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[[Category:Ceremonies]] [[Category:Rules]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=CM-140525-1147.jpg|align=left|width=550}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Prosperity.jpg |align=left|title=Cardinal Ynez di Caricomare of the Church of the Little Mother ministers to the fallen|caption=Religion is a core facet of life for Imperial citizens.|width=350}}
Every religious skill requires a dose of [[liao]] to use. Liao is provided to everyone who ministers to a congregation, which is a [[Resource overview#Personal Resource|personal resource]]. A starting congregation resource produces five doses of liao per event.
==Overview==
Religious skills allow characters to invoke and influence spiritual forces. In the Empire, religious power comes from following the Way, the official faith of the Empire. Characters who practice these skills are often referred to as ''priests''.
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Every religious skill requires a dose of [[liao]] to use. Liao is provided to everyone with a [[congregation]], which is a [[Resource#Personal Resource|personal resource]]. Unlike a [[Magical skills#Magician|magician]], a priest does not receive any innate power to use their religious skills. If you intend to make use of your ceremonies, it is well worth considering choosing a congregation for your character's personal resource.


The majority of the religious skills involve the creation or removal of [[Auras|auras]]. These are [[Magic_overview#Roleplaying_effects|roleplaying effects]]; they can affect a person, an item or an area but they have no mandated rules outcome.
A starting congregation resource produces five doses of liao per event, and also allows a character to participate in the business of the [[Imperial Synod]] - the political body that guides the Empire on spiritual matters.
<table class="wikitable" style="width:250px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;">
<tr><th>The Seven Virtues</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambition]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Courage]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Loyalty]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Pride]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Prosperity]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Wisdom]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Vigilance]]</td></tr>
</table>
The [[dedication]] skill is a prerequisite for every other religious skill. By taking the dedication skill, you can also choose to begin play dedicated to one of the Seven Virtues. Priests who are not dedicated to one of the Seven Virtues are called "Priests of the Way". They can still use all the religious skills but their ability to use the anointing, consecration, and hallow skills are significantly limited.  


Priests can work together to perform most religious skills. Each priest who contributes to a ceremony must have the relevant skill and must consume a dose of liao, but doing so helps to strengthen the effect and make it harder to remove. A priest may only support another priest if they are dedicated to the same virtue as that priest or if they are not dedicated to any virtue.
Some religious skills place [[aura|auras]] on [[anointing|people]], [[consecration|places]], or [[hallow|objects]]. These ceremonies create [[roleplaying effects]] that can affect how someone plays their character. The auras a priest can choose from are determined by their dedication. For example, if they are dedicated to [[Ambition]] they can only use their skills to create [[auras of Ambition]].


Religious skills do not require touch, but do require you to be close enough to touch the target. If there are multiple participants, they must be close enough to touch the target or another participant. You must complete at least 10 seconds of [[appropriate roleplaying]] to use a religious skill.
Using a religious skill is usually referred to as "performing a ceremony."


==Using religious skills without being dedicated==
==Performing a Ceremony==
Dedication, anointing, consecration and hallow create effects that depend on the virtue dedication of the priest leading the ceremony. Characters who are not dedicated to one of the seven virtues cannot lead such a ceremony but they may always contribute to make the effect harder to remove and lead, or contribute, to the other ceremonies.
<table class="wikitable" style="width:250px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;">
<tr><th>Religious Skill</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Dedication]] †</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Anointing]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Consecration]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Exorcism]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Excommunication]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Hallow]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Insight]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Testimony]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>† Dedication is a prerequisite for all other religious skills.</td></tr>
</table>
* '''Requires a dose of liao and at least ten seconds of appropriate roleplaying.'''
* '''May require the presence of a referee.'''
* '''The target must usually be close enough to touch and present throughout.'''
* '''It should be obvious to everyone nearby that you are performing a ritual.'''
* '''Priests can cooperate to create more powerful effects.'''
* '''The ceremony fails if you or your target are hit or attack another character during the performance'''
While there are some exceptions, performing a ceremony requires a dose of liao and ten seconds of appropriate roleplaying. Some ceremonies also require the presence of a referee. Individual skills may call out exceptions to these rules (such as the ability to perform a [[Insight#Performing_a_Quick_Insight|quick Insight]]).


==Dedication==
The target of a religious skill must usually be close enough to touch, and present throughout.
*'''You must purchase the dedication ceremony before you can purchase any other religious skills'''
[[The Way|The Way of Virtue]] recognizes seven fundamental virtues. This skill allows a priest to dedicate another pilgrim to the virtue that the priest leading the ceremony is dedicated to. A person may have their dedication removed with exorcism or by replacing it with a more powerful dedication. They my only be dedicated willingly, and with knowledge of the virtue of that they are being dedicated to.


