A quick guide about Protherians & deals with demons.
Head's up! This post talks about human and animal sacrifice, and though I won't get into minute detail, it will still be present throughout as its at the core of Protherian belief.
TLDR: Welsh farmer and patriarch Corwyn Prothero made a deal with a greater demon, some three centuries ago. In return for reverence, sacrifice and devotion, he and his ilk would receive good crops, good fortune, privacy and stability. Ever since, traditions and rituals have sprung up to make the downright simple truth more digestible: from moon-cycle based sacrifices to equinox-celebrations. Early in the 20th century, the then-patriarch attempted to relocate his group to the US in an attempt to shake their demon and never ending debt. It, naturally, didn't work and did disgruntle said demon quite a fair bit. Ever since seeing its wrath, the commune has lived in greater fear of it.
Click HERE for a visualisation.
The Protherians (named after their once-founder, whose painted image still hangs in mess hall) can currently be found in the area of Moosehead lake, where a large estate is the home of a small, self sufficient community. Contact with the outside world is limited and extended to a fair few, who do business with nearby towns.
Over the centuries, Protherian scripture has become the base of the cult's beliefs. There are biblical themes and stories there, though they do not believe in God. Stories like that of Abraham and Isaac, as well as Noah, however, are often referenced. The texts are seen as absolute truth.
When speaking of the demon with whom Corwyn Prothero made a deal all those centuries ago, they prefer to use the word gythraul or simply It. Most people have not seen it (and those who claim to have might be lying), though there are drawings. Yes, the demon has goat legs. Yes, It might have chosen to appear that way to scare the bejesus out of previously god-fearing people.
There is a soft hierarchy within the cult, with elders having the highest position. The patriarch (often a direct descendant of Prothero) stands at the top of society. In two instances, this role has been filled by a woman — but the commune is quite a patriarchal mini-society.
Mentors are highly revered. Most other members are just that, and tend mostly to the farming, livestock and other tasks that keep society turning. There are commune-wide referendums, though they are not always heeded by those in charge.
Keeping their followers in check with fear is an effective method, though there are other means as well. Disobedience and cynicism are not met with kindness. Desertion means being disowned. Generally speaking, these measures are not taken often due to a lack of need.
A lot of the fabricated beliefs are based in nature. With their lives still so tied to the change of the seasons as well as the whims of the weather, perhaps this is only logical. They celebrate each equinox with large feasts, bonfires and dance.
While Protherians are superstitious in nature, they don't subscribe to most Anglo-Saxon superstitions and have their own ways. A bone in your pocket, an innocent creature bled out, a chicken heart on your doorstep, a smear of blood on each cheek. To be connected with death is to respect life.
They are very respectful of all living things, but also deeply revere the cycle of life and death. It's why sacrifice is such a fundamental and core part of their community.
Animal sacrifice is deeply normalised and is part of most celebrations and rituals. In the centre of the estate stands an altar, where fruits, flowers and at times, dead animals are placed to appease gythraul. Every blue moon, the best sheep of the flock is bled out — its coat dotted with braided flowers and scented with infused oils.
Every fourth blue moon, it is a young adolescent in stead. This knowledge is shared with the intended sacrifice after the end of a previous cycle and the rest of their life is lived in preparation of the best thing they could possibly do for their community. Human sacrifices are sanctified when alive as well as dead, given the best portions and nicest room.
The person receives lamb-rib necklaces, rabbit phalanges to keep under their pillow and dried flowers to hang in their room. To have someone among you destined for death is in and of itself something honourable and holy.
It is said the person's destiny is solidified due to their date of birth. The one born closest to the latest human sacrifice shall be destined to fulfil that role one day. Such was the case for Wynne.
(This is a lie. At the end of the day, there's nothing special about Wynne. It exists make it so that the elders and patriarch can't be blamed for choosing someone to die: leaving it up to fate is more easy to accept, for most.)
Modernity is largely rejected, though there is electricity and radio. There even is a router somewhere on the estate, as a few mobile phones — but this is not at all advertised and limited to elders alone.
Clothes are mostly handmade and, thus, rather traditional. Plaids, cotton, wool. Simplicity.
They aren't necessarily traditional in all other ways, and do have a tendency towards 'hedonism'. Corwyn Prothero rejected Christianity, after all, and his community soon started to live in what they had once considered sin.
Children are homeschooled and do learn a fair bit of the outside-world curriculum, though are always taught to take it with a grain of salt. Mentors teach them to look down on modern society and their brutish, self centred ways. They have lost their way.
The threat of gythraul is very real, no matter how Wynne doubts it at times. When the community moved across-seas in an attempt to shake It, they met its wrath as it claimed young souls, leaving the commune child-less in 1934.
Wynne fears their abandonment has caused another event of sorts, though they cannot bring themself to do the research needed to find out. Any thought of what they might have set in motion leaves them frozen and shut off — so it might be a while until they find out.
Allow me, then, to lift the veil. The birth order makes no difference. Wynne was only ever special because they were told as much, because they were adorned with flower-bone wreaths. All that gythraul requires is a young life ended before its time. When the elders found Wynne's bedroom empty and their coffers depleted, they held their head in their hands for a moment.
That night, it was Wynne's brother Iwan they laid on the altar in stead.
