The Origin of Blood Rituals
A drinking horn originating from the nomadic ancestors of the Venari peoples. This specific horn was last used at the Crossing of Seven’s Pass by the leaders of the Wandering Tribes to sign a non-aggression treaty.
– Allow me to correct you, my friend. Blood rituals are not Venari customs, strictly speaking. They have been present even before the Crossing. There are numerous writings from early settlers that mention the involvement of blood in our past nomadic ancestors’ daily life. In fact, the very reason the wandering tribe leaders sealed our fate through a blood ritual, mundane as it must have been, proves it. Why would they reach for a custom that was not already theirs? Why utilize such a ritual without knowing all participants will treat it as ever-binding? Of course, I do not deny that we have built upon these ancient customs, perhaps even expanded it beyond its original purposes. Still, that does not mean we had invented it.
Indeed, honouring blood is not at all a new notion that us, settled peoples, created. Regrettably, the scholarly pursuit of unveiling the secrets of our ancient past is not a priority of the university, receiving a laughable amount of funding that is more insulting than helpful. I have written to the Vaida of Erdom, hoping he might understand the necessity of such studies. I have heard whispers of his newly acquired thirst for forgotten legends and histories – even forbidden rituals.
But we shall discuss this further once you are back from your voyage. May the Stars guide your steps.
– from a letter by Professor Erenhal of the University of Monda