Cebrail 30, 1790 – The Holiest Principality of Sophia [1] is embroiled in a severe public health scandal following a mysterious outbreak of a bloodborne illness: Mad Vamp Syndrome. The affliction, which appears to be linked to the consumption of blood-based dishes, is challenging the very foundations of the nation’s cultural and religious identity, sparking widespread outrage and a temporary internal conflict.
For millennia, the practice of hematophagy has been a cornerstone of life in Sophia, a sacred ritual deeply embedded within the tenets of the Haemus religion and its Hematotheist denomination. Blood, revered as “liquid life” and a conduit of divine energy, is not merely sustenance but an intricate culinary art form, woven into the daily existence of the Principality’s diverse populace. This cultural bedrock is so profound that the black vampire bat—a symbol of this ancient practice—adorns the nation’s flag and emblem.
Hematophagy, a cornerstone of Haemus religion, is both a spiritual and culinary tradition in Sophia, with the nation’s black vampire bat emblem symbolizing its importance (Credit: Kenomitian)
The demand for blood is immense, leading to the establishment of the Baloz Conglomerate, a sprawling league of independent blood farmers situated on flying landmasses within Sophia. This conglomerate has long been the primary source of hygienically collected animal blood for the nation’s countless culinary preparations, from the Sanguine Sausage to the Radiant Heart Curd. Their operations, however, have largely existed outside the strict regulatory oversight of the ruling noble families and the central Haemian theocracy, a dynamic now being called into question by a catastrophic failure in public health.
The Baloz Conglomerate, a league of independent blood farmers on flying landmasses, has long supplied Sophia, but its unregulated operations are now at the center of the crisis (Credit: Kenomitian)
Reports of a debilitating new illness, Mad Vamp Syndrome, first emerged in the bustling urban sprawls of the capital. Victims presented with a range of severe symptoms, including a rapid deterioration of the teeth, a searing fever, and an alarming necrosis of the blood. The contagion, which has proven highly resistant to traditional arcane and medicinal remedies, quickly overwhelmed local clinics and larger hospitals. Early investigations by the Nosferatu of Haemus, working in tandem with the Principality’s medical authorities, quickly pointed toward a common link: the consumption of blood-based dishes. Further analysis of the affected food samples traced the contamination back to traces of radioactive material, found in blood sourced from the Baloz Conglomerate.
The outbreak of “Mad Vamp Syndrome” is rapidly overwhelming the capital’s medical facilities, with citizens presenting with necrotic symptoms and a searing fever (Credit: Kenomitian)
The revelation has ignited a firestorm of public outrage and religious turmoil. Hematophagy, as a central act of worship, has been abruptly disrupted, leaving the faithful without a critical component of their spiritual and physical sustenance. The Princes have issued a temporary directive suspending most public hemovore practices, advising citizens to consume only sanctioned, magically-purified blood substitutes. This has not quelled the public’s fury. “Our faith is being starved,” proclaimed one citizen from the capital, in a widely circulated street interview. “To deny us our blood is to deny us our communion with the Supernal. This is not a matter of diet; it is a matter of soul.” The Haemian priesthood, while supporting the measure, has been besieged with protests, and calls for an official inquiry into the conglomerate’s practices have grown deafening.
Public outrage grows as citizens protest the temporary ban on sacred hemovore practices, with one individual proclaiming, “Our faith is being starved” (Credit: Kenomitian)
The Principality’s ruling noble families have responded with a public statement of temporary outrage directed at the Baloz Conglomerate. For generations, the relationship between the governing body and the league of independent farmers has been one of convenience, allowing a sacred cultural practice to be supported by a sprawling, self-regulated industry. This arrangement, once seen as a testament to Sophia’s unique blend of tradition and free enterprise, is now viewed as a grave geopolitical vulnerability. An official decree from the Principality’s Princes announced the immediate suspension of all Baloz operations pending a full investigation. The decree accused the league of “gross negligence and a callous disregard for the sacred nature of our lifeblood”.
Beyond the Written Words, the Story Unfolds:
A representative for the Princes, Lord Valerius, stated, “The Baloz Conglomerate’s negligence is an affront to our people and our faith. The Principality will not tolerate this threat to our sacred way of life and will hold every responsible party accountable.” In contrast, a spokesperson for the Baloz Conglomerate issued a carefully worded denial of culpability. “We have always operated under the highest standards of our craft,” the statement read. “Our procedures are sound. We are cooperating fully with all inquiries and believe the source of this affliction lies beyond our farms.” The standoff threatens to disrupt the nation’s food supply chain, as alternative sources for blood, while available, are insufficient to meet the needs of the populace.
Lord Valerius, representing Sophia’s noble families, issues a powerful decree against the Baloz Conglomerate, calling their negligence “an affront to our people and our faith” (Credit: Kenomitian)
The fallout from Mad Vamp Syndrome has been swift and multi-faceted. The Principality has deployed emergency measures to distribute magically-purified blood infusions and arcane antitoxins to the most affected regions. Public trust in the Baloz Conglomerate has evaporated, and the political pressure on the ruling noble families to reform the entire system of blood production is immense. The Haemian priesthood, in an unprecedented move, is considering a fundamental shift in religious doctrine to address the crisis, potentially mandating stricter purification rituals for all blood-based products. The event has exposed a critical flaw in Sophia’s societal structure—the reliance on an unregulated, industrial entity for a resource that is both a daily necessity and a spiritual lifeline. The coming weeks will determine whether this temporary outrage evolves into lasting reform or if the Principality is destined to face another crisis of faith and flesh.
As the crisis deepens, the Haemian priesthood considers a fundamental shift in religious doctrine, an unprecedented move reflecting a crisis of faith and flesh (Credit: Kenomitian)
Notes extracted from the Kenomitian Compendium
[1] Holiest Principality of Sophia: a decadent and monarchist alliance between five Gothic Punk governorates: the Empire of Lidérc, the Dynastic Republic of Lubia, United Kulshedra, the Kingdom of Stihi and the Free State of Lugat, the Banate of Zduhać (Sophia’s extra-planetary colonies) and the Dragùa Confederacy (Sophia’s extra-dimensional colonies). Its society functions as a cult of personality around the nobility, and hematophagy is as common as wine-drinking there.
A glimpse into the Holiest Principality of Sophia (Credit: Kenomitian). See more
