Disclaimer: I do not own anything concerning Red River.Red River is the work of Chie Shinohara. For the small True Blood-ish references, the TV series is the creation of Alan Ball. True Blood is based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels.
Love, War, and Blood
Alinna, earth goddess and mother, shed bitter tears after learning of Teshub's betrayal.
The supreme lord had fallen in love with Ishtar. Word came from Nergal, who originally dwelled in the heavens alongside Teshub and the rest of the gods. Nergal aspired to rule the heavens, but relations were level between them. Such was the earth goddess' pain, that it is believed it shook the Old Empire until it was almost destroyed.
As a token of his love, Teshub had the Empire rebuilt from the rubble, and had Ishtar confined to the water springs for eternity. However, Nergal was still unhappy. He demanded more from the lord, and challenged him to sacrifice his lifeblood or Alinna would be sent to the underworld. Hoping he would die, Nergal saw as Teshub slit open his wrists and ankles. Blood poured from his eyes. It is believed the blood filled the imperial springs and gave new life to the land. As a result, Ishtar would develop an affinity to war and bloodshed.
Nergal saw Teshub still lived, so he stole some of the lord god's blood and stored it in an obsidian bottle. Still weakened, Teshub tried to prevent Nergal from fleeing with the blood, but the earthly balance of the Empire was at risk. Upon Alinna's request, Teshub sent Nergal to the underworld amid a fiery blaze, away from both heavenly and earthly realms.
Legend has it that when a particularly strong plague strikes the Empire, it is because Nergal has drunk from the obsidian bottle, therefore, enhancing his powers as the lord of the dead.