A Cervitas Ceremony - Magnitude 35 - The Blooded Stone
Performing the Ceremony
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 10 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets a character who must be present throughout, but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony. They become the Prophet as described in the rules about Curses.
This Ceremony is a Curse, and therefore interacts with anything that would remove or affect Curses.
Effects
The Cursed character is constantly under the effect of Venom. This cannot be removed or interrupted in any way while the Curse is in effect.
When the Cursed character suffers a Traumatic Wound, they should inform the Marshal supplying it. The Wound will then be replaced by one of a greater Severity. If receiving a Severe Wound, the character will instead have a chance to receive an additional Severe Wound, at the discretion of the Marshal.
If the character becomes terminal while under this Curse, they are overwhelmed by feverish delirium and suffer a slow, agonizing death as the flesh rots from their bones. This agonizing death cannot be commuted by any way while the Curse is in effect - any lower level Ceremonies, herbs or surgeon actions will simply fail to do anything.
As long as they are Cursed the target experiences a roleplaying effect: You are constantly sick and in discomfort - you experience fevers and itching constantly, and your wounds never seem to close properly.
The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts for four events, including the one where it is given.
Description
The Fleshcurse takes many forms. In some cases, individuals Cursed suffer extreme rashes that will not dissipate. In others, cuts and bruises simply never heal. In the worst instances, the individual suffers both, and yet more and more and more. The Fleshcurse eats away at the very idea of hoping to heal. Graces find their trappings suffer in unique and mysterious ways, though it is unclear if this is an effect caused by the divine magic, or simply a result of the intense injuries.
This Curse is one that is hard to not notice. Visually and physically, the Cursed individual is clearly in a constant state of suffering. This begins relatively minor, but by the end of the Curse it is impossible to avoid, as the two years take their toll on body and mind. This is not a Curse to be given lightly.
Performing the Ceremony
Perhaps one of the most vicious Curses available to priests of The Concord, Betrayer's Fleshcurse risks representing everything that Cervitas is not. Actions that cause fear and harm are encouraged. Letting blood, screaming words of hate. Creating a space within which the flesh is encouraged to be weak, with hammer, mallet and tools. Creating a world in which punishment is required, with words of broken trust, written promises torn and destroyed before the Prophet.
The Prophet is expected to whether this storm of hate, particularly when the Prophet intends or is intended to keep the Curse themselves, but where they are not the target of the Curse they must be treated with kindness and forgiveness once they have completed their duty. The Anathemic qualities of this Curse should be mitigated by priests who were not a part of the Ceremony once it has concluded.