Children of the Parietal Eye

The **Children of the Parietal Eye** is a cult based on the Church of Yggdrasaur, with the base of operations founded at the church at Su'umpeak. The cult is predicated on the belief that Yggdrasaur is the apex of life and humans should strive to 'ascend' to a similar state to become 'enlightened'. To the cult, the form of a dinosaur is sacred - the pinnacle of life and something to be worshiped. Because of this, the Children also believe dinosaurs are more enlightened than humans, and taking on their appearance is a key rite towards potentially ascending.

The Children of the Parietal Eye utilize Dark Link Crystals in order to turn human beings into hybrids of human and dinosaur. With the Dark Link Crystal, they can manipulate one's soul into any 'shape' they please. If enough of a soul is exposed through a ritual Soul Burst, they can manipulate it, which will then alter the victim's body in order for them to closer resemble the Children's great god. The cult also distributes these crystals to various cities and towns all across Pangaea under order from Purple Lady.

## Rituals and Traditions

### Ascension Ritual

Followers of the Children of the Parietal Eye perform a combination of a blood ritual and a modified version of Soul Burst to transform the human body into one of a dinosaur. This modified version of Soul Burst allows the cult to forcibly merge souls, creating hybrid monsters out of man and dinosaur. This technique was also appropriated from the original user of it, the people of Yolpheim and their descendants in Mystwood Grove. One human sacrifice and one dinosaur sacrifice are needed as the bases. The ritual also requires a Dark Link Crystal as a catalyst for the process to take effect.

The dinosaur is slaughtered beforehand in a smaller ritual as the human sacrifice waits. Laymen and women dressed in traditional robes encircle the altar chanting hymns and prayers as the main sacrifice begins. The human is brought into the middle of the altyer and is strapped down to prevent harm. A ritual leader, usually a priest, enters and activates the Dark Link Crystal. The sacrifice's eyes burst with red flame, which slowly consumes their entire body. The Dark Crystal emits more power, cracking the user's skin and making their own veins glow red. The sacrifice's eyes then glaze over in unconsciousness, a sign that their soul is exposed and ready to be tampered with. The ritual leader then starts a series of arm motions, manipulating the aura in the air. Once done, the sacrifice almost immediately regains sense and starts to howl. The sacrifice's muscles and body begins to bulge and expand in inhuman ways. Scales start to emerge from the skin and teeth and horns protrude from random parts of the body. Finally, the once-human's eyes take the shape of thin, slits with yellow sclera, erasing any trace of who they once were.

This process is incredibly painful, and the sacrifice usually screams in pain throughout the entire ritual.

### Ascended Humans

Ascended Humans is the name given by the Children of the Parietal Eye to those who have undergone and 'succeeded' in the ritual. To succeed, one must take on enough saurian features to overshadow their human features. Ascended Humans usually don't have the same mental capabilities as they did as humans, and have very little sense of self. Because of this, their soul can be dominated by a Dark Link Crystal and be controlled, much like a natural dinosaur.

## Members

* Archbishop
* Savali
* Priest: has a Dark Link crystal imbued on his forehead in place of a third eye