Exorcists: Sorcerers specialising in the Exorcism skill. Okay, some would
be. But all of them?
Given how many different cultures and religions have exorcists, at least
some would be mundanes, and probably most of them - and not necessarily the
least successful, either. Using Exorcism as a form of Human Psychology could
achieve very real effects.
Further, Sorcerers might find the mundane rituals useful for understanding
the skill (as there are currently only 3 Exorcism rituals).
I don't have a wide enough knowledge of real world exorcists to be able to
write them up, but here's my thoughts on the game mechanics for Rituals
different styles:
The Mystic Ritual: During a long ceremony (minimum an hour, +2* bonus if it
lasts all night) the exorcist rolls Exorcism+Lucid Dreaming [Failure means
that the exorcist cannot exorcise this patient, a lower CD means the ritual
must continue for another (highest CD) hours]; the roll is contested by the
patient's Will, and also by the Shedite's Will (if the patient is in fact
possessed). If the exorcist has the highest successful CD, the patient
successfully collapses his Dreamscape as he goes to sleep, ejecting anyone
present. (This will also eject any native Dream Fragments which have been
tormenting the patient).
A Demon, of course, will appear at the foot of Beleth's Tower, and so is no
longer a threat. An Ethereal (unless a denizen of the Tainte, who returns
there) will enter The Marches at the same location as the patient and
exorcist, and will need to be dealt with. A Dream fragment ethereally
'killed' at this point is likely gone for ever, as it hasn't had time to
adjust to The Marches.
In addition, because the patient has been lead through the process of
collapsing his dreamscape, the exorcist can monitor the patient's dreams,
increasing any use of the Knowledge(Human Psychology), Detect Lies,
Fast-Talk and Lying skills on the patient, simplifying treatment on mental
illness.
*Alternatively, the bonus is equal to the exorcists level of the Merciful
Disadvantage, to reflect the greater expertise which peaceful religions seem
to have with exorcisms.
The Scholarly Ritual: After setting up an impressive site for the exorcism,
the exorcist chants a complicated formula learnt by rote; the rote MUST be
in both the patient's native tongue AND another language, perceived as being
a scholarly/holy language (Latin, Sanskrit etc).
Exorcism is treated as a Knowledge skill in this tradition; if successful
the patient may add the CD of the roll to his Will rolls to resist a
currently inhabiting Shedite (if he does so, he loses the bonus from a
successful Perception roll). This bonus is kept until the demons leaves, and
has been gone for more than a day.
If the exorcism has been triggered by a mental Disadvantage (or Addiction)
ie "exorcise the demon causing his Angry outbursts", a successful roll (at a
penalty equal to the patient's Total Forces) will provide some protection
from the disadvantage; a failed Will roll to resist the Disadvantage with a
CD lower than the CD of the Exorcism roll is treated as a success. This
effect continues until the patient fails a Will roll versus the Disadvantage
with a CD equal to or higher than the exorcists, at which point all benefits
vanish.
A patient who does not believe that this certain to be beneficial must
resist the exorcism with a Will roll.
And yes, this CAN be used on celestials and their Discords.
The Warrior Ritual: Here, the exorcist attempts to beat the demon out of the
patient's body. The exorcist uses the Exorcism skill as a Small Weapon
skill, repeatedly striking the patient with various disturbing items.
The patient takes damage equal to the CD; however, if the CD exceeds 4, the
damage is Ethereal! (This skill was developed by trying to recreate
NC:Tongue) - Ethereal damage is inflicted on a Possessor (if present) or,
if not: any Dream Fragments (if the patient is aware of them); otherwise the
patient takes the damage!
If the patient is reduced to zero Mind Hits by the ritual, the resulting
Disadvantage will be one opposing the one which triggered the exorcism;
Cowardly for Angry etc. This may aid the patient - more likely it will drive
him insane.
Any time the exorcist fails a skill roll he takes damage equal to the CD
(which will be Mind hits if the CD exceeds 4). The exorcist MUST take a risk
on every roll, otherwise the ritual fails.
Hopefully people will have fun inflicting these on Shedim, and hapless
mortals. Does anyone have a sufficiently broad knowledge of anthropology to
describe real world rituals?
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