The Brides of Carnage

"The glory of the arena, and the euphoria of bloodshed!"

The crowd roars with sick, twisted pleasure as the combatants tear each other to bloody ribbons in the arena, as the bloody serpent god watches over the fight. This is what the Brides of Carnage cult are built for. Founded by elves said to at one point have been Drow, the Brides of Carnage make for some of the most ruthless arena organizers and fighters in the world. Though their presence in the world is tolerated, it is only just, as it is said these bloody warrior woman have an almost unquenchable bloodlust, for their god always demands more blood and murder to be sacrificed to him, and to benefit themselves.

Culture

Fighting, dying, sacrificing, prayer, these are the the lifeblood of the Brides of Slaughter. Every battle must be in praise to Kalinor, every opponent bisected or maimed is done with his terrible wrath. Their life in their main fortress of Har Karond and the many temple arenas around the world are largely built around preparing and honing ones skill for the blood games. These games are opened to the public for completely free, and as such many come to watch the grand displays of blood and gore. However all of these activities are built around their true goal. All the blood of the arena and whatever they spill in the world is saved to be poured into great cauldrons of boiling blood. These cauldrons are magical in that it will never overflow, and any excess blood is given to Kalinor. However the cauldron has the added effect of when used in rituals, regain the vigor of ones younger years. Some of the members of this all female cult are suspected to be some of the oldest living people in the world, with the High Oracle said to be there since the founding of the cults. It is for this reason the Brides of Carnage have such a terrible bloodlust, for they always yearn to regain youthful vigor of those they slaughter.
It is said that these rituals can also bring about many great changes, with those few who know of the Cauldrons suspecting it to be some form of blood magic. Stories of strange new creatures given the blessing of Kalinor in a grand bloody ritual, turns these once Drow into some type of Lamia, with the upper half of an elf and the lower of a serpent, in reference to their great god. These are known as Medlasai, and they are born with 3 drops of blood from Kalinor himself. This grants them undying loyalty to Kalinor, and also a burning hatred for the demons of the world. Another type of "cauldron Born" are the Khirinar, who are strange winged elves who are said to be combined with the blood and bones of great deadly vultures from Har Karond as they ritualistically bathe in the Great Cauldron. They are sent in flocks to fly around and root out any demonic precense as well as keep their temples safe, and it is said even find blood to spill.
Those Elves who make up the Brides of Slaughter are a strange mutated type of elf, that only births females, and so typically will court outsiders to replenish their numbers. They used to be Drow, but it is quite clear that much has changed of their bodies. Their eyes are no longer the blood red of the Drow, and their skin resembles more human skin tones, however some cultural ideals still linger, such as the proclivity to wear less covering clothing to show ones bravery, and it seems the cruel nature of Drow has been amplified in the Brides. These elves typically refer to themselves as the Kalinites, and it is said no finer gladiators exist in the world, save for maybe Praelia who the Kalinites consider to be good friends due to their obsession of arena combat. The society is also strictly matriarchal, and are incredibly distrusting of allowing outsiders into anywhere inside their temple that isn't the designated arena area, as they feel no one can truly comprehend the beauty of Kalinor.

History

The origins of the Brides of Carnage are shrouded in mystery, and their god is even more mysterious and debated upon. However a few theories exist, with one being largely agreed upon. Long ago, while the surface nations were still in their infancies, the Elves had already spread across the world, however the Drow remained untouched in the Underdark. Their dark pantheon would form, however, some Drow would in time come to find Lolth revolting, and the Drow god of war, Selvetarm, to be nothing but a mask put on by the Arch Devil of slaughter. So in a grand exit, a large group of Drow would exile themselves to the surface, however they would find that not only was the surface unwelcoming, but many of the new kingdoms were scared of the Drow, as their kind had been known to raid unsuspecting villages in this time. So the exiles would wander, before eventually taking to the Leanan Sea. It is there that while harried by the ever wrathful storms of Ivlena, and Lolth shouting curses at these exiles, that suddenly the voices of both were blocked out, and the sea quieted.
A voice called out to them, a dark, sinister sounding voice demanding the exiles come to him. With no other option, the exiles would sail to that lone island with the great mountain. There they would find a grand temple, built around an even grander arena. It was here that the exiles were told that should they give worship to their new god, Kalinor, untold power and eternal life would be there's. For any Drow, the choice was simple, and for these exiles even more so. Lolth had proven herself weak, and Drow have always been taught to despise weakness, if this god could grant them such power, then how could they not refuse? They accepted, and soon they named their island Har Karond. There's was a fortress steeped in shadow and blood, and after this much of their history is unknown
It was long ago that the Brides of Carnage would set up fighting arenas in the cities of nations. While these arenas bring entertainment to all, many still find the Brides to be off-putting or scary. However, seemingly no attempt of even raising concern over there beautiful killers has ever been raised. This is because while the Brides put on a show of being area fighters, that is only half of the truth, as they typically carry out assassination plots, and also seem to have a love of butchering demonic cults that threaten society. While these blood crazed elves may have a terrifying bloodlust, as long as they serve as the tools for scheming nobles or simply destroying the presence of demons, they are tolerated for now...

Religion

Kalinor is the one and only god of the Kalinites. He is the God of Murder and Bloodshed, and though some argue that he sounds similar to Selvetarm and even the Arch Devil of Salughter Argath, they are completely different. While both of these gods represent uncontrolled, blind massacres, Kalinor represents ritualized murder and bloodshed. Violence done with purity of purpose, and done with respect. The Kalinites do not butcher women and children just for the simple sake of fulfilling some psychotic bloodlust, but they kill in ritualized, practiced, services as this is the only blood that is pleasing to Kalinor. He is also said to be a serpent like god, that drips blood from his fangs.
It is said Kalinor regurarly keeps in contact with many of his followers, who have all been granted a single drop of blood, thereby effectively being married to Kalinor. He is the perfect killer, and as such must be worshipped by all the Kalinites should they still wish to keep his blessings. Through him he taught the Brides of Slaughter the gift of eternal youth, and the power to become some of the fiercest killers in all the land. He is said to hate the armies of hell and Lolth, for both are demons that he is said to have fought during the primordial age of the world, where demons and great monsters roamed the land, and few of the current races were even born, or were simply dirty ape things living in tribes under caves. It is for this reason that Kalinor seeks to oppose the armies of hell and their many cults wherever they may show up, and so should a demonic incursion come to pass, Kalinor will send his brides to reap a terrifying toll upon the demons and the fools who sold their souls to their worship.

"Murder most Vile!"

Type

Religious, Cult