[THEORY] What if the Blood Moon bloodletting was an actual Ionian annual event?

Just a tiny theory.

What if Ionia had a dark secret? The League of Legends version of "the purge" to commemorate balance by promoting evils for a certain period of time, possibly making costumes representing old vengeful spirits from the spirit realm that are essentially demons that give their magic power by appeasing them; and using forbidden magic to commence the bloodshed.

DISCLAIMER: I believe a counter-theory is that the Blood Moon is actually just a tradition similar to the old blood moon skins - depicting the characters you see in the skins in literature and plays. (as of writing this, I think these plays may actually be related to how Jhin could've become a psychopath? not being able to see the difference between performance and actual death? he attempts to portray the character we ACTUALLY see in his blood moon skin.) There's a HIGH probability it's actually a artistic depiction of the Harrowing.

I think they also may be taking and "abusing" magic that the Vastaya revere - possibly both representing Vastaya and Demons in these displays.

Blood Moon talon, right? Blood moon rengar. The resemblance is uncanny. I believe that Talon is actually supposed to be a demon and not a human in this, but there is a possibility that it's basically someone cosplaying as a powerful vastaya. I don't know if Rengar is actually known to many Ionians, so this is probably just coincidence.

Back to the original theory, Ionia preaches balance. Neither whole good or whole evil. The Blood Moon event could be held whenever an actual "blood moon" happens to appease the demons or spirits, as we both know the celestial bodies have a huge influence over magic. As is the case with the Vastayan group comes from, and the magic was exposed to. There's probably more instances that I don't even know of.

And who do you see in probably the most ironic entry in the Blood Moon series, and called the priestess?

...

Bet you didn't see- yeah, you probably saw that coming. I doubt it'd actually be Diana, but it could very well be a Lunari (or whatever you call them - the old order)

The moon-order-group-thing could actually be low in numbers due to unsuccessful purges, or something happens after a blood moon. Dunno.

The demons themselves would obviously be part of the bloodletting as well. They get to keep some of the living energy and all that jazz that comes with ritual genocides.

In the words of a great man... But wait, there's more!

So, what happens when the "balance" is upset, you may ask? Even though you probably won't which I doubt this lil' theory will get any views?

The balance may have gotten upset when a certain somebody started killing people that were not related to the soul-craving sweet-tooth of the hemophiliac demons. it may have gotten upset when someone stopped hosting blood moon events in fear that it may have been corrupting?

Certain groups start to get a lil' angry. Certain demons, certain blood-related cultists. Certain huge figures start to get resurrected. Resurrected by odd blood-related people known as blood mages.

And then those Demons start to want more payback. They start to send people to claim more blood than usual.

Who also likes the joy of blood and such? Darkins. They're not too big of a part of this theory though.

But then again, maybe they get a much bigger part.

We all know that the Darkin are known throughout history through war and desperate times. They're most likely INCREDIBLY influential when it comes to starting fights.

Remember how "demon pants" found the corrupted bow and was able to repel Noxian invaders?

All a possible gear in the big machine of a demonic plot to sate that aforementioned sweet-tooth for blood and souls. They get tired of a dwindling carnage value, they ask some of their strength-loving and blood-loving hemomancers to resurrect an old figure to help start fights and prod that lagging producer. Producer has huge casualties and loses, but with a renewed taste for Noxian blood. A new producer, and possibly even bigger production than before if events keep continuing down this road. Chain reactions, butterfly effect, etc.

One rises from near-death with renewed power and animated blades. I have no clue if Soraka is involved. It could sweeten the deal if a Celestial's blood is added to the "prize pool." The mysterious council takes damage control and hires that murderous happy-go-lucky rifleman. A bladesman's village is poisoned by Noxus. He probably seeks to even the odds. One picks up a corrupting bow in defense of all he has, little did he know that bow may bring more despair than he knows. One picks up old techniques in disillusion with "balance." Unknowing that greater forces are at play. Later, one of the Darkin are contained and reclaimed by a follower of Zed, and also (possibly) puts himself in grave danger of awakening another Darkin... (This may be the most recent point)

To sum things up, TL;DR lunari and ionians start thing to help balance and also gain physical and magic power

abuses spirit world magic and vastayan magic

allows demons to walk with them in ritual genocide upon each "blood moon"

blood moon starts to get unpopular demons and spirits ask noxus hemomancers and persuade them to invade ionia

ionians are forced to use darkin weapons and old darker tactics to repel noxian invaders, unknowingly helping darkin/demonkind

(as a side note, i bet on seeing a blood moon shaco skin soon. but then again, he ALREADY looks like he fits. he COULD be what the blood moon skins show.)

That is all. maybe I've predicted some lore before it was released, who knows