An Arcadian Ceremony - Magnitude 8 - The Thunderbolt
Performing the Ceremony
Performing this Ceremony takes at least 2 minutes of roleplaying. This Ceremony targets two characters from the same Band, who must be present throughout but need not be one of the priests performing the Ceremony.
This Ceremony is an Enchantment. A target may only be under one Enchantment effect at a time.
Effects
The two target characters from the same Band gain the ability to deliver the Venom effect on any strike that would deal damage once per day. The character may spend 1 energy to call Immune to the Venom call.
If both characters recover all their energy from an effect within the same minute, it also recovers the uses of this ability for both of them.
As long as they are enchanted the targets experience a roleplaying effect: You are powerfully driven to outshine and outdo the other member of your Band who you are linked to. You must compete and be better at everything you both do, even at risk to yourselves.
The roleplaying and mechanical effect lasts until the end of the event.
Description
At the conclusion of the Ceremony, the two targeted individuals instantly develop what can only be described as an intensely passionate collegiate rivalry. There is no bad blood between them (at least, no more than they had to begin with), but they will do absolutely everything they can to be better than the person they are linked to in this. This covers everything - social interactions, games of chance, tests of athleticism, precision work - everything at all. It even compels them to genuinely compete at things that one or more of them have no actual skills in at all, which can sometimes lead to spectacularly poor results.
The upside, of course, is that the blades are coated with a venom of the mind that is empowered by the acts done by the linked individuals in effort to beat each other. This venom quickly acts to make the heart and lungs of an affected individual languid and weak, hastening their demise if they are cut down.
Performing the Ceremony
As a Ceremony that is going to lead to some level of antipathy and conflict between the two targets, many priests use the Ceremony as an opportunity to actually help them reconcile any existing differences that might exist between them, and to support them in understanding that anything that might arise in their competitiveness should not poison their relationship moving forward. There are, however, two schools of thought to this, and some priests believe that the effects of the Ceremony will be enhanced if the two targets are already competing before the effect takes hold, and will have them either fight or do some other competitive activity in an effort to acclimate them to the feelings that will be driving them for the next few days.
Drawn from The Thunderbolt, particularly through its aspect of The Striking Serpent, snake symbology, as well as poisonous and venomous materials or creatures of any walk of life are familiar sights in these kinds of ceremonies as focuses and components, drawing down the Grace of Arcadian into those present through the intention and will of those present. Either fast and loud, or quietly intense, this is never a long Ceremony, with priests wanting to get the blessed out into the world in order that their competitiveness might begin in earnest.