Editing Customs of Jhelum (section)

== Temples and the Gods ==

Jhelum contains countless temples, shrines, sacred trees, holy wells, roadside images, and niches containing household gods. A prudent person shows respect even toward gods they do not worship. There are too many gods to risk offending them indiscriminately.

=== Leave an Offering ===

People asking divine favor commonly leave flowers, incense, lamp oil, fruit, sweets, milk, food, or a few copper dams. A poor person may offer clean water, a song, or a whispered prayer.

Travelers leave offerings before journeys. Merchants do so before important ventures. Gamblers make offerings after winning and solemn promises before losing.

Nightcats tend to remember the gods when dangling from rooftops, hiding beneath beds, or hearing the Red Sashes coming up the stairs.

=== Never Steal an Offering ===

Even thieves observe this rule. An offering belongs to the god, not to the temple or the priest. Taking it invites supernatural vengeance and makes enemies of priests, beggars, worshippers, and other criminals.

A Nightcat may steal the jeweled idol from a corrupt high priest. That is adventure.

A Nightcat does not steal the copper dam placed before it by a widow. That is contemptible.

=== Respect the Hour of Prayer ===

Markets do not necessarily close during prayers, but shouting, music, and public quarrels near a shrine are expected to cease while bells, gongs, or chants are heard.

Criminals sometimes use the momentary quiet to listen for approaching guards.

=== Sacred Creatures Have the Right of Way ===

Temple animals, funeral processions, priests carrying holy objects, and pilgrims engaged in public observances are given room to pass.

In practice, Jhelum also yields to elephants, noble processions, armed soldiers, heavily laden porters, runaway carts, and anything else too large or dangerous to argue with.