(both singular and plural)

The Yodhblakat - the Daughters of Blakat - are priestesses serving Blakat, the Goddess of Conflict, one of the Seven Sisters of the mythology of the Ashdod Territories. "Yodhblakat" refers to a priestess of this sisterhood, though "The Yodhblakat" refers to the sisterhood as a whole, and the same word is used for the plural form as well.

While they typically serve in temples of Blakat - the largest being on the mountain of the same name, in the Seven Sisters range of mountains outside Babel - some of their number are hired out as berserker mercenaries to those "faithful" who make appropriate "offerings" to the temple. These warrior-priestesses are known as the Slakash, or Poison Women.

All priestesses of Blakat come into the order not as volunteers, but forcibly chosen by the Yodhblakat. Roughly once every year, there is a "holy day" devoted to Blakat, determined by a complex system based upon the positions of heavenly bodies, so that it does not fall upon any fixed calendar date. During this time, the priestesses go out amongst the commoners, and select young girls, who will be taken to either serve as new acolytes at the temple, or else to be offered up as sacrifices. Young girls with red hair and/or fur are especially prized for this purpose.

This is largely considered quite an honor. Even though the Seven Sisters are the most prominent deities, Babel society is still quite patriarchal, and the loss of a young daughter is seen to be not all that great ... especially compared to the prestige of having a daughter selected from one's household for the goddesses. It is generally believed that this will prompt Blakat to turn her ire away from the household for a time, and there is the more practical benefit that, should the daughter survive and become a priestess, she may well hold loyalty to her former family, and use her connections to help it out in material terms.

There are occasions, however, when the exchange is not so peaceful. A family has the right to refuse to give over a daughter, though this right is rarely exercised. In this case, it is up to the priestesses making the demand to forcibly take the child, using whatever means necessary. If the family successfully fights off the priestess or priestesses - even if this is done by killing them - then there is no retribution expected from the Yodhblakat. The family has kept its daughter, fair and square. If, however, the priestesses prevail, they have full right to put the whole household to death, or to take survivors to the temple as sacrifices - and any loot from the house is claimed by the Yodhblakat as well.

A new initiate into the Yodhblakat is branded with the sign of Blakat - the Dagger - or else has it cut into her hide in a process of ritual scarring. The young priestess is baptized in the blood of sacrifices, and given her sole possession - a crimson dagger. It is up to the initiate to obtain for herself any other possessions she might have need for, and by force or coercion. A priestess of Blakat does not purchase or trade, and any monies that she might acquire - or any possessions she cannot carry herself - go to the temple. It is very common for priestesses of Blakat to dye their hair and/or fur red, if they are not naturally born that way already.

A priestess of Blakat technically has the right to demand things from anyone ... but, in practice, this is not done against nobility or powerful commoners, and a priestess is not wise to abuse this privelege ... for it is up to her to enforce it, without any backing from her temple at all. If a priestess demands something of a commoner, and the commoner refuses, it is up to the priestess to forcibly take the item. If the commoner successfully repels the attempt, so be it. The temple will not take any retribution against him. If the priestess succeeds, she may do with the commoner as she pleases, and the local authorities - if there are any - are obliged not to punish her. However, there is nothing to stop friends or family of the commoner from exacting retribution against the priestess, if she has abused her privilege. In actual practice, this privelege is generally only used for the purpose of claiming right of hospitality to priestesses away from the temple, and to keep them equipped and clothed.

Another important tradition to know is that it is a grave insult to ever give something to a priestess of Blakat - or to Blakat herself. Blakat takes; she is never given. A priestess is within full rights to maim or kill anyone who offends her in such a way.

The proper way to make an offering to a priestess is to simply make it obvious that it is available, and allow her to demand it herself. Pilgrims visiting the Temple of Blakat bring whatever offerings they wish to make, and the priestesses demand it from them. However, they must be careful not to bring anything they are not willing to "donate". If the priestesses are in a particularly foul mood, a supplicant could well be lucky to be able to leave the temple with his skivvies on and his teeth intact.

It should be noted that these traditions of acquisition do not apply within the sisterhood itself. If a sister gives something to another sister, it is no insult, and when an underling resists the request of a superior, the full might of the temple will come down upon her. Blakat does not steal from Blakat; Blakat may freely give to Blakat. That is the rationale behind these exceptions.