Sacrifice

From Neverend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chthonic

Sacrifices can take place on altars, pyres, mounds, hilltops, and tables. Sacrifices allow the placed object to burn, turn to ash, or rot.

Sacrifices are based on intent, such as a specific god, a specific category of god if the name is unknown (nature, fire, death, sun), or a specific property (victory, luck, humility).

Sacrifice is "ready" to occur when an item is placed, or a living creature is placed. The sacrifice occurs when successfully killed, burned, destroyed, or rotted. Preventing the sacrifice occurs when the subject is removed early or "rescued."

Sacrifice may require reading a poem, song, note, passage, chant, mantra, prayer, or message. It may require dance, self flagellation, or group suicide.

Certain gods like certain sacrifices, and will find other sacrifices inappropriate. This depends on item, ritual specifications, and those present. If any of these steps are not performed, the sacrifice is less "efficient" and pleases the god less. An improper sacrifice angers the god and causes negative effects including bad weather and disease.

Sacrifice can grant health, power, luck, prosperity, farming bonuses, building bonuses, combat bonuses, magic bonuses, necromancy bonuses, etc.

Sacrifice may also summon certain beings. Lesser beings include weak servants, elementals, and creatures who can assist until they die or run out of time. More powerful creatures include golems, dreadnaughts, daemons, dragons, demigods, titans, and more powerful monsters. Powerful effects include massive citywide prosperity, health, regeneration, monster creation, protection from enemies, and offense towards enemies.

The most costly sacrifices will call the god itself to help. This more often fails, and will anger the god, causing negative effects. When successful, the god will arrive and help if it is not busy with something already. The god may not be loyal, especially if it is whimsical or evil, and will not hesitate to perform actions of its own will, such as destroying its followers, buildings, causing weather and devastating spells, and wreaking destruction on a massive scale.