Might of Vstaive

This ritual is part of Urizen lore rather than Imperial lore.

Rules

Urizen Lore

This ritual is part of Urizen lore rather than Imperial Lore. Any Urizen character with the appropriate lore can master or perform this ritual. A character from another nation who mastered the ritual before it became part of Urizen lore may still perform it, but does so under the usual rules for performing a ritual learned from a ritual text.

Performing the Ritual

Performing this ritual takes at least 10 minutes of roleplaying. If the ritual is cast using the Imperial Regio it requires at least 5 minutes of roleplaying instead.

This ritual targets a fortification, and must be performed in a strong Summer regio in the territory containing the fortification. If the territory is part of the Empire, then it may instead be performed from the Imperial regio.

This ritual is an enchantment. A target may only be under one enchantment effect at a time.

Effects

This ritual enchants a fortification, infusing it with the majestic strength of the Summer realm. The fortification is supported by an additional defensive force of 1,500, similar to that provided by military units taking a guarding action to support it.

This means that if the fortification has an intact garrison, its fighting strength is increased. If there is no active garrison, the force will instead defend the walls of the bastion associated with the fortification, providing 1,500 defensive force in that region, which helps defend it and will inflict casualties against a force attacking the region containing the bastion.

The effect lasts until the start of the next Profound Decisions Empire event.

Description

This ritual became part of Urizen lore following the Autumn Equinox 387YE. It was submitted via the Gift of Knowledge by members of the Dawnish Roses of Racqueen, a Weaver cabal from Semmerholm. The text itself was codified at the Halls of Knowledge by the stargazer Tektun who served as provost during the early reign of Empress Varkula, but it never became a part of Imperial lore. How it came into the possession of a Dawnish coven is not clear, and the weavers remain closed mouthed about the matter. What they have confirmed is that they were persuaded to contribute their rituals by representatives of Moonbow, and that they received unspecified boons in return. The heralds of the Moonsilver King who dealt with them claimed their master was motivated by "a simple desire to help Urizen protect itself from its many, many enemies" and "expected nothing in return." This was good enough for the weavers, but there may have been and underlying motivation that was a little less altruistic.

The ritual itself employs Summer magic to enchant a fortification, reinforcing both the bastion and the garrison.Tektun was apparently fascinated by the many ways the resonance of a realm could be infused into people, objects, and places, a practice he refers to as "focusing the light of the omnihedron." Might of Vstaive infuses the bastion of the enchanted fortification with the strength to endure, and at the same time empowers the individual soldiers of the garrison with supernatural might, the will to succeed, and the ability to unleash an unquenchable fury against those who threaten them or their home.

The name of the ritual references the Summer dragon Vstaive, a truly legendary inhabitant of the Summer realm also known as the Mountain-who-Slumbers. This immense beast is said to have some connection to the realm of Cathan Canae and may in fact be a mountain range. Several times in the text there are references to other rituals with names such as The Slumbering Mountain Wakes, Strength of the Living Mountains, Wrath of Vstaive, and Ice Queen's Dragon, but it isn't clear if these are rituals Tektun had already codified, planned to codify, or would like to work on. Regardless it is clear that the Urizen stargazer felt a deep connection to the immense dragon and there are stories that towards the end of his life he physically entered the Summer realm under the auspices of the Mistress of Blizzards so that he could finally look upon Vstaive before he died.

The ritual also references Tektun's personal theories of magic which seem to be an interpretation of dramaturgy using featureless metal masks intended to allow the personae - who he refers to as the Children of the Stars - to influence magicians in a manner similar to tulpas. The Mask of Gold and Iron and the Dragon are referred to several times and appear to be his interpretation of The Captain, which Tektun claims as a patron for the ritual. Experimentation with this concept by the Unfettered Mind has not replicated any of the "amazing results" Tektun claims to have achieved, and the consensus appears to be that the theory is a little odd but no more or less powerful than traditional dramaturgical traditions. There's also no indication of anyone being influenced by the Personae in the manner of a tulpa.

Indeed, the ritual does not actually draw directly on any supernatural power, least of all the immensity that is the Mountain-Who-Slumbers or notional Star Children. It is ultimately a work of purely mortal magic, for all it may have been inspired by a great semi-mythical dragon. Interestingly however, examination of the ritual by Urizen magicians of the Unfettered Mind and Rod and Shield indicate that it is very similar in its practical effects to the ritual known as Golden Ramparts albeit with some very significant differences. Golden Ramparts calls forth guardian lions from the realm of Meraud to fight alongside the garrison of a fortification, and relies on an assurance to give it power. Might of Vstaive however instead strengthens the bastion and enchants the garrison of a castle with supernatural prowess not all that dissimilar to that granted by rituals such as Strength of the Bull or Swan's Cruel Wing. Yet the outcome from a purely practical point of view is the same - save that one uses the power of a Summer eternal and the other does not. This assessment suggests that Jaheris' real motivation in encouraging this rituals to be given to Urizen might be to subtly undermine Meraud in some fashion.

Common Elements

This ritual targets a fortification and its garrison, imbuing both with Summer enchantments. A representation of the target fortification, and a map of the territory where it stands, both serve as suitable foci for the ritual. Folk from the territory where the castle stands, especially if they serve or have served as part of the garrison, are also strongly resonant with the ritual.

The original text calls on the strength of the dragon Vstaive to fill both the castle and its defenders, and while this is not a requirement the legendary Summer dragon has undeniable goetic resonance for the performance of the ritual as do the names of Cathan Canae and Adamant.

The astronomantic consteallations of the Stork and the Mountain are both referenced multiple times in the ritual text, and might be included in its performance as symbols of the importance of fighting to protect yourself and of the difficulties presented by warfare. The rune of Strength supports the ritual, but thanks to the way the ritual is put together it is the rune of Victory that truly resonates with the performance of Might of Vstaive.