COMMON PRACTICES

The Rite of Hospitality

A sacred and universal custom observed across almost all cultures of mankind in the world, embodying the principles of generosity and mutual respect. It is the act of generosity and courtesy shown to strangers who are in need of food and shelter as they travel far from home or seek shelter in times of crisis. The Rite of Hospitality dictates the responsibilities of both host and guest when offering and receiving food, shelter, and protection. This practice holds profound significance, as it is believed that any stranger may be a god, saint, or other divine being in disguise.

 

Central to the Rite is a binding agreement between both parties: for one night, both host and guest are sworn to lay aside all grievances, hostilities, or distrust. No harm shall befall either party, and no theft or betrayal shall occur under the host's roof. This temporary truce is unbreakable, extending beyond personal conflicts to encompass even the sworn enemies of the host or guest.

 

To violate the Rite of Hospitality is one of the gravest transgressions in the world, viewed as a direct affront to the divine and the sacred bonds of community. Those who commit such acts are believed to invite catastrophic consequences—divine wrath, ancestral curses, or the horrific torment of their souls after death. Such betrayals are remembered in infamy, their perpetrators marked as the most dishonorable and wicked.

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Any person may invoke the Rite of Hospitality, and it is expected that all parties involved obey the custom.

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One thing that makes wretched beings such as Mosquitans and Blemmyae so evil is that they are commonly known to break the Rite of Hospitality, killing or stealing from those who invoke it without any remorse or second thought.

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"A Mosquitan on the Bed Keeps Away the Undead"

Common practice in many regions of the world is to place the proboscis or other body part of a mosquitan on, under or around one's bed or bedding. It is believed that the mosquitan part will ward off the undead and keep whoever sleeps near it safe from attack in the dead of night.