Dal. It is during this period when the Eledal begins training with a Dalen or Dalend of his chosen deity. Most youngsters choose their deity during the Rites of Passage but some chose during the time of Exploration or even change their chosen deity based on experiences during this time.
Often, an Eledal must move to another clan's settlement, sometimes far from home and in a different tribe's territory in order to find an available teacher. There, the Eledal will study and serve the Dalen or Dalend for several years, usually participating in rituals, attending to the clan members, leaning healing and herbalist skills and other practical experience. Some will specialize, learning more difficult healing skills or making potions and poisons from herbs.
At the end of this stage, a ceremony takes place and the Eledal is considered purified and ready to accept the mantle of a Dalen or Dalend of Dal. Most Eledal's complete this stage although a rare few may fail and are asked to step down. Usually this is because of some serious situation, such as a criminal act or an immoral act that will not permit the Eledal to continue. Most Eledal's are over the age of 18 when they end this stage and some are slightly older. There is no set time frame and the Dalen/Dalend teaching the Eledal and the Eledal herself determines the decision to Sanctify.
Fourth Step: Consecration
This final step involves testing the sanctified Eledal and permitting him to become a full-fledged Dalend. The Eledal undergoes a series of tests, the first part orally given to him by his Dalen/Dalend. Then he is sent away, alone to a remote area of the forest to commune with his deity and begin his personal relationship with the gods.
Many Dalens and Dalends say this final test has a huge impact on the type of shaman they become. Some return contemplative and calm while others return full of energy and vigor. Forays into the spirit world using hallucinogens bring new insight and knowledge to the Eledal. Some compare the experience to the Rites of Passage only much more intense. The Eledal finds her spirit-guide among the ancestors who roam the forest during these sessions. This ancestor will be the guide for the new shaman when she is fully consecrated and will connect her to the spirit world and to the deities.
When the Eledal returns, he is given a great-feathered cloak and mask, somehow related to his chosen deity. Then he is allowed to return to his home clan, where he is revered and celebrated as a new Dalend. The return is bittersweet, however, as most of the time, the new shaman will be sent to another clan to serve as the Dalen or Dalend. Usually the clan is within the person's tribe but not always.
Among the Dalmites, consecrated Dalens and Dalends may mate and have children. However, Eledals may not formally mate and may not have children. If they do have children, they are asked to give up their position and become a healer or herbalist, or take another profession. It is believed the rigors of training are too great to devote time to a family. Obviously, this affects females more than males as a man can always refuse to acknowledge a child. To do so though is considered a great disgrace among the Dalmites. It is not a dishonor to leave the Eledals to have a family and many instead are considered blessed by Zaolla. They go on to have satisfying and important lives within their tribe and clan.
Dalends or Dalens - Shamans
A consecrated shaman is known as a Dalend if he is a male and a Dalen if a female. This distinction is important, as a woman must perform some of the religious rituals. In the Dal religion, women are considered blessed by Kainna so therefore, they can bestow special blessings upon others.
A Dalen or Dalend is assigned to a specific clan after she or he is consecrated. They become the clan shamans of the settlement. Some clans have only one Dalen or Dalend but many have multiple shamans. Typically, one shaman is more powerful than the others, simply because he has more followers among that tribe.
Dalends and Dalens cannot ask for money for their services and live entirely off donations and tithes from the community. However, they have much influence in the clan and clan members with any sort of clout would be wise to support the local shaman. A Dalen or Dalend can visit any member of the clan and will be welcome for a meal or a place to sleep. She also will be given clothing if needed. It is extremely rare for a clan member to refuse to aid a Dalen or Dalend and it could have dire social consequences to do so. The only exception to this is some of the shamans who follow the evil cult gods. Most of these shamans would not be refused aid but not be allowed into the clan member's home. This is rarely a problem as most shamans who worship Araessi or Asurin as cult leaders are solitary and secretive, never coming out into the open.
Some Dalens and Dalends do make extra money by learning various skills such as scribing or herbalism among other scholarly tasks. However, again, they cannot ask for money for their services but must accept only donations. They can refuse to accept a job though so typically, they will only work for those who provide some sort of financial support.
The duties of the local clan Dalend or Dalen are many. They preside over rituals within the clan, including birth, death, Rites of passage, and seasonal celebrations, among others. They are the personal counselors to the members of the clan, especially the Gwea. They also teach the Eledals and train them for their ascension to the Dalen or Dalend role. The Dalend or Dalen and the Eledals, using money or resources provided, maintain shrines located within the clan's territory. Sometimes, these shrines are located some distance from the clan's settlement so the Dalen or Dalend must travel or send Eledals in her or his place.
