The Cult of Blood

In the long history of the Realms gods have come and gone. Tied inextricably to their worshipers they sometimes fade when a cataclysm or the like claims the true source of their power. In fighting and eternal feuds sometime pit one against the other and in the end one is slain. Some say that the gods can never truly be slain and that they merely slumber, waiting for the time to rise again wearing a new mantle. Whatever the case no mortal can know the truth. In the distant past many vile peoples gathered around a particularly evil god known as Kurlorne. The rites and ceremonies of Kurlorne always ended in blood, suffering and sacrifice. In his temples skulls lined the walls and the furniture was all bones. Grim edifices comprised of the offerings to the Blood god. It is said that the priests of the blood god were so prolific in their consumption of sacrificial offerings that the blood ran like rivers from their temples. Far from pleased with the senseless murder of countless devotees of their own, some gods rose up against Kurlorne. No one truly knows what transpired other than one day the flow of blood and the prayers of the blood priests were no longer answered. Their grim auguries told them no truths. There was a horrible silence where there was once a great hunger for the blood of others.
     Currently the hierarchy of the Cult of Blood consists primarily of Wizards and Sorcerers. Clerics of Kurlorne may rise in levels as normal but are granted no divine spells. The clerics are typically multi classed characters. The cult is based in the city of Thayonestia and the high priest of Kurlorne is the Arch mage Vecna. Kurlorne was an Arch Devil and still has many followers on the infernal planes who believe that he will one day rise again. They hope that their loyalty, such as it is, will be rewarded. The cult is pouring all of their considerable resources into aiding Kurlornes return from the void. They have unearthed ancient tablets describing maleficent rites and the blood flows again from the temples.