Macinfex, God of Butchers
Deity
Macinfex is the (demi-)god patron of butchers. For the world at large he is a minor figure, often considered to be barely a divinity or dismissed as an up jumped saint and honored only occasionally in an odd window of butcher’s row. Salt in Wounds is not like the rest of the world however and here he is a if not the primary deity worshiped by many, respected by all. Only the church of Septum Soletirmus the Coin Everlasting boasts as much influence in the city and its ranks are almost exclusively comprised of the rich. In Salt in Wounds, worship of Macinfex extends to all classes and all peoples.
Worshippers and Clergy
Macinfex’s clergy are very much entwined with the economy of Salt in Wounds and carefully monitor the selling of meat. Cleric inspectors survey the merchants, insisting that butchers and sellers throw away (or feed to the ghouls) old, potentially dangerous cuts of Tarrasque, and ensuring that portions and quality are carefully labeled all as part of their religious observances. Devout worshipers of Macinfex are known to be obsessed with taking things apart to better understand their workings, extending an interest in the anatomy of all living (and even some non-living) things. The Tarrasque’s imprisonment is seen by Macinfex’s cleric devotees as the butcher god’s greatest gift to humanity: abundant, eternal food for all. It is no surprise that his worship is most fervent amidst the God-Butchers with devotion bordering on religious fundamentalism a practical requirement for aspirants reaching the rank of Master God-Butcher.
Temples and Shrines
Temples and shrines are found everywhere in Salt in Wounds with some doubling as the more prosperous Process Guild locations. The High Shrine to Macinfex is however located within the Fortress Salzinwuun proper and considered the church’s most holy location. Of late, thanks to a compromise, numerous ghouls have joined the Church—much to the consternation of a traditionalist faction who believe undead creatures to be an abomination and disruption of the natural order of death their god represents. Rumors swirl about these ghoul con-verts (and other heretics) performing blasphemous rites that extend butchery to sentient creatures but nothing yet has been proven.
Holy Texts
To Cut, to Eat, To Live is a thousand page holy text of Macinfex’s church detailing how death properly prepared allows for eating and thus life, interspersed with parables and stories about the god alongside specific diagrams for butchering various creatures (including the Tarrasque). For most laypeople, a simple print showing the butchery diagram of a single animal rich in esoteric meaning serves as a distillation of the much larger corpus of learning.
Appearance
Macinfex is usually is depicted as a thin, smiling, good-natured bearded human figure wearing a leather apron splattered with blood.
Dogma
Flesh is for the eating, pain is for the lessening, and skill, knowledge, and craft pursued through hard work provide for all.
NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF THE GOD-BUTCHER
High Priestess Sendara Clevandastor is a middle-aged halfling that gained her position through unquestioning devotion to her god and consistent demonstrations of his favor.
Priest Davorine Krandow is a female ghoul who has become the de facto leader of her race with-in the church, often clashing with traditionalists (which Sendara seeks to respond to with compromise).