Way of the Warrior Saints/Saint Bael

Saint Bael

The dark hunter, lord of the chase and night wind, master of the wild hunt, harrower of the dead.

Legend

If Bael was a man he lived long ago for his image has been found etched into cave walls and stones where no soul has walked for generations. The stories of him are many and varied but the legends all agree on certain points. Bael was a mighty hunter, a man who no beast could escape. With his hounds, hawk, and horse he ran down and slew deer, boar, wolves and any other animal he set his mind to. One day while hunting he spied a glorious beast, a white hart with antlers and hooves of red gold. Bael sounded his horn and began pursuit immediately. Seven times seven days Bael chased the White Hart, through forest, field, swamp and fen and finally on a rocky mountaintop the Hart was brought to bay. The hounds had cornered the White Hart against a rock wall and Bael moved in with his spear to make the kill. The beast looked him right in his eyes, into his very soul then turned and fled into a cave Bael would have sworn had not been there before.

The cave was narrow and his horse, hounds, hawk and even his spear had to be left behind. The cave was dark but as Bael squeezed through the narrow passage he saw a red light ahead of him, leading him onwards. Bael crept through the cave for three days and three nights then the crevasse open up and he stumbled forward into the red glow he had been following. The White Hart was there in front of him. Bael heard words then, words that changed him forever but he never spoke of them.

It is known that the White Hart walked over to Bael and laid his head on the saint's shoulder and Bael took his knife and cut out the stag's heart. Bael ate the heart and was made anew.

Practices

Priests of Bael do not spend much time with books, the records of the saint's deeds are memorized and recited in long sagas and most of these priests believe writing dulls the memory. There is however, much art and Bael can be depicted as a hunter with the head of a falcon, hound, or horse.

Obviously sacrifice plays a large part in the reverence of Bael and in ceremonies conducted by his priests. To devout followers every hunt is a sacrifice to Bael and a sacred act. Oftentimes the quarry's hearts blood will be used to adorn the hunter, or if the hunt was called for ceremonial reasons, saved to be used at the ritual. It it rumored that members who gain rank in the cult of Bael are baptized in the blood of ritual animals.

Peasants often speak of Bael as the master of the Wild Hunt, where the ignoble dead are chased across the night sky by the saint and his faithful hounds. Those favored by the saint are said to have a place by his side after death, joining him on his terrible ride while they wait for the End of Days.

Despite being a saint in the service of the Father of Earth and Stone Bael is still worshiped as a god in more remotes areas of the faith. Devout members of the Cult of Bael, whether or not the pay lip service to the greater church, wear their hair in a complex knot known as the Hunter's Tail. The rites of these Baelites can sometimes be shocking to those not tainted by heresy.

Notable Scripture

"A fair shot deserves its mark." (Purity from the Slain, Chapter 2, Saying 11)