The halfling Rain priests that revere Ahrachuah as their patron, the so-called “Sacred Children of Ahrachuah” are divided into several sects based on their assigned roles in the community.

Children of the Thunderous Clouds

Goal and Purpose of the Sect: Defend the Basin of Ahrachuah
Sect Image: A grimacing cloud
Alignment Choices: Lawful Evil
Minimum Ability Scores: Strength 17, Constitution 17, Wisdom 17
Races/Gender: Renegade Halflings, regardless of gender
Required Proficiencies: Non-Weapon: Administration, Anatomy; Weapon: Ceremonial Knife

Duties:

• Ahrachuah expects her Children of the Thunderous Clouds to guide their siblings in the proper administration and defense of the Basin. They provide guidance for the other Sacred Children of Ahrachuah in all matters, and they are viewed as the voice of Ahrachuah within the community.

Rights:

• All: The Thunderous Clouds sit at the top of the caste system put into place by Ahrachuah, and there are no rights that they are denied.
• The Right of Psychometabolism: the Sacred Children may not alter themselves physically without the intervention of a Thunderclap - no healing, no metamorphosis, not even tattoos without their say-so. Special allowances are sometimes made, however, for specific individuals in the other sects. When the Thunderclaps revoke an allowance, they only give a single notice of the revocation before meting out a devastating punishment.

Children of the Torrential Gale

Goal and Purpose of the Sect: Eradicate defilers & the undead
Sect-Image: Cloud raining arrows and spears
Alignment Choices: Lawful Evil
Minimum Ability Scores: Dexterity 17, Constitution 17, Wisdom 17
Races/Gender: Renegade Halflings, regardless of gender
Required Proficiencies: Non-Weapon: Endurance, Hunting; Weapon: Hail Sling

Duties:

• Hunt down and eradicate defilers and the undead. Young Torrential Gales are given the name, description, and general location of a specific target when they come of age; this is a test of their mettle, which will prove their worthiness to be granted the Right of the Hunt, if or when it is complete.

Rights:

• Church Trial: may behave as they choose and may only be charged or prosecuted by Children of the Thunderous Clouds. They also typically flaunt the use of forbidden psionics.
• Right of the Hunt: As independent agents of Ahrachuah’s will on Athas, the Children of the Torrential Gale are given leave to seek out their quarry as they must. They are taught to ignore the laws of outsiders, and are encouraged to use guerilla warfare and attrition tactics in their pursuit of their targets. They are not required to return home but are not forbidden from doing so either.
• Restrictions: The Torrential Gales are forbidden from ever stepping a foot in the High Swamp, being viewed as a heretic and traitor if they ever do so and given no mercy. They are not for the High Swamp, they are for cleansing Athas of the blights brought upon her by fools!

Children of the Curled Leaf

Goal and Purpose of the Sect: Stand vigilant against invaders
Sect-Image: Rain drop above a leaf curling to collect it
Alignment Choices: Any Lawful
Minimum Ability Scores: Dexterity 17, Constitution 13, Wisdom 15
Races/Gender: Renegade Halflings, regardless of gender
Required Proficiencies: Non-Weapon: Astrology, Hunting; Weapon: Atlatl w/Javelin

Duties:

• Astrological Omen Reading: they read the stars on behalf of the Thunderclaps, utilizing their knowledge to analyze the stars and provide their answers.
• Vigilance Against Invasion: the Curled Leafs roam the canopy heights across the basin, keeping watch for outsiders.

Rights:

• Access to the heights above the High Swamp: the Children of the Curled Leaf cannot enter the High Swamp unless summoned, but they may move through the canopy above it.
• The Right of Psychokinesis: none of the Sacred Children of Ahrachuah may use Psychokinetic powers except for the Curled Leaves. They largely use Psychokinetics to climb or fly between trees or to observe the stars from above the trees and clouds.

Restrictions: The Curled Leaves are restricted to the trees of the Basin; they may walk the branches of the canopy, but they are not allowed to walk the earth (the roots are not earth) or swim the waters of the High Swamp. When summoned to the High Swamp, they wear wooden clogs to prevent their feet from touching the holy land.

Children of the Thirsty Loam

Goal and Purpose of the Sect: Enforce Ahrachuah’s will on all things
Sect-Image: Raindrop dropping from a leaf onto two branches intertwined before branching apart again
Alignment Choices: Lawful Evil, Lawful Neutral
Minimum Ability Scores: Strength 17, Constitution 15, Wisdom 17
Races/Gender: Renegade Halflings, regardless of gender
Required Proficiencies: Non-Weapon: Carpentry, Forestry; Weapon: Axe-Club

Duties:

• Infrastructure Management: they are responsible for directing the growth of roots and trees to shape features of the community as Ahrachuah commands.
• Internal Tribal Policing: the Thunderclaps gather the Thirsty Loams to enforce their decrees among the population.

Rights:

• The Right to Roam: The Thirsty Loams are unrestricted in their travel of the Basin, except for the High Swamp, into which they can only travel when summoned. They may, however, climb the trees or dive the depths without prohibition.

Restrictions: The Children of the Thirsty Loam have no right to property except for their weapon, their shield, and a single slave (the slave, however, has no restriction on their property rights and is usually heavily laden with items the warrior considers useful or valuable).

Children of the Crashing Flow

Goal and Purpose of the Sect: Safeguard the history of the Sacred Children
Sect-Image: Flood debris appearing as a jigsaw puzzle of common tribal weapons
Alignment Choices: Lawful Evil
Minimum Ability Scores: Dexterity 15, Constitution 17, Wisdom 15
Races/Gender: Renegade Halflings, regardless of gender
Required Proficiencies: Non-Weapon: Deep Diving, Endurance, Swimming; Weapon: Short Sword

Duties:

• Oracular Omen Reading: the Crashing Flows partake of the vision-inducing gases that collect in a number of flooded caves which bubble up from the depths, believing they are receiving secrets directly from Ahrachuah.
• Tribal Historians: collect, preserve, and retell the stories of the Sacred Children of Ahrachuah.
• Tribal Secret Police: the Crashing Flows are vigilant against insurrection from within.

Rights:

• The Right of Clairsentience: only the Crashing Flows may practice Clairsentience, using it to monitor their brethren for rebellion.

Restrictions: The Crashing Flows may not wander more than 200 feet from a body of water deep enough to immerse themselves in, finding themselves restricted to the water courses of the Basin. Those who might be sent afar are given special dispensation, carrying “Mother’s Tears” with them in a specially prepared gourd.