This article contains mentions of blood, killings, sacrifices and more blood. For he is the God of Blood. You were warned.
Overview
Idur is a remnant from the days of old, from the early days of
Hulwar as the people from outside came back into Hulwar; where his name was quite different, where he was an entire different deity called
███████.
Now Idur is the God of Blood of the human nation Hulwar, a man wearing a mask of a horned, now extinct, type of Antilope. Which gives him the appearence of a demon, but he isn't one.
Origins
Idur was dreamt into existence with Zumyar, Quelgar and Thyemis by the people of Hulwar, shortly before Luseus and Sharhardrar. He ties into the whole "blood is life" way of thinking with Thyemis, but also in the thoughts that blood is everything. Be it disease, be it death, be it life, be it food or the ties every living being has to the world and the gods.
They pictured him sitting in a pool of water with nothing around him, which makes Idur sometimes really angry, because everything he sees is red and liquid. And he loves it, the red liquid, but sometimes he just want to see different things. People. Mountains. Birds. Screaming men, women and children, all bleeding away.
Workings
Idur loves to be worshipped and he hates that he only got one ritual per year, not four for every season. The daily rituals help a bit, but he is never satisfied. He whispers to his fellow gods, try to spark quarrel, fear, anger and war between them or other nations/phanteons. He might be not the god of war, but he loves the bloodshed. For that bloodshed he will do everything in his power to make it happen.
His priests and priestess have to learn a lot about blood, veins and the ways certain diseases travel through the bloodstream. How blood can be tarnished, spoiled, rot or get infected. How one can "heal" people or kill them. How blood pressure can be used to ease the pain of child labour, to support it or kill mother and child in the process.
Due to the studies Idur doesn't have many priests and priestesses. They need to thoroughly study the blood, the mechanics of bodies - every kind of body - and the reaction of the bodies fluids with blood. And it is a test of character. Idur doesn't have a problem with that when his worshippers and his priesthood have a literal bloodbath, drink blood or do whatever with it. He has a problem with it when they lose control over their instincts and just kill without sense and waste blood. That is one of the few unplanned occasions when he shows himself and do whatever he likes.
On rare occasions he becomes hormonal and leaves his temple for a few days, maybe weeks. Either he seeks out one of his priestessess, a female follower or some female he find interesting. Everytime it is quite a party and a demigod emerges from those occasions. Idur has always a good laugh because of it.
Rituals
There are two rituals for Idur, but there can be more. Custom ones or personal ones. The mortals thought about and instituted them. The daily ritual is held in the morning and the Ritual of Flowing Blood at the end of each year so the worshippers of Idur can survive another year.
Daily Ritual
There is nothing much to say about this small ritual. People cut open a part of their body - a small cut into the finger suffices - and drop blood into a silver bowl. They speak a few words to Idur, ask for protection against blood diseases or bloodthirsty things out of their own home and conclude the ritual with a thanks that they have survived the day before. Normally Idur hears them, the blood starts to boil and vanishes.
If not... well, you are in trouble and you need to go to his temple. Maybe the priesthood or the god himself can help.
Ritual of Flowing Blood
The Ritual of Flowing Blood is a huge sacrificing event in the temple of Idur himself. He might attend himself or not, depending on his mood. The ritual itself is relatively simple. People are gathering in the main hall of the temple and bring their sacrifice with them. Nearly all of them have bought an animal of some sorts, but some individuals just don't want to live, want to have their soul and body given to Idur, so they sacrifice themself and are in the huge basin the sacrifices are gathered. Most animals are re-used or just straight away eaten in a huge barbecue after the ritual.
Once the priesthood had concluded their praises and prayers, the basin is open. That means, everyone who wishes can take a short or long bath in the blood. During nearly every monthly ritual people get drunk on the drinks and the smell of blood and so they take the bath willingly. It results in interesting activities in which the god may take part or not. Children aren't allowed to take part in the bathing and only if they are fourteen years or older they can attend the ritual itself.
Of Blood & Sorrow
"It didn't vanish...it didn't vanish... what am I going to do now? Mother, what can I do?" — A child having a panic attack during the daily ritual
"He was with me. For hours. I couldn't sleep. My body wanted him. My mind wanted him more. I don't know how much time has passed, but after he was gone, I was... like this. And at this rate I'm going to have his child in a few weeks." — Pregnant woman after a visit from Idur
"War is not his domain, but he likes it. Not because of the death and the famine, no, because of the blood. Every kill, every dying person is a sacrifice to the god of war and the god of blood. I don't think Idur can be exterminated by killing his followers. There will be bloodshed until the sun goes out and the universe collapses. Maybe he is the only true undying god, besides the Eternals." — Roland to Vrinis
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. :)