Assi Religion

Ietsai Quoted

The Assi legends and rituals are oral, therefore making it difficult to find intact written versions regarding the history of their religion and any legends or myths. The bulk of the following information has been gathered from interviews conducted with several Assi Ietsai.

"We are a people who rely on nature. Guidance and protection spring from nature. Which in turn spring from the river. The river is sacred to us as a source of life. Life is sacred, and so is death. The universe was created in an act of death, that brought forth life. Birth speaks to death, and death to birth." Life and Death are often refereed to as male and female. Generally the Assi language is thought to be limited in this area.

"Nature comes in four parts. Each equally important and each balanced by one another. Air, Water, Fire and Earth hold the universe together and make it be. We (the Ietsai) strive to keep the four elements balanced and insure prosperity. By reading the signs and omens we can tell when it is out of balance and when to perform what ceremonies to correct it."

The Elements

The theme of elemental balance repeats itself in Assi culture. Each season is assigned a corresponding element which is strongest at that time and weakest just before it. During that time rituals are performed to keep that element in balance with the others. Air is assigned to winter, water to spring, fire to summer, and earth to fall.

The Ietsai are divided into four specific orders, each devoted to a different element and each with certain responsibilities. Ietsai devoted to water concern themselves with agriculture. They know the rituals to bring the spring rains and keep their land fertile. They also concern themselves with the marriage rituals though any order can perform them. Ietsai devoted to air watch the skies; they concern themselves with weather and with reading the stars. They are the ones who know how to read the many signs and omens of the land, and are well known for their wisdom. Ietsai devoted to earth are skilled in healing. They know and respect the flora, and know which herbs to use to heal a variety of injuries. Ietsai devoted to fire tend to the concerns of men, they know all the battle rituals well and also serve as sacrifices (sacrifice only used in time of need such as during drought or famine). Ietsai of fire are trained to deal with death as well, and are schooled in all the death rituals.

Totems

The Assi do not worship "gods" or "deities" in any traditional sense but rather worship aspects or totems of creation. The male aspect of creation (fire, air, change, and death are examples of this) is commonly represented by certain animals or animal spirits while the female aspect (water, earth, creation and life for example) is commonly represented by various trees (oaks chief among them, as the river valley is dotted with them). Some common animals or spirits are: The Bear(strength), Fox(cleverness), Hare(fertility), Stag(freedom), Bull(war), Horse(endurance), Newt(change), Snake(trickery and cleverness), Beaver(creation, prosperity), and Hawk(war).

Holy Places

The Assi holy places are sacred amongst the tribesmen, such that they will not allow outsiders near them. They are found in two forms.

The first is a standard shrine or "Temai (TEH-my)" which consists of a several oaks growing in a small grove. These groves are and have been tended carefully for centuries and can be found near any tribe's settlement. Some scholars of the arcane believe that some sort of ley lines run through these groves. Weather the groves were placed there because of that, the ley lines were some how created, or if they ever existed at all is a hotly debated point.

The second type of holy place is something more akin to a temple. There are four of them in existence: one at the source of the Nie, one at the furthest end of the Assi lands, and on the river. They appear to be small natural bowls, with stone pillars placed around them and numerous carvings inside them. Supposedly the Ietsai use this as a sort of calendar, telling by the shadows the pillars cast what stars are in what position that night. These "calendars" are critical for the Ietsai to know when to perform specific rituals. There are also chambers located directly below these "calendars", carved out of the earth, or in caves and sheltered spots eroded by the river. Nobody has been able to get close enough to tell for sure.

The Mystics

All this only adds to the mystique of the Ietsai, which are pivotal figures in Assi society. Few posses the intelligence to pursue this path, and even fewer are born into it. The share the same social standing and powers as the chieftains among the tribes, and could become chiefs if they so desired. Rather than assume that role, however, they are content to advise. They share their wisdom with other tribesman, settling disputes, offering advice, and acting as advisors to chieftains. Without the Ietsai, Assi culture would almost surely perish.