Ceremony

A proper Ceremony is a self-contained, stylized and repetitious observance/activity that has specific requirements and accouterments and exact proscribed results. Ceremonialization/Ceremonialize is an action treatment which represents a way to amplify and extended approaches for performing mystic actions by using the same thought and energy, manifested by everyone involved at the exact same time. Repetitious Chanting is used in ritual or ceremonial proceedings that concentrates the will of the participants in order to ensure against distraction and create a better chance of success. Along with this, the source of the ritual may be inscribed with the same repetition, as multiple Mystic Methodologies may be required to complete the ritual. Many ceremonies are a specific treatment of an associated a Ritual or Rite.

Ceremonies often rely on Impractical Material Composition of involved items and materials.

Learning: Learning powerful and difficult Rituals and Ceremonies may contribute to the energy reservoirs for Chi, Focus, Mana, and/or Synergy. Mystic Offerings are almost always part of the learning or performance in some form of a Ritual and/or Ceremony. Such texts are often written and/or annotated in Elderune. It is assumed that conducting (leading) and learning a Ceremony requires the character to be Hale, or there may be penalties to the chance of success.

In a Ritual or Ceremony, the Enactor is the person leading the activity. Unless it states otherwise, if the Enactor is interrupted the associated costs to execute it are only paid if the activity is completed.

The Focus of Ceremony: Ceremony usually amplifies the power, or distributes the cost of a specific spell effect IN A SPECIFIC MANNER, WITH SPECIFIC TRAPPINGS (accouterments). It is a large component of Divine powers.

  • Reforms: If the ceremony is to enhance, and draws on powers from within, that particular ceremonial enhancement is called “reform”. The specific scope of this reform with have its own requirement(s) and impact. An example of this would be a magi’s ceremonial knowledge which has a min. skill & attribute level which boosts the normal distance of an effect equal to the reform level used as a multiplier.
  • Arrays: If the ceremony is simply to account for lack of understanding or personal power, and its power comes from an external source, the level at which the ceremony strengthens, boosts or rises to is referred to as its “array”. A ceremonial practitioner can choose to use a treatment at any array value up to the maximum they possess. An example of this would be witches master teaching a ceremony array of 3 the spell Locate the Weave to their servant. Their casting level is 3, but the time it takes to cast is multiplied by that same factor.

Trivial Ceremonial Treatment

Superficial/Pomp Only: Many rituals and ceremonies are nothing more than superficial pomp to inflate the importance of symbolic activities. These have little to no impact on the activity they enshrine, other than to signify their importance and the weight of represented ideas or elements to the community at large.

Ceremonial Treatment: Apply the trappings of Ceremony to a normally singular, non-ceremonial power.

Minor Ceremonial Treatment (Lesser Ceremonies)

Common Requirements: Minimum 1 Aptitude (varies by specific ceremony), or a sacrifice of 1 Essence to attempt.

Major Ceremonial Treatment (Greater Ceremonies)

SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE: Reference works and basic exposure alone may only provide the foundation for gaining a [mechanics based] advantage. To reflect the practice and experience to gain that benefit consistently, typically requires a cost in Character Points.

Common Requirements: Minimum 2 Aptitude (varies by specific ceremony), or a sacrifice of Essence = min. Aptitude to attempt.

Greater Rituals and Ceremonies are taxing on the participants. These greater versions maximize the amount of power which can be channeled through them to a dangerous level. This takes a toll on the participants, causing them to suffer a form of fatigue, malaise and/or Exhaustion. This often leaves them personally vulnerable right after completing greater functions, requiring protections of various sorts.

Ceremony Lores

Ceremonial Lores represent specific bodies of knowledge that allow characters familiar with ceremony practices of all kinds. This is required to be able to research and figure out a Ceremonial Treatment (if possible).