Order of the Scarlet Veil
A Hieretical Clerical Order of the Eternal Flame

[Rituals]

The order practices eight rituals on a regular basis. All eight are commonly known to any of the faithful (member or common adherent).

The Ritual of Mating

A private ritual that has drawn much attention to it amongst adherents is that of mating. The Ritual of Mating is a dominance contest where the intent is to spawn a child. It is expected that, even while it may appear pleasurable, both members of the Ritual must fight for as long as they can. The advantage in this ritual is to the female - as she must survive for the ritual to be complete. Usually the Ritual ends a few hours after it starts with both adherents suffering from broken bones, bloodied noses and many bruises. If a child is not apparent in a few months - the adherents are expected to perform the ritual again. Each Warriors of the Bloody Mace must perform the ritual at least once in their life. The Order of the Scarlet Veil are encouraged to perform this ritual as often as is possible.

Warfare

Ritualistic Warfare is practiced regularly. These are open fights where two warriors face each other in a combat to the death. It is considered unseemly to only wound your opponent - you do, eventually, have to kill him. Anything goes in these rituals. Often these rituals are performed for public viewing.

Reading the Oracles

Oracular Visions are performed as rituals once a season without any questions. The high priestess receives one vision that will guide the Order at the ceremony of her ascension - when she is blinded with a hot poker. It is the only vision the Order ever takes for themselves. All other visions are dictated either by the seasonal demands of the common adherents, or a specific question. This ritual may only be performed once every forty-eight hours.

While no one outside the Order has seen this ritual, what follows are speculations on its content. The high priestess enters the chamber of Visions - a large room with an eternal-burning brassier in its center. She disrobes and places the blood red veil over her face. An aide tips over the brassier and spills the burning oil onto the floor. The high priestess then walks into the burning oil and is engulfed in flames. If the flames do not engulf her, or if she is burned the oracle can not be made. Otherwise she is possessed by the vision and begins to dictate all she sees to her servants. The servants write everything down, and memorize the oracle for later study. The oracle is then passed on either to the gathered adherents outside the chamber, or the assembled questioners.

Coming Of Age

When a child reaches the age of majority, the gates are opened, and the child is sent outside for 24 hours. The child sits outside (regardless of the weather) with only a light cotton robe. she is expected to feed himself and survive by whatever means necessary. If she returns the next morning she is tested for membership. These tests include proving to his teachers she knows how to fight and to ride. she must also be able to repeat the litanies of the Order (sending a soul to Agrik, and blessing a battleground). she must face his teachers of combat, and best them. This combat is usually to the knockdown. If she fails these tests she is forgotten. If she succeeds she must then prepare and perform the rituals to join.

Donning the Veil

The tests of priesthood are similar to those of Warriors of the Bloody Mace. A new priest remains in solitude for a week - drinking only wine and eating only cakes made with Fletherane. During that time she is expected to discover what Agrik has in store for him. If the priest survives the week of solitude in a locked, stone room - she is accepted. If she is dead - his body is burned and she is forgotten. His sanity, should she survive, is never questioned.

On exiting the room - some priests have been known to kill those that open the door. It is said that should a priest appear at the oracle room covered in adherents blood she is then destined for great things.

Death of the Soul

The new Oracle is tied between two posts and blinded with a hot poker. She is expected to fight and only once overpowered brought to the posts. The ceremony is long, lasting almost two days - during which other priests are expected to try and advance their positions (through assassination, or ritualized warfare). This is the only time when anything (except killing the new oracle) is seen as permissible.

The new Oracle looses her name and her identity. She is stripped bear and ``sacrificed`` to Agrik. While not slain, she is flogged until the skin breaks - her soul is offered up to Agrik as if she were already dead. The first words she speaks at the end of the two days are her first unaided vision. The words, while making no sense to the listeners - are written down phonetically and eventually tell the Order what must be done in the coming years of this new Oracle's reign.

The Blessing of the Battlefield

``First they measure out an area about 10 by 10 paces. One of them takes out their sword and makes a little ditch - about a fist's depth along this border. One of the priests in red robes then enters this area, and his hand bursts aflame. Very carefully he begins setting the ground on fire while standing in the middle of it. No matter how wet the ground, even in the rain - the ground burns.

``From the look on his face, you can see that the fire hurts - but it never flows over the border, and when it finally dies out - he's standing naked and unburned. They take him away and the priests begin their chanting.''

- taken from the journals of Mithak the Curious - a mage of the Pelahan order. died mysteriously 710TR.

The blessing includes prayers and the scattering of oil over the marked area and sets it alight with an invocation. The prayers are to prepare the servants of Agrik for the receiving of blood, and at least one soul that day.

The Blessing of the Warriors

``Anyone who wants something - a blessing, someone hurt, whatever - goes up to the priests and has a red line painted from their hair line down to their groin. This red stuff wears off after a few months. Water doesn't even dull it. It's common to see some men in Fobin with this mark permanently emblazoned on their faces....

``These warriors are then questioned as to what they want - and what they're willing to do for it. Most ask to fight until the first blood, or first knockdown. A few are willing to go all the way...''

As explained by a warrior standing on the border of the battlefield, smoking dirt still clinging to his blade.

Ritual Battle

``The marked warrior picks his target from the various ranks of the KSV and the priests. A few are foolish enough to think that the priests will be weaker than the Warriors of the Bloody Maces. The priest in charge of the battle calls out the limitation, and the member of the Order of the Scarlet Veil agrees publicly to the limitation. If the warrior gives in, begs for mercy or cries out in fear - all limitations are off, and the member of the OSV strikes him down at once with all their strength.

``If the warrior has asked that he fight to the death - his success doesn't matter. At his victory, or his death - the wish shall be granted to the full extend of the Order of the Scarlet Veil's powers. He will have died the death of the just - and his place in Balgashang shall be waiting. Otherwise, if the warrior looses - his wish is denied. So - what do you say stranger? Care to give it a try?...''

Initiation

During a Lay Mass anyone who wishes to join the Order is tested before the crowd. She is told to walk along the circle burned into the grass. If she cannot she is rejected. The few who have fallen off the circle have claimed their feet were aflame, and hopped about in pain for weeks afterwards.

If the child is below the age of 12, she is allowed back into the custody of her parents/guardians with no harm befalling her.

Any woman over the age of 12 that tries to join is held at the Order's compound until the next Lay Mass. If she fails this simple test of entry, three of the members of the Order enter the circle and slay the adult with their bare hands in an attempt to purify the entrant's soul, and send it to its appropriate destination. If the entrant accepted Agrik, she will go to Balshang and be one of the lesser servants. If she did not, and was lying to the priestesses, she will go to Ak-Syst.

If she is a wanted woman, either by her family or the authorities - the Order will intervene for her. If she fails the first of several entry examinations, she will die anyway. If she succeeds, she then becomes a member of the Order and will perform penance for her previous crimes.

This page was last updated on 30 June, 2000
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