Blood Moon Ritual

Before history was recorded, in the time where Felvers feared the Giants that inhabited the majority of Elysia, the Blood Ritual was discovered by the Blood Moon Clan. They named their own clan after their success. Afterwards they exonerated the Blood Knights as they swept like a plague through the Basin of Maloros, feasting on Giant Blood. Yet they became uncontrollable to the Blood Moon Clan in their hunger. The Blood Knights drove the Blood Moon to near extinction save for a few who escaped the Valley. It was only due to the Dragon of the Valley that the entirety of Elysia was spared the hunger of the Blood Knights. Maloros Swept through the Basin and breathed fire on the hordes of Blood Knights, his magic was strong enough to break the powerful shadow magic that tethered the Knights to this realm. From the scorched grounds the Valley grew lush with magically infused plants never seen before.   In the year 230 an ambitious Felver mage, Ithom, of the Blood Moon completes a Blood Ritual in an attempt to surpass his clan yet is consumed by the dark energy of the ritual. A red moon forms over Talock, announcing the ritual. Talock is saved due to the actions of Amaria, Ardeth's Magician, who conjured a being of pure light to encompass the Knight and drive it's shadow back to the Tether. The Blood Moon clan was exiled due to Ithom's recklessness. They were hunted by the other Felver tribes and took residence in the spine amongst the Giants.   Across the sea in Valentos, in the year 1700 the Mad Valentian, Abdul Al'hazred successfully completes and records the Blood Moon within the Necronomicon. The Blood Knight formed is killed with methods from beyond the Abyss, a cosmic veil existing below Hell that spawns most foul creations from beyond time and space. However this knowledge is unknown to anyone in the world.   After this year, and after the Necronomicon has been recorded, dozens of Blood Rituals begin to spring up across Valentos. Wherever they occur, a copy of the Necronomicon is found.   Following the Valentian Uprising in 2180, the Makharib Coalition use the Blood Moon in scorched earth tactics against the Aral'bakar. Unfortunately this backfires and both sides suffer incredible losses as the newly formed Blood Knights travel fast distances across Valentos and take up residence in civilian areas that fund war efforts.   In 2184, the First Crusade is called down from heaven and Crusaders of the Monarch walk the battlefield, culling Blood Knights and any who stand in their way. Sects of both factions come together in an attempt to fight them. Another sect is formed that becomes highly devoted to the religion of the Monarch. Both factions war over territory. Valentos suffers from a Dark Age of technology and balkanizing of factions.   In 2185 the First Crusade ends and the strongest Valentian power, the Trade Coalition, begins the conquest of Valentos.   In 2456, 36 years after the first contact between Valentians and Elves, the Blood Moon Rituals spread across Trestle. A few isolated incidents of Blood Moons occur. Between 2456 and 2600 is when most Blood Knights are formed.   In 2612, the Seeker faction of elves spawn a Blood Knight within the walls of Icerose, prompting an all out rebellion and a dissenting faction of Elves that ally with the Trestilians. The Blood Knight wreaks havoc on Icerose. A Light Magician named Amrik was enlisted from Valentos to deal with the threat.

The ritual seeks to reverse the way of life and birth to spawn something that cannot be killed in the physical world and has access to powers beyond it. Yet while this aphysical thing exists in the physical world it must have a host body. To summon this thing or conjure it, Shadow magic, magic not of reality, can be used to attract the power of the Tether. The Tether holds within it the root of all evil and it transcends time, space and planar forms so it can be called upon with the right amount of power in the physical world. The Tether will form the consciousness that will inhabit the host. The circumstances of it's spawning will be horrific and backwards to the world, which will allow the consciousness that springs from the Tether to take root in the host. This ritual must be done on the night of a full moon, where the power of the arcane is most strong and the rift between worlds is weakest. The ritual must be completed on a high place for the moon to see.   The ritual requires a massive amount of shadow magic. This can be done by gathering soul shards or gemstones containing built up shadow magic. These things hold incredible power. Far more power than any ordinary Hero or Mage.   Next a host body must be given to the ritual. They must go unwillingly. Emotions are important for the ritual beckons the Tether, something that is formed from the consciousness of all minds in the universe. These emotions must be backwards to summon a dark being.   Next, 5 participants must be arrayed in an uneven number an uneven amount of distance away from the host in a circle. They too must be unwilling. First they must gorge themselves on the body of a demon. They will need to eat until they cannot physically eat any more. This weakens their body greatly and infuses them with dark magic. They must be forced to mutilate themselves until they cannot do so any more. They will form a rune with their entrails that spirals towards the center, where the host stands. This is a Blood Rune and is used in many other rituals. It must be a 5 tiered blood rune, the final tier of runic power. The rune will act as the conduit for all the horrific acts and the magic that fuels into the host body and calls to the Tether. A mantra must constantly be spoken by the conjurer to enhance the power of the act.   When this is complete, the participants may die. Next a sacrifice must be made until the Moon itself cries out in pains as it watches. One must have a willing supply of participants numbering in the dozens at least. They will approach unwillingly and slit their throat at the foot of the host body. Soon the moon will turn a deep red and the sky will match. This signifies that the Tether can now influence reality. Soon after the insides of the host body will be consumed and replaced with pure shadow magic. The Blood Knight is then given consciousness.

To commit the ritual one must posses a high vantage point with a view of the full moon. They must have a knowledge of powerful charms They must know the ancient language of magic   1 Host Body 1 Blood Rune 5 Unwilling Primary Participants Enough demon blood and flesh to sate the 5 primary participants 50+ Additional Unwilling Sacrifices Sacrificial Weapon

The Lead Conjurer usually directs the preparations and oversees underlings that do the business of kindapping participants. The Conjurer will hold them in cages or equivalent until the ritual is upon them.   In the first Blood Moon, sacrifices came in the form of giants or rival Felver tribes. Afterwards, anyone closest to the caster would be taken to the ritual via abduction. The participants are usually starved to emaciation so that they may be filled fully with demon's flesh during the ritual. While this is not necessary it provides assurance that the ritual will work.   The Host in Blood Moon and Elvish rituals was usually someone of great importance. Though this is not necessary it is said that capturing a Hero of the Light side will pervert the ritual further and lead to a being even more evil than a Blood Knight.   The Seekers have observed that by using a pregnant woman as a host, the child will be birthed with the abilities of a powerful Wraith Hero.

The Ritual must take place on a high area such as a cliff, mesa or at the top of a tower. The Ritual must be in view of the full moon.