The use of "acllas" was tied to kinship and the maintenance of hegemony within the empire. The family of a chosen "aclla" would be raised in social status. The "acllas" themselves would honour the main Inca gods and be honoured in return. Those not sacrificed at Cuzco might be returned to their own communities and be sacrificed there. This would create a ritual bond between Cuzco and the local region; Cuzco had taken a member of the local community and made them a representative of the central state. The "aclla" had been blessed by the Emperor and became the guardian of the local huacas. This signaled the entrance of the empire into local tradition and religion.