Qualifications

A nginy has been inhabited by dream spirits of all six animals of the ushaadfaay, the zodiac of the Id faith. Because not every dream spirit is in the form of these animals, there are often many more dream spirits that reside them, but each animal of the zodiac is there. The presence of these animals ensures a natural spiritual and psychological balance in the person. This also helps other dream spirits find the dreamer, who is connected to the nginy.

Requirements

Demonstrating proof of which dream one possesses spirits has always been contentious. The spirits may manifest in the rearrangement of voice, facial tension, or changes in sensory perception, so being able to accurately divine for certain whether someone has truly earned the rank of nginy before they embark on their first collective dream is often difficult. However, one also has to survive the Zaay, or Gate, that connects dreamers. Nginys have to cross the gate in order to join the dreamer and help them acquire their dream spirit. Failing to meet the expected qualification results in death.

Responsibilities

Nginys are responsible for helping people meet dream spirits and encourage dream spirits to remain inside the bodies of various dreamers. This includes arranging the sleeping quarters for the ritual, as well as providing and preparing the umgyutnee herb consumed during this time.

Because a nginy is more aware of the waking world while asleep than the dreamer, they are also responsible for keeping the dreamer asleep and undisturbed.

Benefits

Nginys are very popular. They have proven themselves to be spiritually adept by making such strong connections with at least six dream spirits. The dream spirits provide wisdom and, in some sense, even their own experiences to the nginy, who can then develop further. Nginys are associated with wealth, as well, as charging for services could get pretty expensive.

History

No one knows who the first nginy was. The members of the zodiac are aware of the important role that nginy play in the world, and they provide the instruction for the nginy to cross the gate into another dreamer's dream. Multiple different accounts of "the first" are common, but usually there isn't malice between those who hold different interpretations.

Nginys began to charge for their services only after the Dry Age. Some individuals became well known for their services, sometimes able to help others become nginys themselves very quickly, and soon money began to part hands. This has the unfortunate consequence of monetizing dream spirits, who will try and find ways to escape if this goes too far.

Notable Holders

The first nginy to charge money was Tsonrooz, well known for helping six people in six days become nginy. At first these were often accepted donations, but soon it became expected to bring money or something to barter in exchange for services. Because of the exorbitant prices that Tsoonrooz was charging, one of the dream spirits found a way to detach itself from their body and disappeared. Tsoonrooz was no longer a nginy, one of the many few who ever lose the title.