Viratas
From Mizahar Lore
 Blood of the World | |
| Race | God |
|---|---|
| Title | The Blood Catcher |
| Domain | Blood, Heritage, Connection |
| Divine rank | 3 |
An often misunderstood god, Viratas presides over blood in both literal and figurative terms.
Contents |
Domain
Blood is the elixir a life, a connection between living creatures. It is the intrinsic bond of families and peoples, a messenger of what traits and history binds them. Viratas governs over the sanctity of such connections with an emphasis on loyalty to those within one's community of blood.
Some of his principles are set out in the Viratassa.
Appearance
Viratas often appears as a man of late middle years with burgundy eyes and crimson hair. His body is broad shouldered and scarred like a warrior's. There is a depth to his expression that softens its stony lines, as if he was familiar with the grief of all who have been betrayed.
Attitude
A worshipper of Viratas would say they worship the god of the essence, life and connection. Blood sustains life, binds peoples and serves as the ultimate sacrifice. Any crime against life and community is a crime against their god.
Viratas calls for devotion to god, the Viratassa and sentient life. The prime virtues he espouses are sacrifice, loyalty and respect for all people that bear blood. However, followers have defined "people" in contradicting terms, or place higher value on their own blood than others. Especial fealty to one's family and kind is not contrary to Viratas's principles. Loyalty is an encouraged trait.
Viratas is worshipped largely by the Symenestra.
Worship
The original rituals of worship often included the letting of blood from an animal and commonly the penitent. Animals used in this ceremony would have been raised as pets by the worshiper, so their sacrifice would emphasize the gravity of the penitent's wrongdoing.
The blood is gathered in sacred glass bowls and offered up to Viratas as a covering for the trespasses against the life that blood represented. Blood from the worshipper is only given in small doses, and usually in a show of thanks as opposed to a sacrifice for wrongs. These personal sacrifices of blood are placed on a piece of parchment or fabric and then burned.
If sentient blood is spilt by a worshipper, Viratas requires a blessing over it. A common version of this blessing is said over meals: "May this blood give greater life." In Symenos: "Moz seh krevas dav'ene (give me/us) obris zhevat."
In present times, some fringe worshipers have become more violent. They see the nature of Viratas as connected to sustenance and violence instead of life and community. Their rituals reflect this shift in perspective and tend to be literal bloodbaths followed by feasting on sacrifices