Some rituals, such as birthing rituals, must be attended to by a woman shaman, or a Dalen. A newborn baby is considered to be sacred and pure, so must first be blessed by the Dalen. In tribes where a Dalen does not reside, the parents may send for a Dalen from another clan or travel there when the child and mother are ready. The tree planting ceremony can be performed by Dalends as well but only after the child is blessed by the Dalen. In some unusual circumstances, such as the illness of the baby, a female Eledal may perform the birthing ritual or a female elder of the tribe.
Creating poisons and hallucinogens and using them in rituals is another duty of the Dalend or Dalen. He may have assistance from the Eledals. Other clan members are prohibited from even touching certain substances and the penalties for doing so can be harsh. Healing and administering to the grieving and dying are also duties of the Dalen or Dalend.
Teiredal - The religious leader of a tribe
The Teiredal resides over the religious activities of an entire tribe. Chosen among the most accomplished of the Dalends or Dalens, the position is one of the most esteemed within a tribe. Usually, the shaman chosen for this position is a member of the tribe, but on rare occasion a member of another tribe who has been studying and living within the tribe is chosen. Those chosen to be Teiredal's are believed to be especially close to the godesses and gods and extremely knowledgeable in the ways of Dal.
A Teiredal is said to receive visions of his own death well before he actually dies. During this time, he chooses several assistants, one of who will be named the next Teiredal. Sometimes, this final choice is not made until the Teiredal is on his deathbed..
The chosen shaman is usually someone who has trained and worked closely with the Teiredel. There have been stories of unusually talented shamans chosen from smaller clans within the tribe but it is not common. The chosen assistants spend a great deal of time in isolation with the Tieredal, learning the mysteries of Dal which are not typically revealed to the average Dalend or Dalen. When the Tieredal dies, his chosen successor has been revealed, either through words or through written documents. The word of the Tieredal near death always supercedes any written instructions he has left behind and there have been instances when a Tieredal has changed his mind at the last moment. Several witnesses must be present to hear these words, however, to avoid any sort of corruption within the tribe. It is considered very dangerous to not accept the true word of the Tieredal and it will certainly anger the deities to do so. One favorite Dalmite tale tells of a tribal leader who placed her favorite shaman in the role of Tieredal through political maneuvering. Her tribe suffered great misfortunes, which eventually drove a rival to kill the tribe leader. Once the rightful Tieredal was restored, the godesses and gods begin to favor the tribe again and they prospered.
The Teiredal holds her position until death. She has great power to influence the tribal leader, especially if the tribal leader is devout, which is fairly usual of tribal leaders, especially those from the Telantha and Duissa tribes.
A Teiredal may have had any of the gods or goddesses of the pantheon as his patron deity prior to his elevation but once he becomes the Teiredal, he must understand the complexities of all the deities, even those that are considered dangerous and frightening to common Dalmites. Followers of Aeressi and Asurin have never held a position as a Teiredal in an intact and loyal tribe. It is believed, although never confirmed, that one of the tests of the assistants to the Teiredal is to meet Aeressi and/or Asurin face to face and survive, still pure and unblemished. Those who cannot resist will not be chosen to succeed the Tieredal.
The Teiredal resides in the tribal settlement with the tribal leader. He controls a shrine, usually to Kainna but sometimes to the patron deity of the settlement, if one exists. He will also assign assistants or other Dalens or Dalends to maintain and support various other shrines, usually related to the patron deity of the Dalen. Some larger settlements may have a multitude of shrines within its walls. The Teiredal also sends Dalends or Dalens out to shrines within the tribe's territory, but not within a settlement. Most of the clan settlements within the tribe choose their own Dalens or Dalends but they will appeal to the Teiredal for approval at times or recommendations. Problems with shamans within the tribe are also referred to the Teiredal. He has the power to banish a shaman or deem him impure, stripping him of his duties and responsibilities. The Teiredal can also meet out lesser punishments, such as a period of isolation in the forest, servitude, demotion to a Eledal, or many other less serious punishments.
Nairr al Dal - The religious leader of the Dalmites
The greatest religious leader in the Dalmite forest, the Nairr al Dal is extremely influential and powerful. Some say he is second only to the Teila herself. Others believe he has so much power, he can influence the Teila to do as he wishes, therefore, truly the leader of the Dalmites. Certainly, this has been true during the life of some leaders. The current Teila's mother Tanuii was greatly influenced by Riolas Dal. So much so, that some believed Riolas to be the true leader.
