The Court of the Ebon Flame
New Rites
The Path of Duty:
Social Rites
Rite of the Lonely Transgressor
(Level Three Rite)
A minor form of punishment in Wan Kuei society is ostracism. It is formally conducted through this Rite. Such ostracisms typically last two weeks, though some have lasted months and even years. All other Kuei-jin in the Court are to ignore the transgressor, and contact with one's Wu is even forbidden to a barely minimal level. Kuei-jin who ignore this Rite and interact freely with the victim of this Rite are subject to similar punishment. The transgressor is advised to spend the time in meditation and self-examination. In Japan, it is traditional for the transgressor to be placed in an isolated chamber of mirrors to encourage such internal reflections.
System: The transgressor is brought before the jina or Mandarin to perform the Rite. His Wu is also present. He is then told his sins (this punishment is often reserved for minor but wanton breaking of the Fivefold Way; it depends entirely on how strict and formal the Court in question is). The transgressor is expected to remain silent; no pleas are permitted. The ritualist rolls Charisma + Rituals (difficulty 6). If this roll fails, the transgressor may feel free to plead his case and the authority present must hear it. If the roll botches, the transgressor is truly insulted and must check for Fire Soul; the ritualist loses face. If successful, the ritualist and the victim's Wu is to turn their backs on the punished, and he is to bow low to the floor. He then leaves to wherever it is he is to go. Some Courts prepare an isolated chamber for such meditation, other Courts don't care what the vampire does so long as she keeps out of trouble and does not attempt to interact with other Kuei-jin, save her own Wu -- and even then, only when absolutely necessary. The jina or Mandarin performing the Rite assigns the amount of time for which this ostracism is to extend, and also overlooks the punished's activity during this time to insure no breaches are made. Little stigma is actually attached to being a recipient of this Rite, as it is assumed that during the period of ostracism, the transgressor has reflected upon his behavior and made amends to improve it.
Condemning the Enemy of Heaven
(Level Four Rite)
This Rite is restricted to the elders of a Court, as it is the means by which a Kuei-jin is declared akuma. Only special circumstances would bring such a condemnation down upon a vampire's head. Serving the Yama Kings in any way is a traditional means. Other reasons include consorting with Kin-jin, betraying the Wan Kuei in general, or simply being a murderous monster (depending on who's being murdered, of course). Once declared akuma, the branding may never be lifted, save by a Bodhisattva. These ancients are said to know an even greater ritual that would lift the semi-mystical stigma this Rite inflicts.
System: The ritualist speaks before the entire Court, during which time all records of the name and deeds of the subject of this Rite are obliterated. The ritualist rolls Charisma + Rituals (difficulty 8). Follow the examples above under the Rite of the Lonely Transgressor for the effects of a failed or botched roll. If successful, the Court's members are charged to capture and destroy the vampire now known as akuma. Often, the akuma is not present to hear these proceedings; she is already on the run. However, no vampire captured by the Court may be executed as akuma until this Rite is performed to make that vampire officially akuma.
Forming the Corpse Family
(Level Four Rite)
A Mandarin performs this centrally important Rite upon a newly formed Wu. Without this Rite, the Wu is not assumed to be a true Wu, and guanxi bonds do not usually exist. Most Wu in the Quincunx and other major Court systems make extensive use of this Rite. But in realms where formality is a dirty word, such as the Golden Courts, this Rite has fallen from favor.
System: The members of the Wu, usually numbering 5 but no less than 3, gather in a circle and join hands. The Mandarin invokes a mantra of harmony and then addresses the Wu by its given or chosen name. The members, in order by Direction (if applicable, otherwise the oldest member first), state their names and titles and declare some sort of oath of loyalty to the rest of the Wu. The Mandarin then rolls Charisma + Rituals (difficulty 7). With 5+ successes, the Storyteller may opt that the Heavens have smiled upon the Wu and all guanxi ratings are increased by one.
Recognition of the Guru
(Level Four Rite)
This Rite may be employed when any Kuei-jin reaches Level Four or higher in a Shintai Discipline. The nature of the Rite varies, depending on the Art in question and the vampire and her comrades' Dharma. From the wild celebrations of the flesh to commemorate a penangallan to the Fire Dance-like parties for a new hima warrior, each of the five "proper" Shintai Arts possesses a special ceremony. Titles of the guru may vary from region to region, however. There are thought to be ceremonies for the "heretical" Shintai (Beast, Smoke, and Storm), but these are as rare as the Disciplines themselves.
