The Harvest

The Harvest is a secret--or, more likely, apocryphal--rite supposedly practiced by the priests of Erlikan, Harvester of Sorrow, the imperial god of the death. The frequency of and reasons for Harvests vary from story to story. Some claim it happens on a regular monthly or yearly schedule, others say each Harvest occurs by divine mandate or in response to signs and omens sent to Erlikan's high priests. Regardless of the timing, most accounts agree that when a Harvest is ordered, each of Erlikan's priests is expected to murder one person who exhibits a specific trait within a set amount of time. The trait that victims share is different for each Harvest and can range from eye color to profession to vice. Many people believe that Harvests are designed to influence Fate  by narrowing the pool of potential contenders for a particular destiny.  
The priesthood of Erlikan denies that Harvests occur, but any streak of murders where the victims share clear commonalities spurs rumors that a Harvest is taking place. Such rumors are often accompanied by panic, paranoia, and violence against Erlikan's priests.