The city for conlangs

Due to the isolation from the people who had brought the settlers to ömentis for so long and the forgetting of so much information about their past led to those groups who did not follow a particular religion already, like those from Siilo or that small group in western Chika, to develop explanations for their existence which eventually, when the people had been on the planet, led to a series of varying religious beliefs and mythologies.

[edit] Origins

The origins lie so far back in the past and the mysterious origins of the people on the planet in a near complete state have led to the Sangi believing they had always existed, but on a "higher" state from which they came down and implanted their world onto the planet. This belief allowed for the easy adoption of the Buddhist idea of the eternal universe. The Sangi, though, do not strive to reach a goal of achieving their previous height but instead live through time in the belief that one day they will reach a point where it will simply happen, essentially creating a society with a ver apathetic religious viewpoint or final goal.

Their is one aspect which is predominant throughout Sangi culture know as "Blood Culture" or "Way of the Blood" whih in Sangi is "Vê Piaśil"

[edit] Vê Piaśil

The Blood Culture is peculiar in that it places great importance not only on bloodlines but also on blood, whether human or animal, itself. As in probably most cultures on Earth, it is believed blood is essentially the life-force of a living being. Some strange quirks have arisen from this though, especially a variety of blood drinking rituals.

[edit] Blood Rituals

Several blood rituals have developed over time for various situations including intimate relationships, marriage, trade, transport, meals, drink and several other aspects of life in general.

[edit] Marriage and Relationships

Of all the aspects of Blood Culture, the inclusion of blood in relationships and especially marriage is considered to be without doubt the most important. It also plays an important part in lineage and kinship as well which is still considered incredibly important.

At the beginning of a relationship it is typically considered normal to place a drop of blood onto the partners tongue as a sign they are at least temporarily committed to that relationship and with long-distance relationships being common it helps to solidify a commitment to meet each other regularly. Upon marriage a couple will typically take blood from a small cut above the shoulder tattoo representing the mixing of two family lines. After this point it is incredibly common, if not universal, to exchange blood during each and every sexual experience, although this is also common in premarital sex, which, due to the cultural views on sharing blood, will usually lead couples to stay together for long times, if not indefinitely. This is because blood is so personal that sharing it with someone is one of the largest acts of trust and love possible. This is also why is why premarital sex is relatively uncommon but at the same time why so many couples who engage in this activity will eventually get married.

Upon the birth of a child, they are, as a kind of baptism, submerged within the blood of both of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents as well as the blood of every member of their clan and phratry who attends the event. This solidifies the ties to their relatives as well as, according to belief, pass on life and bring health and good luck.

[edit] Transport and Trade

Before setting out on a trade or hunting trip, or any journey in fact, the blood of the animal used for transporation as well as the blood of every member of the trip will be put into a single cup which is passed around the members and drank, in order to share health and as a ritual to bring good luck. A second container, now a small bottle with a lid, will contain exactly five drops of blood of every person and transport animal on the journey and will be carried by the lead member, also as a symbol of unity and good luck and, more specifically, to warn away bad luck.

If this were a trade expedition into a phratry area then once reached, the members of that phratry will make a small incision on the inside of their right hands and shake, sharing blood between them, reuniting phratry lines.

[edit] Food and Drink

Blood culture enters into food and drink at every turn when it involves and animal. Originally stemming from a combination the idea that blood is a transcendent life force and that nothing should be wasted from a food source if at all possible, upon the slaughter of an animal, irrelevant of size, it is drained completely of as much blood as possible as well as having the heart removed. The blood is mixed in with an alcoholic beverage similar to vodka, i.e. clear and 30-50% alcohol, creating a blood red drink which is served with either the whole heart or parts of it, depending on the distribution in the drink which is eated whole from the drink. The remaining meat is then redistributed first among the family and then amongst the rest of the community, which in turn creates an internal gift-exchange culture. The blood was drained so that as much of it could have been drank outside the dead body. The blood and heart are considered to be still alive after the death of an animal so they are removed as soon as possible to prevent any aspect of death entering them and "passing it on", i.e. it is considered unlucky to eat the heart or drink the blood of an animal after it has been dead for a long period of time, usually a day or two.

[edit] "Vampires"

Despite this focus on the importance of blood as a kind of transcendent force it is overwhelmingly clear that Blood Culture is based on the idea of sharing and treasuring blood. The Sangi people do, however, believe in a concept close to our vampires. They may in fact be real depending on how you interpret the meanings of vampire. Essentially Sangi vampires are beings and people which take blood through greed, basically stealing blood. This in many parts of the Sangi inhabited territory is considered as bad as rape by the majority who see it as an invasion and theft of one of the most precious and certainly most personal things an individual has. Some people do actually commit such acts against people and the very fact these people exist at all is considered disgusting in itself

Sangi Mythology