Any character who has purchased this skill is able to act as a guide when someone consumes True Liao. A character who consumes True Liao can choose to have a single character with the dedicate skill act as a guide. Although that character does not experience a past-life vision of their own, they do share the past-life vision of the character who has consumed the Liao.
If you are using a skill that creates an aura, you need to specify which aura you are creating. For example, there are four [[auras of Ambition|personal auras]] that a priest dedicated to Ambition can create with anointing. They must tell the target of the anointing which aura they have imbued.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sermon.jpg|align=right|caption=Priests use their skills through the performance of a religious ceremony.|width=450}}
Priests who are not dedicated to a virtue cannot produce auras, but can use their skills to remove them (and they have some special benefits when it comes to cooperating with other priests).


A character who has purchased this skill during character creation is entitled to choose to begin play devoted to one of the seven virtues.
==Cooperation==
* '''Characters with the same virtue may cooperate to perform a ceremony with a higher strength'''
* '''Characters with different virtues may cooperate if they are part of the same [[sect]]'''
* '''Every participant must have the appropriate skill'''
* '''Requires one dose of liao for each participant'''
Characters with the appropriate skills can cooperate to perform a ceremony with a higher [[Aura#Strong Auras|strength]]. Strength means different things for different skills. For example, strength determines how hard auras, such as those created by anointing, hallow, or consecration are to remove or replace.


==Anointing==
All characters collaborating to perform a ceremony must have the appropriate skill and ''either'' all be part of the same sect (a sect ceremony), ''or'' all be [[dedication|dedicated]] to the same virtue (a virtue ceremony). Characters who are devotees of the Way can assist any virtue ceremony; they cannot assist a sect ceremony unless they are a member of the sect.
A priest may use this skill to perform a ceremony over an individual. This creates a roleplaying effect that directly affects the recipient of the anointing. The roleplaying effect is chosen by the priest leading the ceremony based on the virtue they are dedicated to. More information, including details of effects, is available [[Ceremonies Overview|here]].


==Consecration==
Each participant can use one dose of liao.
A priest may use this skill to perform a ceremony over an area creating a roleplaying effect that affects that area. The roleplaying effect is based on the virtue the priest leading the ceremony is dedicated to. Stronger consecrations replace weaker consecrations, or one can be removed by an exorcism of equal or greater strength. More information, including details of effects, is available [[Ceremonies Overview|here]].


==Excommunication==
Only the [[insight]] skill provides no benefit for cooperation.
This skill can be used to excommunicate a character. A character who has been excommunicated cannot make use of liao or use any skill that requires liao. Any priest with the skill can participate in an exorcism - the more priests that participate the harder the excommunication is to remove. The excommunication can only be removed via a sufficiently powerful exorcism.


==Exorcism==
==Ceremony Strength==
This skill can be used to remove dedications, excommunications, annointings and similar effects from a target person, object or area. Whilst some auras can be replaced with a stronger aura, others, such as testimonies, excommunication and possessions, can only be exorcised. Any priest with the skill can participate in an exorcism - the more priests that participate in the exorcism the more likely to be able to take down the effect. An exorcism needs to equal the strength of the aura to remove it. Each exorcism ceremony must be directed at a specific mark or aura.
* '''The strength of a ceremony is the amount of liao used to perform it'''
* '''A stronger aura is harder to destroy, you must create an effect of equal strength to replace or remove it'''
Several skills talk about the ''strength'' of the ceremony. The strength of a ceremony affects how difficult it is to remove or how effective it is in removing a spiritual effect. For example, an aura created with strength 3 can only be removed by performing a new ceremony with equal or greater strength. A powerful spirit that is possessing a character may require an exorcism of strength 5 or more to remove it.


==Hallow==
The strength of a ceremony equals the amount of liao used to perform it, (plus any special bonuses). Under normal circumstances, a priest can spend only one dose of liao. There are [[magic items]], [[Tisanes_of_the_Labyrinth|potions]], and even ritual [[enchantment|enchantments]] that can allow a priest to use additional liao and thus create an effect with a higher strength.
A priest may use this skill to perform a ceremony over an item. This creates a roleplaying effect that affects anyone bonded to that item. The roleplaying effect is chosen by the priest leading the ceremony based on the virtue they are dedicated to. Stronger hallows replace weaker ones, or one can be removed by an exorcism of equal or greater strength. More information, including details of effects, is available [[Ceremonies Overview|here]].
{{Ceremonial skills further reading}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LeaguePriest.jpg|align=right|width=350}}
 
==Insight==
This skill allows you to examine the target’s soul. You can see their dedication, read any testimonies and see any auras that are affecting them.
 