Like the Teiredal, the Nairr al Dal is usually chosen by his predecessor before his death from among his faithful assistants or among Dalens or Dalends within the Dalmite forest. Some have been chosen due to loyalty to the current Teila or the nation in general. Riolas was at one time a very powerful Dalend but he had since retreated from the world. He was drawn out by Tanuii's first Nairr al Dal and asked to help the leader call upon Zaolla to give her a healthy child. When the first Nairr al Dal died, with Tanuii's blessing, he named Riolas as his successor. Riolas chose one of his assistants, Jade, to succeed him. When Jade suddenly disappeared, the role was passed along to another assistant. Because Jade was young and his disappearance unexpected, the successor was chosen by a gathering of influential Teiredals from various Dalmite tribes. The role of the Nairr al Dal is not inherited through the family although occasionally, a son or daughter will become a Dalen or Dalend and might eventually rise to the position of Nairr al Dal.
Most of the ceremonies and rituals of the Dalmite nation are carried out by the Teiredals, Dalens, Dalends, or the Nairr al Dal's assistants. But special circumstances might require the presence of the Nairr al Dal. One such ceremony is the ritual ascension of a new Teila. The offspring of the Teila are also usually blessed by the Nairr al Dal. If a woman, the Nairr al Dal also performs the birth rituals, while a male Nairr al Dal might perform other welcoming ceremonies for these children after a blessing by a Dalen. Death rituals concerning the Teila and her family are usually performed by the Nairr al Dal. The Nairr al Dal may also preside over special ceremonies associated with festivals in Tilitha.
The most important position for the Nairr al Dal is as the spiritual adviser to the Teila and ultimately, the Council. It is his job to make sure the Word of Dal is considered in every decision that is made. In spite of current trends, which are gently persuading the Dalmites to be more open to other cultures, the Word of Dal is still the only true religion of the Dalmites. While groups rise occasionally and try to twist and deform the Word of Dal, new beliefs or even those of other cultures rarely take hold in the Dalmite forest. Other beliefs are respected, but they are not taken seriously by the majority of the population. This is partly due to the hold the Nairr al Dal and the Teiredals have on the religious values of the Dalmites. In a changing world, the job of the Nairr al Dal is not easy.
The other important job of the Nairr al Dal is as the figurehead of the religious establishment. While much looser and less constricting than some cultures, there still is an inordinate amount of politics involved in religious life. While most decisions are made on a tribal or clan level, the Nairr al Dal is the final word. He makes decision that cannot be decided at the lower levels or decisions regarding issues that are so extraordinary, they need the expertise of the religious leader. Unusual moral dilemmas, criminals who claim their deeds were justified by the gods, and other similar matters are often brought before the Nairr al Dal. The Nairr al Dal does have the authority to strip a Dalen, Dalend, or even a Tieredal of their religious title but it is only done in extreme circumstances. Most of the power to punish a religious leader is kept within the tribes.
The Nairr al Dal always resides in Tilitha and his usual domain is the Temple of Kainna, which is housed in an ancient stone building. In the past, most have chosen to reside in the temple but some have small simple abodes somewhere nearby in the city.
Adals - Special assistants to the Nairr al Dal
Adals are carefully chosen Dalens or Dalends who serve and assist the Nairr al Dal in Tilitha. Shamans are chosen to represent every deity in the pantheon, including Asurin and Aeressi. Typically, each deity is served by a small group of Dalens or Dalends. Within each group, one shaman is selected by the others to be the lead Adal. While this person holds no title above the others, he or she is respected and has authority over the others. However, the other Adals can complain to the Nairr al Dal if they feel the lead Adal has overstepped her own powers. Often, the lead Adal is the eldest of the Adals or the most spiritual. But in some cases, it can be the one who is the most charismatic or the most politically savvy.
Adals may also have Eledals under their care. Usually, these are young people who were chosen for their special abilities and sensitivity. During the Exploration stage, Tilitha youngsters wishing to be shaman are sent elsewhere to learn and Tilitha does not accept children from other tribes or clans. However, during the Sanctification stage, both exceptional Tilitha youngsters and those of other tribes or clans might come to the great city to study with one of the Adals. This is considered a great honor and only the most dedicated are chosen.
Most day to day ceremonies in Tilitha are carried out by the Adals. They perform the same function for the Kisami Tribe as the Dalens and Dalends do for the other tribes. However, they also study the Word of Dal more intently and often are asked to join the Nairr al Dal in spiritual discussions or in meditation. Among the Adal, a select group is usually chosen by the Nairr al Dal to serve with him in Kainna's temple. It is usually among these special shamans that the Nairr al Dal chooses his successors. Kainna is not always the patron deity of these Adals, but because she is the Great Mother of All, they have knowledge of her equal to one who has always served the Mother.
Some Adals may move on to become Tieredals. Others might leave Tilitha to go on missions of their own, sometimes solitary, sometimes diplomatic in nature. Many Adals end their lives as elder Adals in Tilitha. Sometimes, the Nairr al Dal will choose a successor from among Adals that have left Tilitha. This is not uncommon as those that leave are usually the ones who are the strongest in their faith and simply need to go beyond the walls of Tilitha to learn more about the meaning of life and how the Word applies.
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