Temple of Shepherd (Patreon)

Shepherds were an old organization. Their history started over a thousand years ago in the temple of Spandaramed on the isolated island of Akdam on the great lake of Vangolu. According to legend, the organization was started by escaped slaves seeking refuge in the temple. Spandaramet was one of the Khnamakaner (Guardians), and she was the guardian of the earth. Spandaramet was a contradictory goddess. She was a guardian of the underworld and the goddess of fertility and rebirth. She represented rebirth and renovation through death. Because of her contradictory nature, she was largely worshipped by mercenaries and warriors—especially the organization of slavers known as Vahagnians. Through slavers, Spandaramet becomes the most important goddess also for the slaves. 

Worshippers of Spandaramet used to accept safety-seeking slaves in their protection if they discovered the owner was very violent and mistreated their slaves. Later temple of the Spandaramet nominated slaves under their protection to evaluate stories of new refugees. People named the organization Shepherds of Slaves. Their role was to set rules and regulations for slavery. They also ruled the process for manumission. Slave dealers and owners hated Shepherds from the beginning, but because they were working under the temple of Spandaramed, haters were powerless. 

The matriarch called Mayrik leads shepherds of Gods. Nobody knows how many Mayriks there were because they were the organization's most sacred and protected myth. Later Mayrik, which means mother, became known by the name Ayah. 

According to legend, Ayah was a secret daughter who was expelled to the end of the living world. She was cursed to eternal work, and as a mark of her slavery, she was carrying shackles around her wrists and neck. She was doomed to wander around the shores of the Sevget with her cattle. Because the stony trail was narrow, cattle were in danger of falling into the land of the dead. So Ayah was keeping cattle safe with her shepherd's rod, but from time to time, she sacrificed one for her protector Spandaramet. 

Slaves have two major goddesses, but Ayah is more important to them. Goddess separated from Spandaramet was a gift to enslavers. Now they had a new tool to control their slaves. Slaves and slavers repeat very often words: Shepherd is watching, and Shepherd is protecting. 

Temple of Ayah always has a matriarch, Mother Ayah. In addition, mother Ayah has a few K'ahana known as Shepherds. They move among slaves and keep an eye on the law around slavery. K'ahana is followed by a few monks who are assisting their commander.