Audio Broadcast | December 1st

[lonelysmiles]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for tuning in to 666 AM with me, your host and local Radio Demon, Alastor!

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Alastor! It isn't Saturday yet! You're spoiling us!"

Indeed I am, dear listeners, for I was approached by a very lovely lady who wanted to help get us all in the winter holiday spirit regardless of what specific winter holiday you in particular celebrate! I was so touched by her offer and enthusiasm that I saw no reason to deny her!

With all that out of the lady, do sit back and enjoy the performance of a lady who requires no introduction as she serenades us all!

[The music starts with thirteen tinkling bells. Then a very familiar woman begins singing, and anybody who has been around Reverein long enough realizes just who Alastor is allowing to perform on his station:]

[It's the Siren. She's back again for another year!]

Comments

Sender: Hu Tao

[localweirdo]

I have to admit, as lovely as she sings, I do not have any real knowledge of Christmas.

I'm afraid I just know it is a holiday where you give gifts to others.

[lonelysmiles]

Christmas is a bit complicated largely due to so many overlapping traditions.

Religiously, it's the Christian celebration of the mortal incarnation of the Creator who was gifted to the world to pay the blood price for humanity's sins. Up until then, it was traditional to sacrifice a lamb as an offering to cleanse one of their sins so that when they died, they would be able to join the Creator in His house to live forever after they died. All that's required is to accept the gift and then strive to live the rest of one's life on a more virtuous path without sin.

There are other religions who have their own celebrations around the same time, but I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination on those.

Secularly, it's a way to lift the spirits in the dead of winter. With snow heavy on the ground, people had to deal with dwindling food supplies and shorter days. Not to mention the cold that could kill someone in their sleep. Quite depressing, really. The idea of a holiday in the middle of it all to give gifts and celebrate time with one's family and friends helped bolster their spirits long enough to reach the springtime.

[localweirdo]

In other words, this holiday has special meaning depending on whoever the person might be. How interesting, I have never heard of a holiday that could hold so many meanings. While I am aware that there are many celebrations for Gods back home, it seems interesting to hear of one that would require a sacrifice in such a manner.

But I do not disagree in needing holidays during difficult times to help boost people's spirits up! Even though death is only natural, it can be rough to handle such a thing.

That and who wouldn't love gifts and food anyway? It seems that I might have to join in and give things out as well.

[lonelysmiles]

I don't believe it's that He Himself requires the sacrifice, but perhaps the laws of magic itself. Blood magic is one of the most ancient forms of it, after all. The Creator only knows for certain.

Wonderful! I do hope you enjoy yourself!

[localweirdo]

Now you have made me curious.

What is this blood magic you speak of?

[lonelysmiles]

Precisely what it sounds like: It's magic that uses blood as a source of power and binding. Given that it keeps someone alive, it's a powerful ingredient in spellwork because it contains the purest essence of one self aside from the soul. It was one of the earliest forms of magic practiced because there's no need for complex drawings or anything like it.

[localweirdo]

I see.

I certainly hope such things were used with caution as it seems like it would be a cruel thing to keep someone alive.

[lonelysmiles]

Some saw it as an honor to be sacrificed for the good of the community. Others used prisoners of war to "volunteer" their blood.

Of course, willing sacrifices provide more power than unwilling ones. However, emotion can be used to heighten blood magic power. Fear and pain were a good way to boost the unwilling's contributions.

[localweirdo]

I see.

I'm still not sure I completely understand but it seems that I'll have to accept some things are out of my control. Which can be somewhat difficult for me.

[lonelysmiles]

Think of it like a more violent version of dreamotion: Emotions can have a strong influence on magic in general given magic -- when you get down to the nitty gritty -- is controlled via will. Strong emotion can heighten one's willpower like determination or anger or weaken it like fear.

Blood is vital to one's survival and comes the closest physically to the core of one's existence and vitality, the soul. It's raw energy in its purest form at that point which makes it an incredibly potent ingredient. As the owner of that blood grows older and begins mixing with others on a more carnal level, powerful emotions to, as the old saying goes, "get one's blood up" can make up the gaps in power when compared to more barbaric practices such as sacrificing newborns who are completely untainted.

It's also the source of many different beliefs surrounding the potency and desirability of virgin's blood in regards to magical creatures.

[localweirdo]

Sounds rather gruesome! Aiyah, that sounds a little too much even for someone like me! Either way, it makes me wonder what kind of world you live in to have such blood magic like that.

Especially when it sounds like if one were to use it wrongly, it could have some terrible consequences. Hopefully that isn't common.

[lonelysmiles]

It's not commonly used nowadays. I believe I'm one of the very few practitioners left but I typically sacrifice my own blood when I make use of it. Unless someone really irritates me.

[localweirdo]

...Is that a warning? Should I be worried then?

[lonelysmiles]

A warning? Ha! No. Just a statement of fact, my dear. The level of irritation you'd have to induce in me would be the result of something any halfway sane person would find abhorrent!

[localweirdo]

Then that's good to hear! To think, I might have accidentally unleashed something so terrible that I have doomed all of us.

[Pause]

But at least it makes my job easier.

[lonelysmiles]

In what way? Because now you have me curious!

[localweirdo]

You are talking to a funeral director! Dealing with multiple dead bodies is my job!