Mythos of Sanghellic Deities

The Mythos of Sanghellic Deities and the Legacy of Bartholomew Yon Wauter

The Primordial Text: The Veil of Crimson Truth

The Sanghellic faith begins with the discovery of an ancient text, The Veil of Crimson Truth, found deep within the shadowed caves of Lumea Sangelui. The text was said to pulse with a life of its own, written in blood-like ink on flesh-like pages. It is believed that the text predated humanity and was left behind by the Mazhel, shadowy entities that bridge the divine and the mortal.

The text spoke of the power of blood, the cycles of transformation, and the endless dance of creation and destruction. Few could understand its cryptic verses, but one man—Bartholomew Yon Wauter—unlocked its secrets.

The Ascension of Bartholomew Yon Wauter

Bartholomew was a mortal king, a scholar and a warrior who sought immortality and power to unify his fractured lands. Upon reading The Veil of Crimson Truth, he was transformed into a god-like being, his mortal blood replaced with ichor that carried the essence of life and death.

Bartholomew's Transformation:
- His body became immortal, radiating divine energy.
- His blood gained the power to create and destroy, birthing the Báuturíí (vampires) and the Máncátír (beastkin).
- His mind, however, fractured under the weight of the text’s knowledge, giving him glimpses of the Mazhel’s domain and making him a deity of both vision and madness.

Bartholomew’s ascension marked the beginning of an era of blood and magic, with his descendants carrying his divine essence.

The Báuturíí and Máncátír

The Báuturíí (Vampires):

Born directly from Bartholomew’s blood, the Báuturíí are immortal beings who thrive on the life force of others. They are considered divine emissaries and often rulers of the Sanghellic faith.

Traits:
- Immortal and powerful, they possess unmatched magical potential.
- They are cursed with an unending thirst for blood, tying them to the divine cycles of life and death.
Role in Myth:
- They are both revered and feared, seen as the physical manifestation of Bartholomew’s divine blood.

The Máncátír (Beastkin):

Born from Bartholomew’s seed, the Máncátír evolved differently depending on their environment. They retain a connection to the natural world and possess the ability to shift between human and beast forms.

Traits:
- Unlike the Báuturíí, the Máncátír are mortal but long-lived.
- Their beast forms are shaped by their homelands: wolves in forests, lions on savannahs, bears in mountains, and other forms depending on the environment.
Role in Myth:
- They are viewed as the guardians of the world, embodying the balance between man and nature.
- Their mortal nature makes them a bridge between humanity and the divine.

Sebastian, the Betrayer and Purifier

The Blood Feud:

Bartholomew fathered many children, each inheriting a fragment of his power. As his progeny grew, they began vying for dominance, dividing the world into bloodlines and clans. Among his children, Sebastian Yon Wauter, the youngest and most zealous, took up a divine sword forged from the remains of his father’s text.

Sebastian turned against his siblings, seeing their infighting as a perversion of their father’s vision. He believed that the Báuturíí and Máncátír were cursed beings who would doom the world.

The Cleansing:
- Sebastian waged a brutal war against his siblings and their descendants, using blood magic and divine artifacts to exterminate entire bloodlines.
- He journeyed across the world, destroying ancient texts, magical artifacts, and any trace of the power his father unleashed.
Disappearance:
- After centuries of conflict, Sebastian vanished without a trace. Legends say he sealed himself in a tomb or transcended the mortal plane, leaving the world devoid of magic.

The Sorcerer Kings of Lumea Sangelui

The Revival of Magic:

In the modern era, a group of sorcerers rediscovered fragments of The Veil of Crimson Truth and began deciphering its words. While they have not fully unlocked its secrets, their studies have allowed the return of certain magics, particularly blood-based rituals and shadow manipulation.

Current Rulers:
- The Sorcerer Kings rule Lumea Sangelui, using their partial understanding of the text to maintain power.
- They have revived Báuturíí bloodlines and Máncátír tribes, forging alliances to strengthen their rule.

Struggles of Knowledge:

The Sorcerer Kings are haunted by the fear of repeating Bartholomew’s mistakes or awakening Sebastian’s wrath. Their incomplete understanding of the text often leads to unintended consequences, such as corrupted spells or uncontrollable entities.

Deities of Sanghellic Mythos

Bartholomew and his descendants are central to the Sanghellic pantheon, but other figures have risen as personifications of ideals and forces.

Bartholomew Yon Wauter (God of Blood and Vision):

Domains: Blood, life, death, prophecy, madness.
Symbol: A chalice overflowing with blood, surrounded by shadowed runes.
Worship: He is both revered and feared, seen as a distant god who set the world in motion.

