Overview
Upon becoming Knyaz of Vale Sangora, Brencis outlawed every religion but his own creed, which he names the Blood Covenant. It now stands as the mandatory official religion of everyone dwelling in the valley.
Brencis stops short of declaring himself God, yet he plainly styles himself God's messenger and foremost disciple. He insists he alone can shield the people from plague, foreign meddling and whatever calamity the future may bring.
The Covenant obliges every subject to surrender their blood to Brencis; in return, Brencis shares his own blood, a draught that mends all sickness. Attendance at Blood Mass is required — and naturally, no one may criticise the Knyaz, since that counts as blasphemy.
That is the whole of it: a handful of plain rules, simple to recall. And still they have turned everyone's life upside down.