On the Maidens' Ordeals
By Issora Gorya
This book is obviously very old, but shows a sophistication of typesetting and binding far exceeding that of modern-day Komaru. Its contents are discourses on High Magic.
Possession of this tome is worth **** Research Points per session, on the subject of ****. You may only use points from one book on this subject in a year. If delivered to the Church, this tome is worth **** Church Prestige Points.
Among the most fascinating quirks of the study of magic are the roles played by the miko, the men and women dedicated to the Powers without actual attunements. The nature of the miko make them a study in contrasts: on the one hand, they are effectively best considered tools for the advancement of the sorcerers who hold the true power. On the other hand, when the Herald comes, it is the miko not the sorcerer who achieves the true power.
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Within the Issora family, the miko are extensively organized. Most would-be sorcerers spend their first years acting as miko of the various sorts. This quickly burns out the initiate's ability to pursue the more dangerous paths of initiation, resulting in initiates who do not threaten the established power structure of miko and sorcerers. The lure of simple paths, like those of Omoehime no Miko and Eratohime no Miko are best curbed young; when the End Times come, the fewer of these miko that exist, the more controllable the transition will be.
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The basics of miko attunement are well-known to all sorcerers who deserve to bear that title, so I will refrain from wasting words repeating them and instead focus on the more advanced techniques of miko utilization: the Ordeals and, to a lesser extent, the Soul Bindings.
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First, the Ordeals. In all cases, these attunements require the supplicant, the appropriate miko, and a supporting initiate attuned to the miko's power. The Ordeals vary in nature. Many doom the miko to lose her status, others menace her life, or the lives of the other participants. In many cases, the Ordeals serve as convenient ways to eliminate troublesome inferiors or shatter inappropriate ambitions. The wise sorcerer considers both the political and mystical gain of his initiations.
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Also, let me supply a word of advice about the Soul Bindings. Each Soul Binding weaves a physical implement into the soul of the miko, but it is not the Soul Binding that grants attunement to the initiate. For the initiate to advance, he needs to draw forth the Soul Implement under the appropriate circumstances, and call upon the appropriate power. Only then will he achieve attunement. Some transcripts of the ritual of Binding a Soul Implement combine an attunement into the binding, and while this can be convenient, it is by no means necessary.
To bind a Soul Implement, the sorcerer must locate the appropriate miko and either purchase or manufacture a high-quality instrument appropriate to the attunement. With the instrument in hand, the miko and supplicant must then split a dose of flame powder, and wait for it to take effect. Once the miko feels the flame powder take effect, she must consume a dose of Soma as well to rip open her perceptions. Before the Soma takes effect, the sorcerer must chant the words appropriate to the implement his is attuning, lay the implement on the miko's breast, and then lay his hands on the implement along with a witch crystal. When the miko repeats the chant and places her hands atop the supplicant's, she should draw the implement into her body. Allow five minutes for adjustment before the sorcerer removes his hands from within the miko's body.
The miko is then bonded to the Soul Implement. From that point on, while she is under the effect of flame power, her Soul Implement can be summoned by chanting the appropriate verse. Returning the implement to her body simply requires placing it back within her breast. If the miko's flame powder high ends while her Soul Implement is out of her body, the implement will become unbound, and will become part of the miko wherever it happens to be. In general, having a portion of one's innards appear some distance from you is to be avoided.
To actually make the attunements to the powers requiring Soul Implements, the supplicant and two supporting initiates of the second-circle marriage nearest the desired attunement need to be gathered, along with the miko. After the miko comes under the effect of flame powder, the supporters chant the summoning verse in unison, and then the supplicant chants the verse and draws forth the Soul Implement, completing the attunement.
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Finally, in several instances I have noted the fourth circle Power for the specific miko. For the first attunement past cardinal of the fourth circle, the supplicant must again enact the Ordeal. However this time, only the foremost miko in Komaru will provide sufficient strength to draw the Power's blessing to the initiate. The ramifications of risking the most powerful miko in such a way need not be stated.
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On, then, to specific examples.
Belisama no Miko is the fire maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Hiyaseijin, the Gift of Fire. Hiyaseijin's Ordeal requires the initiate to reforge their heart. Belisama no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she loves the initiate or the follower of Belisama that is assisting in the initiation.
Kagirinai, the Undying Fire, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a copper gauntlet. Its words are:
Kagirinai, the flame reborn,
The Undying Fire, open your heart.
Grant me the power of the Sun and the Sealing.
I call the Talon of Forging!
The Ashen Queen welcomes the greatest of Belisama's maidens. Her name is Brigantia.
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Tennut no Miko is the sky maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Ekhihaku, the Healer of Spirits. Ekhihaku's Ordeal requires the initiate to bring light to the darkness of the Cosmos. Tennut no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she takes a dose of Soma and opens herself to the Cosmos. One of the beings she has defeated will emerge again, and must be defeated by the initiate and the follower of Tennut before Tennut no Miko awakens.
