Shiveren Beads

Shiveren beads are small glass, stone or clay beads which are earned by asheindae during their training in the Order of Scripts. These beads indicate rank, training, experience, and even beliefs within different shrines.

Types
There are four types of shiveren beads:

Shiven
Shiven beads are considered the most important of the shiveren beads. They share their name with the god Shiven, who guards over darkness and an absence of light. While the god Shiven does not guard over death, the shiven beads are considered synonymous with death. In the superstitions of the Order of Scripts, it is believed that an asheindae will die if she ever removes her shiven beads after they have been placed around her neck. Shiven beads are green.

Sef (or Arasef)
Going hand-in-hand with the shiven beads, sef beads represent life. They are considered to contain all that is good and all that grows: knowledge, plants, animals, healing and family all fall into subjects related to these beads. Sef beads are blue in color.

Hara
Named after the god of justice, Haro, hara beads are a representation of light. This is both a literal and metaphorical meaning, though it can also relate to uncovering previously unknown knowledge, wealth, belongings or even family. Hara are black in color.

Mor
Darkness is not a negative in the Order of Scripts and is broadly and frequently represented within their religion. The mor beads are a good example of that, as they represent darkness and night. They are white in color.

Significance
Asheindae are required to undergo a number of tasks during their training in the Order of Scripts. These tasks might include prayers, copying down texts, performing rituals, preparing concoctions, cleaning, or any other number of duties involved in the daily upkeep of the Shrine they reside in and the care of its visitors.

For each task they complete, the asheindae is given a single shiveren bead. The bead's type will correspond with the type of tasks they performed. These beads are sewn into necklaces with 144 beads apiece. An asheindae's training is not considered complete until she has completed a full 144 necklaces, comprising 36 of each type of bead.

While asheindae are always expected to wear their beads, most only wear the shiven beads unless there is an occasion which requires their full regalia, such as a festival or coronation. Since the weight of the necklaces is considerable, most asheindae will only wear the entirety of their shiveren beads for their ceremony instating them as a priestess when they have completed their training.