The Ritual of Terror's Allegiance

[A small, thin volume bound in black without adornment. The title is simply printed in a red Gothic script, "The Ritual of Terror's Allegiance". The latter portion of it is torn and missing.]

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

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The BOUND...Subject of the Rite

The CELEBRANT...Ritual Leader

Ryt...A Virtuous Pagan representing Impotence

Mrot...A Virtuous Pagan representing Insurrection

Retamli...A Virtuous Pagan representing Needless Suffering

Fellow Faithful, Virtuous Pagans, &c.

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The BOUND is to be attired in garb most fitted to their place among the hierarchy; armour, vestments, or other. A helmet if appropriate or a blank, cloth mask if not is to be worn.

The CELEBRANT is to wear robes befitting of their high esteem among the Faith, and a suitable mask. A ritual athame should be available on their person.

RYT wears only a white robe daubed with upended scales in yellow paint, and the hood of an executioner with an oversized powdered wig over it.

MROT wears only a white robe daubed with blue paint depicting crude armour joints, and centrally an upside-down right-hand gauntlet, palm backward; and a knight's helm.

RETAMLI wears only a white robe daubed with red paint depicting blood trickling from top to bottom, and a mask in the shape of a dove.

All others must wear concealing attire and a mask of their choice.

A PENTAGRAM of holy offerings marks the focus of the rite. The OBSERVERS, the BOUND, RYT, MROT & RETAMLI, and the CELEBRANT form a circle about this sigil.

One of the TRIAD rings a BELL nine times to clear the air, and signal total silence from all. Another lights any holy offerings of incense if present.

Taking the BOUND by the hand, the CELEBRANT and BOUND together step forward, and the BOUND faces west in the centre of the PENTAGRAM. The CELEBRANT secures a chain about their waist. The BOUND then lies upon the ground, head face-down and pointing west.

The CELEBRANT takes the western-most spot among the OBSERVERS again, then strikes the ground with the instrument once. The TRIAD step forward in unison to surround the BOUND.

The CELEBRANT strikes the ground twice more.

The TRIAD strip their robes and cast them outside the circle and genuflect toward the CELEBRANT.

The CELEBRANT intones their writ, naming the BOUND, and produces the athame.

MROT and RETAMLI extend their left hands, palms-up, over the BOUND, as RYT steps toward-