==Testimony==
By performing a testimony, you can place an indelible mark on the target’s soul. This consists of, at most, two words; an adjective and a noun. Examples include “Oathbreaker”, “Bold Warrior”, “Fool”, “Wise Leader”. Testimonies can be perceived by any character who uses the insight skill or an equivalent ability to examine the victim’s soul. Multiple priests may participate in the ceremony making it stronger, causing a mark to be harder to remove with exorcism. Soul marks of this kind can only be removed with a sufficiently powerful exorcism.


[[Category:Rules]]
[[Category:Rules]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Latest revision as of 04:45, 20 August 2024


Cardinal Ynez di Caricomare of the Church of the Little Mother ministers to the fallen
Religion is a core facet of life for Imperial citizens.

Overview

Religious skills allow characters to invoke and influence spiritual forces. In the Empire, religious power comes from following the Way, the official faith of the Empire. Characters who practice these skills are often referred to as priests. Every religious skill requires a dose of liao to use. Liao is provided to everyone with a congregation, which is a personal resource. Unlike a magician, a priest does not receive any innate power to use their religious skills. If you intend to make use of your ceremonies, it is well worth considering choosing a congregation for your character's personal resource.

A starting congregation resource produces five doses of liao per event, and also allows a character to participate in the business of the Imperial Synod - the political body that guides the Empire on spiritual matters.

The Seven Virtues
Ambition
Courage
Loyalty
Pride
Prosperity
Wisdom
Vigilance

The dedication skill is a prerequisite for every other religious skill. By taking the dedication skill, you can also choose to begin play dedicated to one of the Seven Virtues. Priests who are not dedicated to one of the Seven Virtues are called "Priests of the Way". They can still use all the religious skills but their ability to use the anointing, consecration, and hallow skills are significantly limited.

Some religious skills place auras on people, places, or objects. These ceremonies create roleplaying effects that can affect how someone plays their character. The auras a priest can choose from are determined by their dedication. For example, if they are dedicated to Ambition they can only use their skills to create auras of Ambition.

Using a religious skill is usually referred to as "performing a ceremony."

Performing a Ceremony

Religious Skill
Dedication
Anointing
Consecration
Exorcism
Excommunication
Hallow
Insight
Testimony
† Dedication is a prerequisite for all other religious skills.
  • Requires a dose of liao and at least ten seconds of appropriate roleplaying.
  • May require the presence of a referee.
  • The target must usually be close enough to touch and present throughout.
  • It should be obvious to everyone nearby that you are performing a ritual.
  • Priests can cooperate to create more powerful effects.
  • The ceremony fails if you or your target are hit or attack another character during the performance

While there are some exceptions, performing a ceremony requires a dose of liao and ten seconds of appropriate roleplaying. Some ceremonies also require the presence of a referee. Individual skills may call out exceptions to these rules (such as the ability to perform a quick Insight).

The target of a religious skill must usually be close enough to touch, and present throughout.

If you are using a skill that creates an aura, you need to specify which aura you are creating. For example, there are four personal auras that a priest dedicated to Ambition can create with anointing. They must tell the target of the anointing which aura they have imbued.

Sermon.jpg
Priests use their skills through the performance of a religious ceremony.

Priests who are not dedicated to a virtue cannot produce auras, but can use their skills to remove them (and they have some special benefits when it comes to cooperating with other priests).

Cooperation

  • Characters with the same virtue may cooperate to perform a ceremony with a higher strength
  • Characters with different virtues may cooperate if they are part of the same sect
  • Every participant must have the appropriate skill
  • Requires one dose of liao for each participant

Characters with the appropriate skills can cooperate to perform a ceremony with a higher strength. Strength means different things for different skills. For example, strength determines how hard auras, such as those created by anointing, hallow, or consecration are to remove or replace.

All characters collaborating to perform a ceremony must have the appropriate skill and either all be part of the same sect (a sect ceremony), or all be dedicated to the same virtue (a virtue ceremony). Characters who are devotees of the Way can assist any virtue ceremony; they cannot assist a sect ceremony unless they are a member of the sect.

Each participant can use one dose of liao.

Only the insight skill provides no benefit for cooperation.

Ceremony Strength

  • The strength of a ceremony is the amount of liao used to perform it
  • A stronger aura is harder to destroy, you must create an effect of equal strength to replace or remove it

Several skills talk about the strength of the ceremony. The strength of a ceremony affects how difficult it is to remove or how effective it is in removing a spiritual effect. For example, an aura created with strength 3 can only be removed by performing a new ceremony with equal or greater strength. A powerful spirit that is possessing a character may require an exorcism of strength 5 or more to remove it.

The strength of a ceremony equals the amount of liao used to perform it, (plus any special bonuses). Under normal circumstances, a priest can spend only one dose of liao. There are magic items, potions, and even ritual enchantments that can allow a priest to use additional liao and thus create an effect with a higher strength.

Further Reading