Season of Rot

The Season of Rot was a ceremony performed by priests of Hood in Unta during a pestilence.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue It culminated with the Thirsting Hour, in which the priests and acolytes of Hood stripped naked and covered their bodies with the blood of executed murderers.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue Thus attired, they roamed the streets in procession to attract Hood's sprites (or flies), which swarmed their bodies.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue
Residents who were able sealed themselves within their homes, their windows shuttered and covered in cloth. Braziers were lit to burn istaarl leaves causing a billowing acrid smoke.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue, US HC p.22
A similar ceremony was held in the city of One Eye Cat on Genabackis.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13 The festival there was called "Dawn of Flies" and the priests of Hood covered themselves with honey, which was said to represent blood.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13
== In Deadhouse Gates ==
In 1163 BS, the Season of Rot did not come about by religious proclamation or imperial decree.House of Chains, Chapter 5 It was politically orchestrated by arousing the populace with rumor and innuendo.House of Chains, Chapter 5 Thus the Empress Laseen could veil the politically motivated Cull as a spontaneous religious phenomenon.House of Chains, Chapter 5 The thousands in the mob believed they were excising rot.House of Chains, Chapter 5 After the Thirsting Hour, Heboric, Felisin, Baudin and other victims of the Cull were deported on a slave ship.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue
==Notes and references==
de:Zeit der Fäulnis
Category:Events
Category:Seasons