The Nakalem's devotion to religious introspection extends even to their domestication rituals. In order to become a member of the religious orders a Nakalem has to successfully participate in a ritual bonding with one of the unusually silent canines. Bonding to a Lycanine Shoghāl is always a powerful experience. Even the success of the ritual for a new priest may precipitate new miraculous insights in other priests. These predators are assumed by alien dignitaries to be ambush predators due to their silence but in truth Shoghāl are some of the most adaptive predators in the universe.

Foreign dignitaries are often disquieted when they realize just how many canines may accompany even one priest. The disquiet foreign dignitaries feel is viewed by the Nakalem as a reflection of their unquiet souls. To the Nakalem the Shoghāl are believed to be part of the reincarnation cycle of the Nakalem soul. They believed this long before their strange connection to the powerful relics of the Lost was discovered. 

A Nakalem who wishes to join the priests is locked within a structure called the Somber Souls. To build such a structure Steles with Feratories in their base are errected in a maze. Before the priest enters several feral Shoghāl will be released into the structure, one of whom is given a relic. The Shoghāl will immediately disappear into the maze hiding it one of the Steles. Chained to the relic is a key to leave the Somber Souls. In order to survive a Nakalem will require both protection and guide that of a Shoghāl of their own. Sometimes they bring a trained Shoghāl but some insist on the old ways finding their bond among those in the maze. A priest may have to defend himself from ambush or endure a grueling game of cat and mouse until they outlast their pursuers to impress one sufficently enough for a bond of equals. No experience is the quite the same. 

The closest thing to an ecclescial denomination within the Empire of the Nakalem are those who believe in a fundamental difference of the importance of the Lycanine Shoghāl. While the difference is slight one believes the canines protect and guide the soul of a Nakalem after death and the other believes the canine to be a new Nakalem soul. The canine is so silent and contemplative most priests secretly believe both views to be true. Regardless if it's because they are accompanied by a curious young soul or are bonded to a soul wiser than their own priests tasked with difficult research often gain insight by performing the same ritual of bonding multiple times throughout their lives.