Rites of Saint Palamedes

Rites of Saint Palamedes

Consecration

Ritual: Prayer, Sermon
Roll: Resolve+Theurgy
Duration: Special
Range: Touch

The theurgist consecrates an object, turning it into a vestment (see above). Vestments lose their sanctity over time, as well as if used for an inappropriate purpose (going against the will of the Pancreator or the Church, or acting egoistically, etc.), or if bartered for money or favor. As long as it is well cared for, the vestment continues to aid the theurgist in performing rites, until the duration of the right ends.

Consecration of Sacred Ground

Ritual: Sermon
Roll: Presence+Theurgy
Duration: Special
Range: Sensory

This rite is a theurgic variant the Temple Consecration sacrament. It can only be performed on a site already consecrated through the sacrament, such as most churches, temples and shrines within the Known Worlds. This “upgrades” the holy site to also be a place of theurgic energies, but unlike ordinary consecrated places, the theurgic version has a limited duration. A theurgically consecrated sacred ground is impassable to creatures created or made manifest through occult means, such as husks, demons, specters, etc. In addition, occult powers performed within the sacred ground, or across the border between sacred and profane ground, suffer a ‑4 penalty. Powers already in action when the rite is cast, or that pass into such a sacred ground, will come to a halt prematurely.

Immortalize

Ritual: Sermon
Roll: Resolve+Theurgy
Duration: Permanent
Range: Touch

This rite is a theurgic version of the Cleansing of the Shell sacrament, and allows the theurgist to forever sever a dead person’s connection to his or her mortal shell. The target, who must be a deceased person for whom the Cleansing of the Shell sacrament has been previously performed, can henceforth never be affected by occult or diabolic powers or effects, and can never become a restless dead (i.e. a Husk, Specter or similar creature). A person already affected by such effects may be forever laid to rest by this rite, once he or she has been buried or cremated and had the Cleansing of the Shell sacrament performed on his or her behalf.

Investiture

Ritual: Sermon
Roll: Resolve+Theurgy
Duration: Special
Range: Touch

The Rite of Investiture is used to turn a suitable object into a Tabernacle. A Tabernacle created in this fashion adds a number of points equal to the VPs rolled to the bearer's Faith for the purposes of calculating the number of Theurgic rites the bearer is able to perform a day. A tabernacle, properly cared for and prayed over regularly remains potent indefinitely. If it is not cared for properly, however, the blessing will fade within a few weeks.

Oath to Saint Palamedes I

Ritual: Sermon
Roll: Presence+Theurgy
Duration: Story
Range: Sensory

Inspired by the Oath of Fellowship that the saints pledged to each other at the time of their worst trial, this rite binds a group together in friendship and trust, in a theurgical version of the sacrament of Holy Congress. The pledge must be made at the start of some specific task (lasting one drama), such as a journey or mission. Every member of the pledge receives a +2 bonus to any goal number when enforcing Orthodox tenants. Theurgist members receive the same bonus when casting further rites of Saint Palamedes I.

Betraying the pledge comes at a terrible price, as Oathbreaking is a Mortal Sin tarnishing one’s soul mirror. The +2 bonus is turned into a ‑1 penalty to all goal numbers; lasting till undertaking a pilgrimage or some other holy trial redeems the offender. In addition, Oathbreaking theurgist members of the pledge can no longer call upon rites of Saint Palamedes I.

The Prophet’s Censure

Ritual: Blessing, Prayer, Sermon
Roll: Presence+Theurgy
Duration: Scene
Range: Sensory

The theurgist gives an enemy of the faith a taste of divine wrath, by reciting the first two lines of the Prophet’s Admonishment of the Unbelievers and making the sign of the barred jumpgate at the target. This is a reverse of the Holy Blessing, and penalizes the target in a particular task, causing him to suffer a ‑3 penalty to the goal number. The effect lasts until the target has made the roll for the particular task censured (including acombat action), or till the scene is over, whichever comes first.

The Prophet’s Holy Blessing

Ritual: Blessing, Prayer, Sermon
Roll: Presence+Theurgy
Duration: Scene
Range: Touch

The theurgist traces the jumpgate cross or presses a religious icon to his companion’s forehead, thereby bestowing a blessing upon the target. This grants a +3 goal number bonus on one specific roll about to be performed.

The Righteous Assignation of Penance

Ritual: Sermon
Roll: Intuition+Theurgy
Duration: Permanent
Range: Touch

This rite is a theurgic version of the Penance sacrament. When someone needs absolution for sins bearing occult significance, such as Hubris, Urge, certain curses, diabolic taints etc., the Righteous Assignation of Penance may be required to deal with it. Note that the subject need not be personally responsible for the sin in question, especially when he or she has been the target of hostile occult forces or diabolic influence, as the Church doctrines teach that unholy taints can only be wrought onto those who are not free of sin. Therefore, it is possible to confess the sins that allow such influences to take hold of the target, and it is even possible to confess sins one is not aware of or remember having committed.

Sanctification

Ritual: Blessing, Prayer, Sermon
Roll: Resolve+Theurgy
Duration: Story
Range: Touch

Sanctification purifies an item of evil taint, removing any evil, psychic, theurgic or demonic trace present. The tainted object simply loses this effect and returns to normal. Once sanctified, the object can be further purified through Consecration. This is favored in the Church culture as an ultimate symbolic triumph over evil.