Sanguis Dei

'Of all your deeds, what's left? But shards of life, caught in a flower's beauty. Oh, Everlast! Keep her with me always.' - Lament of Keyinx, A hero of the Scale Warden

Written by Yerran

Sanguis Dei, or 'Everlast' as known by many of Light's Talon is a crimson flower that sparkles with flecks violet starlight across the petals. They have a short stalk and thin roots, making it seem like it merely blossoms from the rocky and ash filled ground of The Flametip Mountains where it exclusively grows.

Conditions for Growth

Where blood pools and covers the ground, unable to soak into the dry, ash streaked and rocky earth its flowers bloom and grow, sprouting from the sustenance of spilt life. Intense heat, thick smoke and the scent of suphur create a toxicity that plants and particularly flowers cannot survive, but for some reason these conditions only spur on the growth of the 'Everlast' Flower. After such slaughter and death the flowers sprout, seemingly from nothing, across the ash fields and rocky wastelands.

Any blood covered battlefields or members of Light's Talon that fight and fall outside of The Flametip Mountains are not blessed with the growth of flowers, a symbol to the organisation that battles upon foreign soil and not in defense of Kaln Igni, do not have the blessing of the Creator Gods.

Symbolism

The Sanguis Dei is considered a sign of tragedy and hope amongst those of Light's Talon, for it only blooms from the corpses of its members, or about them, as if each flower shows the Light of their souls finally being released. This is often how it is seen by those who fight in 'The Forever War' and they treat the fallen with great respect, often fighting over lost ground to reclaim the dead and the shards of their soul to bury or burn in the proper rites of passing. 

The 'Everlast' Flower has become a symbol of rebirth and eternal life amongst those of Light's Talon, and 'Lightbringers' aligned with the healing arts have begun to display it proudly as a badge of their station, and as an indication of their role as healers upon the battlefield.

Uses

The flower is incredibly important, not only for its symbolism but for its power. It is seen as a gift from the Creators that their war is just and that is supported by the power the flowers possess. The 2nd Guardian of the Worldgate and High Lightbringer, an obsidian Drake, by the name of Kalekoros discovered that a specific alchemical process, infused with Sanguis Dei, could grant the drinker 'Everlast' or eternal life when given at the correct time in their life-cycle. This is a closely guarded secret amongst the high order, but is given to the children of Light's Talon over a period of time, granting them and their bodies, the magic to keep young, or at least age at a hugely decreased rate. 

All of Light's Talon consider this the Creator Gods favour, and an equal exchange for what they are tasked with.

Kalekoros

The obsidian drake was the Guardian of the Worldgate for several hundred years, and oversaw huge improvements to Light's Talon. The biggest being his discovery of 'Everlast' and its use. He was also known for the creation of several alchemical treatments, weapons and dozens of inventions as the drake was more interested in exploration, tinkering and academics than battle. His Laboratory still stands amongst one of the volcanoes of The Flametip Mountains till this day and is manned by those of Light's Talon with a keen thirst for scholarly pursuits.

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Credited artists: Azuredrops