System: Usually, the Kuei-jin's mentor performs this Rite. It can take several nights prior to set up. The celebration lasts one full evening. As noted above, the nature of this ceremony vary from Shintai to Shintai, Court to Court, Dharma to Dharma, and sometimes even from individual to individual. The rituals for Blood and Jade Shintai can be expected to be quiet, while those for Flesh and Ghost-Flame would be wild and loud - just as those for Bone would be particularly grotesque and odd. Regardless, one can always find great amounts of the appropriate element in the vicinity. The vampire performing this rolls Wits + Rituals (difficulty 6). The effects of this Rite simply grant the recipient an official title pertaining to her mastered Discipline. Titles change once the 6th Level of a Shintai is acquired (for example, hima to hiken), and this Rite may be performed again.
The Art of Feng Shui:
Rites of Wind and Water
Additional Rules: These feng shui rituals are not to be undertaken lightly. It is encouraged that the Storyteller require double the normal amount of time required to enact these Rites; sometimes more. In addition to the actual performance of the Rite, the locations harmonious to the ambient chi do not simply appear. They must be investigated and discovered. Only those with some competency in the Feng Shui Discipline should be exempt from this extra time, as their trained senses quickly discover the appropriate locations.
Rite of the Blessed Abode
(Level Two Rite)
This potent Rite is similar to Harmonious Shielding of the Guarded Home, but defends more specifically against a single threat. This Rite is performed upon a chamber of some sort: an apartment, small house, or other enclosed area (nothing larger than a single room, 100x100 yards). Depending on the chi lines aligned, the room can be protected against the dangers of fire, flooding, earthquakes, and even weapons.
System: The performer of the Rite spends the adequate amount of time to locate the appropriate locations in alignment with the dragon lines and all matters of feng shui. Once done, she then inscribes on a scroll of rice paper the kaja ideogram of the corresponding Wan Kuei element for the normal element to be defended against (ghost-flame for fire, blood for flooding, jade for earthquakes, bone for metal weapons, flesh for wood weapons). This ideogram must be painted with a mixture of one point of Yang and Yin Chi from the ritualist, a small amount of ginseng, and an ounce of powdered jade. This scroll is posted in the location determined by feng shui investigation. It takes effect immediately and lasts until the next dusk. While in effect, all matter in the room's confines - animate or inanimate, living or (un)dead - receive five extra soak dice for any damage corresponding to the element defended against. A room may be protected against all five elements, though it requires this Rite to be cast five times and a great deal of extra feng shui investigation. If the scrolls are removed from their locations before the Rite ends, or are destroyed (though they gain the same benefits of all other occupying matter), the defense is negated.
This Rite may only be used on one particular enclosed area per month. Doing otherwise will weaken the flow of ambient chi and dragon lines, thereby enraging the denizens of the spirit world.
Rite of the Chained Demon
(Level Four Rite)
This ritual is usually reserved for a Court's prisoner. Victims of this Rite, usually bound in a cell, find that they cannot tap the power and rage of the P'o. This makes them much more easier to control and subdue for interrogatory purposes.
System: The ritualist erects a circle of 24 perfectly round stones (stones, not pebbles). The nature of these stones does not matter save that they must have been naturally eroded to this perfect degree in a river or other water source. The ritualist then faces the person whose P'o is to be bound (and the victim is usually physically bound within the erected circle) and chants a sutra to contain the P'o. The ritualist also offers a prayer and some appropriate sacrifice to the spirits of the area. The ritualist then rolls her Hun versus the victim's P'o (both at difficulty 6). The character needs only one success over her opponent, and vice versa. If the victim succeeds, she can never attempt this Rite on him again. If successful, this Rite lasts for one night plus an extra night for each success after the first. As soon as the victim is removed from the circle of stones, or the circle itself is disrupted, the Rite's power ends.
While in effect, the victim is considered to have a P'o rating of 0. He may not use any Demon Arts, Demon Chi, or call upon the P'o for any reason. The Demon Within will be utterly silent, and the victim will be utterly passive and docile. He may not spend Willpower for any purpose while under this Rite's effect. Powers used to detect the presence and/or nature of the victim's P'o (such as Cultivation or certain Arcanoi or Gifts) still function normally.
Versions of this Rite to contain the Rage of hengeyokai or contain the P'o of wraiths and other spirits are rumored to exist. However, they'd be even more rare than this Rite already is.