Mitrasama, the Whispering Gate, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a jade sword. Its words are:
Mitrasama, the guardian of pathways,
The Whispering Gate, open your heart.
Grant me the power of the Sun and the Light.
I call the Blade of Purity!
The Tempered Touch welcomes the greatest of Tennut's maidens, but I do not know its name.
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Eratohime no Miko is the mocking maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Ainomeiyaku, the Surrender of Spirit. Ainomeiyaku's Ordeal requires the initiate to bare his spirit to the Cosmos. Eratohime no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she is willing to accept the initiate's secrets and bare them before the light. After being bound to this pact, the initiate may only speak the truth; furthermore, his Eratohime no Miko gains complete access to all of the knowledge his mind holds. If Eratohime no Miko breaks her vows, her initiate loses the ability to speak at all, ever. Fortunately, Eratohime no Miko's death ends all restrictions placed on the initiate.
Vahranshouri, the Desire Achieved, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a silver mirror. Its words are:
Vahranshouri, the granter of victory,
The Desire Achieved, open your heart.
Grant me the power of Lucien and the Light.
I call the Mirror of Dreams!
The Stone that Yields welcomes the greatest of Eratohime's maidens, but I do not know its name.
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Omoehime no Miko is the wind maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Suadela, the Thief of Reason. Suadela's Ordeal requires the initiate to master untamable desire. Omoehime no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she willingly surrenders her status of miko to the initiate by accepting his love.
Ruroubi, the Meandering Path, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a silver mirror. (The letter to Anastasia Issorat from her father, which appears appended to Verity Touraine's fifth journal, says that this is a red jewel, not a silver mirror; the silver mirror is probably an error in the text, mistakenly copied from the previous entry. - Komaru Takanobu, 226) Its words are:
Ruroubi the fox-tail fire,
The Meandering Path, open your heart.
Grant me the power of Lucien and the Unmaking.
I call the Eye of Lusts!
The Tamer of Eagles welcomes the greatest of Omoehime's maidens. Her name is Ethonyome.
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Thalassa no Miko is the sea maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Amathaunta, the Graveyard of Pearls. Amathaunta's Ordeal requires the initiate to face the void. Thalassa no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she can entreat a Mer to assist in the initiation's completion.
Rusalka, the Ravening Demon, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a blue shawl. Its words are:
Rusalka, the enemy of tranquility,
The Ravening Demon, open your heart.
Grant me the power of Damien and the Unmaking.
I call the Veil of Storms!
The Ache of Vanished Dreams welcomes the greatest of Thalassa's maidens, but I do not know its name.
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Troian no Miko is the shadow maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Oamenti, the Unseen is Unknowable. Oamenti's Ordeal requires the initiate to step into secrets. Troian no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she can nurse a secret within her breast, yet not let it burden her. To complete this Ordeal, all three participants must be without the taint of the Cosmos, and must partake of Soma powder to reach the secret realm. In the secret realm, Troian no Miko will face a shadow-self who will seek to block her path. If the miko can defeat the shadow-self or bargain with it for passage, she can complete the initiation.
Pansaijo, the Expectation, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of a black mask. Its words are:
Pansaijo, the perpetual anticipation,
the Expectation, open your heart.
Grant me the power of Damien and the Darkness.
I call the Guise of Absence!
The Spriggan welcomes the greatest if Troian's maidens. His name is Kyokin.
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Nephthys no Miko is the death maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Keika, the Wind Sweeps Candles. Keika's Ordeal requires the initiate to find a guide through the paths of death. Nephthys no Miko can complete the Ordeal if she touches the supplicant or follower of Nephthys that is assisting in the initiation.
Kitara, the One Who Will Be Two, forges her Soul Implement on the shape of a golden lantern. Its words are:
Kitara, the glow of creation,
The One Who Will Be Two, open your heart.
Grant me the power of Stars and the Darkness.
I call the Light that Reveals!
The Black Winged Remembrance welcomes the greatest of Nephthys's maidens. His name is Mnemosyne.
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Urania no Miko is the star maiden, and the keeper of her Ordeal is Neith, the Weaving Woman. Neith's Ordeal requires the initiate to hold the Cosmos in place. Urania no Miko can complete her Ordeal if she has served as such for at least a year, and the Locus Constellation has not changed for at least a year.
Shousei, the Hunter Veiled in Ice, forges her Soul Implement in the shape of an indigo fan. Its words are:
Shousei, the grace unfamiliar,
The Hunter Veiled in Ice, open your heart.
Grant me the power of the Stars and the Sealing.
I call the Gate of Truth!
The Current of Days welcomes the greatest of Urania's maidens, but I do not know its name.