The Bloodchant

The Bloodchant is an atheist clerical movement: a religion of clerics who reject the dynamic of praying to the gods for intercession, and power their spells from within, with the power of their own blood.
Blood Clerics are highly individualistic, and often fiercely independent. A number of sects exist to encompass the varying philosophies underlying the reasons why a person would be drawn to the religion.
One such sect is the Sons of Dorval, followers of a centuries dead Khalvari hero who turned away from the gods in disgust after a civil war between followers of Irfan Uri and followers of Moatilliata nearly caused the extinction of his clan. The war was initially sparked by disagreement over the verdict of a trial held by the clan council. Memory of what the verdict was or even the name of Dorval's clan are lost to the ages. Bloodchant converts drawn to the Sons of Dorval tend to resent the gods and their meddling in mortal affairs, viewing the pawn-like usage of mortals by gods in their eternal power games, and their gathering of worshipers for power, to be unacceptably similar to treatment as livestock. Individual attitudes may vary, but many Sons of Dorval extend this philosophy to hatred of other outsiders who meddle with mortals, such as devils, demons and celestials. The Sons of Dorval make up the majority of Bloodchant followers, comprising approximately 65% of the Bloodchant movement.
Amongst all sects of the Bloodchant, power and advancement are gained through deeper understanding of the self, usually involving meditation and testing oneself in battle. Some adherents aid their meditation with 'sacraments' such as alcohol or cowgrass, to enhance the understanding of self gain through meditation. Opinions about the acceptability of this practice vary wildly among individual members of the Bloodchant.
Because finding power within one's self is such a central theme to the Bloodchant, followers without at least one class level in cleric are basically non-existant. Converts who are clerics from other religions lose all abilities related to that class, and must spend a number of weeks equal to their cleric level in meditation learning to fuel their powers from a new source.