Bloodhooded Brothers

The flag of the Bloodhooded Brothers

The **Bloodhooded Brothers**, also known as simply **The Brothers** are an exclusively male cult that reside in the **Old Vale** in **Albria**. They are the only religious cult recognized by the **Albrier Government** and most of their practices are unknown to the Albrian government. They believe that Valil, the Lord of Death and Blood, is the most important God.

## Beliefs

The **Bloodhooded Brothers** believe in ten different **Thanites** (Hells) but also a dining hall that resembles heaven and other afterlifes called the "Bloody Hall." **The Bloody Hall** is a dining hall where you eat for all of eternity in the presence of the God Valil and have grand feasts with an unlimited appetite, but the only way to get to **the Bloody Hall** is by being *one* of the **Bloodhooded Brothers**.

The ten **Thanites** all are settled in the mysterious dimension of **Thanatos**, a realm only the dead or those who govern over the dead can enter. From deepest to highest the ten **Thanites** are:

1. Haddenair
2. Plutear
3. Apach
4. Angarmr
5. Helhageg
6. Shigagor
7. Micte
8. Makere
9. Cerburn
10. Supremica

The **Bloodhooded Brothers** believe that you get sorted into a level of hell depending on how much blood you've split in your life, with most warriors being believed to have gone to Supremica. Allegiance to the Brothers until death guarantees your afterlife will be in the **Bloody Hall.**

### Initiation

In order to join the Brothers you must take an oath called the *Oath of the Bloody Hall* and be sworn in by the 5 current **Councilmen**. You then must face the Trials of the Brothers where the 5 Councilmen organize a trial best suited based on your weaknesses to see if you're simply fodder for Valil or if you're competent enough to join the Brothers.

> "By the crimson rivers that flow through the Empire of Darkness I bind my soul to Valil and forsake all other paths that will lead to the ten Thanites, I will reach the Bloody Hall, I will become one of the Brothers."
>
> Godfrey Dornot swearing the Oath of the Bloody Hall

### Holy Text

The **Azurith** is the **Holy Text** of the Brothers. It is split into 10 "Vessels," 30 "Veins," and 60 "Mottos."

Vessels resemble chapters of Holy Texts but are all instructions on different types of sacrifice. Inside each Vessel are 30 veins, which are just a smaller way of categorization. Mottos are 1 sentence summaries of parts of **Vessels**, parts of **Veins**, entire **Veins**, etc. To quote the **Azurith** you'd cite both the **Vessel** and **Vein**, such as "Avidara: Vein One" or "AVDA: V1." The **Azurith** was believed to have originated inside the Old Vale, placed by **Azurithea** - the mortal daughter of **Valil** and an author of many sacred books. It was discovered eventually, though the time is unknown, and revolutionized how the **Brothers** do rites and rituals.

## Practices

### Styles of Worship

The Brothers and their styles of Worship do not vary much, nor are there different denominations, but the Brothers each have different tasks and jobs they are assigned to. They are:

1. **Butchers** - Butchers are responsible with supplying the Brothers with as much meat as they possibly can, and are to pour all blood they can into a gold dish that is later placed in a shrine for Valil.
2. **The Brotherhood** - While technically a part of the clergy, they are assassins trained to kill all that threaten the safety or power of the Brothers and are to protect any Brother they encounter, even if it costs their life. The Councilmen dictate most of what they do, and they are simply puppets in a much greater scheme.
3. **Shrine Brothers** - Shrine Brothers are responsible for keeping the shrines clean and giving blood and other offerings to the shrines of Valil. It is considered the easiest but most important task that the Brothers must do, and majority of the Brothers are Shrine Brothers.

The **Brothers** preform sacrificial rites. There are clear instructions on what scarificial rites and rituals to do in the **Azurith**, which all Councilmen must read in full.

### Social Norms

There are many social norms and social rules that the Brothers must follow as instructed by the **Azurith**, such as:

* Butchers may never switch jobs and are never allowed to consume nor prepare any vegetables or anything that is not meat. They also will be killed have any Brothers been killed by their cooking.
* Shrine Brothers cannot ever put themselves before the shrines of Valil.
* No person may ever defy Valil.

There are also other norms such as not using Valil's name for common affairs and only speaking of him when it is required. They vary person by person depending on the person's devotion, but there is a list of rules in the 3rd Vessel, the Vessel being called "Jurablood."