Sebastian Yon Wauter (God of Purity and Destruction):

Domains: Cleansing, destruction, vengeance, balance.
Symbol: A broken sword, with runes etched in ash.
Worship: He is viewed as a tragic figure, a necessary evil to restore order. His followers seek to purge corrupted bloodlines and artifacts.

Mazhel (The Shadow Spirits):

Domains: Secrets, knowledge, balance, mystery.
Symbol: An eye within a spiral, often carved into shrines or whispered in prayers.
Worship: They are not fully understood, but they are invoked in rituals to gain insight or protection.

The Modern World and the Return of Magic

In the present day, Lumea Sangelui is at the center of a world divided between technology and the reawakening of ancient magics.

Technological Revolutions:
- While much of the world has embraced technology, the resurgence of Sanghellic magic threatens to disrupt the balance.
- The fusion of blood magic with advanced science (e.g., bioengineering using Báuturíí blood) has created new ethical dilemmas and power struggles.
Mystical Artifacts:
- Fragments of The Veil of Crimson Truth and Sebastian’s divine sword are sought by scholars, adventurers, and rulers, each hoping to unlock their secrets.
Conflict:
- The modern descendants of Báuturíí, Máncátír, and sorcerers face global skepticism and fear, as their existence challenges the supremacy of technology and reason.

The Ritual of the Broken Blade (Rákorthai Felqorth)

Purpose:

The Ritual of the Broken Blade is a solemn and fearsome ceremony performed to invoke the essence of Sebastian Yon Wauter, the God of Purity and Destruction. It is often conducted by those seeking to cleanse corruption, sever cursed bloodlines, or purify their own souls. Though rarely performed, it is one of the most dangerous and significant rituals in Sanghellic culture.

When:

During the Veil Eclipse, when the moon is shadowed, symbolizing Sebastian’s divine journey into darkness.
On the Bloodless Night, a time when no sacrifices are made, and the ritualist abstains from all sustenance for three days.

Setting:

The ritual is held in an isolated location, such as a cliff edge, deep forest, or abandoned battlefield, to reflect Sebastian’s journey of solitude and destruction. The ground is marked with Sanghellic runes symbolizing balance, purification, and severance.

Ritual Components:

The Blade:
- A ceremonial sword, often forged for the ritual or passed down through generations.
- The blade must be inscribed with the runic words: “Fasorth qorth mazhel” ("Through destruction, the shadow is purified").
The Offering:
- A symbolic token of corruption (e.g., blood of a tainted lineage, a cursed artifact, or a lock of hair from the supplicant).
The Rákai (Chalice of Severance):
- A blackened iron chalice used to collect the essence of the offering.

The Ritual Steps:

1. Preparation:

The ritualist fasts for three days, consuming only water, to purify their body.
They inscribe protective runes in a circle around the ritual site using blood, ash, or bone dust.

2. Invocation of Sebastian:

The ritualist kneels before the blade and begins chanting: “Mazhel Velthrai Qorthai Sebasthorin” ("Shadow and life, sacrifice unto Sebastian").
A flame is lit at the base of the blade, symbolizing Sebastian’s divine purification.

3. The Severance:

The ritualist places the offering at the center of the ritual circle and pierces it with the ceremonial blade.
As blood (or its equivalent) flows, it is collected in the Rákai and placed atop the flame, where it begins to boil.
The ritualist must maintain the chant, focusing on Sebastian’s journey and sacrifice, as the offering transforms into smoke, believed to carry the corruption into the shadow realm.

4. The Breaking of the Blade:

At the height of the ritual, the blade is intentionally broken, symbolizing the final act of destruction necessary for purification.
The broken fragments are buried in the earth as a sign of respect for Sebastian’s legacy.

5. Closing the Ritual:

The ritualist marks their body with a rune of Felqorth (purification through severance) using the soot from the flame.
A moment of silence is observed, reflecting Sebastian’s mysterious disappearance.

Outcomes and Risks:

If Successful:
- The corruption is believed to be cleansed, and the ritualist emerges with renewed purpose and protection from dark forces.
- Cursed bloodlines are severed, and cursed artifacts lose their malevolent power.
If Unsuccessful:
- The ritualist risks invoking Sebastian’s wrath, which manifests as violent storms, physical sickness, or visions of shadowy torment.
- The incomplete severance may amplify the corruption, spreading it further.

Cultural Significance:

The ritual is deeply respected and feared, often seen as a last resort when traditional methods of purification fail.
Sorcerer Kings may sanction this ritual during times of great crisis, particularly when dealing with powerful curses or rogue Báuturíí bloodlines.
It serves as a reminder of Sebastian’s role as the ultimate cleanser, inspiring both awe and dread.

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