The Tithe
The Tithe is a ritual of blood sacrifice required of all citizens of Trandrafia by the Claret Covenant. It is taken bi-annually for each citizen and is performed by those clergy who have been instructed in its rite.
History
The Tithe began with the first noble families who gave a ritual sacrifice of their blood as a display of their and their houses' undying loyalty to the Queen. It then became customary for each noble and Celebrantii who joined the ranks or came to power to travel to the capital of Zeitaresti and perform the Tithe before the King-Consort.
After the fall of King-Consort Vaska and prior to the Viper's Revolt, the Covenant made the Tithe universal to all citizens of Trandrafia both as a means of binding the people to the newly created covenant of loyalty to the Queen and inviting Her blessings to the land and Her people. This decision by the newly appointed Claret Covenant was one of many factors that were outlined in the heretical document that led to the Viper's Revolt only a couple decades later.
Over the last 300 years, the Tithe has gone from being required by the citizenry annually to bi-annually, the reasons varying but revolving around the various ways the people have displeased the Queen (such as the creation of the vilebloods) and must be answered for by her loyal servants.
Execution
The Tithe is a relatively simple ritual in its execution. In most cases, a ritual knife or thorn is used to pierce the participant, drawing only a small amount of blood that is collected in a container. During this time, the participants are encouraged to pray to the Mother in Blood, and many stories have been told of participants having divine experiences while giving the Tithe.
Some more ancient traditions still persist among people to pierce their tongues as a ritual practice to be able to speak to the Seraphs or the Queen herself, but this is not convention.
Components and tools
Ritual knife made of stone, a bone, or a thorn, often ancient, dating back to the beginning of the nation or further.
Participants
Only those trained in the art of sanguimancy and ordained by the Covenant are allowed to perform the Tithe. In most cases these are clergy of bishop and higher, the occasional Avowed who has been given instruction, and the rare sanguimancer, or blood mage, of the Coroana Inrosita who has completed their study of the divine.
Observance
These rites are not enforced to be performed at any specific time of the year, but traditionally the period of Sunfall or eighth month when the Queen's Moon is full in the sky is when people have chosen to make their Tithes as it is the holiest time of the year. Because of this the second Tithe per year falls in the middle of spring during the fourth month when the Queen's Moon is dark.
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