God Flesh

On the broken, ruined world of Mettigar, in the great sprawling city of Shanriteth, there exists a deeply imbedded cultural practise that horrifies and fascinates visitors.

The consumption of God Flesh.

Once a month the Exalted Order of the Cosmic Kindred gather in the highest towers of their sprawling academy. By arcane rites and plentiful sacrifice they pierce the veil between Mettigar and the Outer Realm and call forth the hungry Gods who abide there. Drawn by promises of mortal flesh to satiate their alien minds these Gods descend upon Mettigar and break through the veil.

But these Gods are invariably duped and trapped now. They cannot escape the bindings they find themselves enchained within and though mighty they cannot break free. From amongst the chanting cowled sorcerers step forth the Exalted Butchers who drive star-metal spears thick with God-killing runes into their screaming visitors. As their ichor spills it is gathered in sluices within the floor for not a single drop is to be wasted. Slowly but surely are these Gods bled dry until even their immortal flesh grows silent.

Their carcasses are taken away to be broken down and prepared for the great feast. The blood is mixed with wines and herbs into beverages to accompany it. Transformed by skilled Chefs who devote their lives to this sacred work the meat of the Gods becomes the finest delicacies. Each Chef competes to create the greatest dish for there can be no greater honour bestowed upon their kind.

And finally the feast begins. The nobles of Shanriteth gather en-masse in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace and beneath the dead eyes of their monarch, sprawled lifelessly upon her throne, are served a bewildering variety of dishes, all washed down with an alchemical brew. It is a great affair. One that last many hours. One that has become the be all and end all of social events within Shanriteth.

For those who partake in the ingestion of divine meat are granted longevity, wisdom and strength. They transcend the weakness and frailty of mundane flesh and become something far, far greater; a being of two worlds. The nobles of crumbling Shanriteth are testament to this. They are centuries old. They are wise. They are mighty. Under their rule Mettigar knows peace. It was the consumption of God-Flesh that the nobles of Shanriteth were able to turn the tide and cast back the invaders from the rival world of Xenhar. Through the God Flesh the nobles rule wisely and justly.

And through the consumption of God Flesh, the nobles, and indeed the people of Shanriteth, are quite, quite mad.

They become infected by the Divine Taint.