Three Humiliations

As introduced by Deogracias at the beginning of the game, the **Three Humiliations** refers to the trial required to be completed in order to open the sacred bronze door at the end of the Bridge of the Three Calvaries that guards the Mother of Mothers, where the **Penitent One** is to find the Cradle of Affliction, the goal of his quest.

To performing the **Three Humiliations**, the **Penitent One** must obtain the three Holy Wounds, from the three Golden Visages, by defeating the three bosses, Ten Piedad, Tres Angustias, and Our Lady of the Charred Visage.

While the **Penitent One** is carrying out the **Three Humiliations**, Esdras will appear at different points and say that the **Penitent One** seeks to open the forbidden gate. One of the relevant item descriptions also says, “the forbidden will become profaned,” if the door of the **Mother** is opened. This indicates that the Church considers carrying out these **Three Humiliations** an act of heresy, which is also evidenced by Crisanta of the Wrapped Agony claiming that the **Penitent One** has committed the most serious crimes against the Mother. These reasons may be related to why the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow was excommunicated by the Church.

The motives behind the creation of these **Golden Visages** and **Holy Wounds** are unclear, but the fact that “His Holiness” is referenced in item descriptions and the **Three Humiliations** are required in order to open the door to the **Mother of Mothers** indicate that this may be have been created by **The Miracle**’s to allow the **Penitent One** to defeat **Escribar** and reach the **Cradle of Affliction**.

However, considering the fulfillment of the **Three Humiliations** as an act *against* **The Miracle**, it seems the **Holy Wounds** in **Escribar**'s soul have been secured as a way of maintaining his suffering everlasting after his rebirth. Therefore, protecting the wounds of his soul is protecting the will of **the Miracle** present in **Cvstodia** through the **Church**. By carrying out the task, the **Penitent One** frees **Escribar** of his torment, and severs the link between the **High Wills** and the people though the institutional faith, as shown in the **True Ending.**

## Relevant Item Descriptions

Santo Credo. Verse I
"His Holiness, because of his high penance, must endure suffering in his soul in three ways. Each of the ways is a motive, and each motive is a sore. Hence these three sores are the keys to his eternal pain, and must be guarded."

Santo Credo, Verse II
"The Miracle created the Golden Visages from the very fervour of the uncorrupted saints, in order to preserve them, eternal, in the forbidden Dream. Three identical faces covered in torrid gold are the guardians of the three wounds in His Holiness' soul."

Santo Credo. Verse III
"The door to The Mother will open if the three wounds were to be joined together. The Mother would suffer a crack. The enclosure would end up broken, and the forbidden would be profaned."

One of them must be performed in the high mountains, covered in thick blankets of snow and ice.
Another in the depths of a dark, entombed church, where the sleeper lies.
 **Deogracias after defeating the first of the aforementioned bosses** | You have carried out the first Humiliation of Penance.
You have been allowed to meet the Visage of Contrition.
 **Deogracias after defeating the second of the aforementioned bosses** | You have carried out the second Humiliation of Penance.
You have met the Visage of Attrition.
 **Deogracias after defeating the last of the aforementioned bosses** | You have been allowed to behold the Visage of Compunction.
Penitent One in silence, after bowing before the Holy Custodian Visages, the door at the end of the Bridge of Calvary has been opened.
 **Deogracias at Bridge of the Three Calvaries** | Here lies the door on whose bronze the ordeals of those chosen by the Miracle are perpetuated.
On it, for the art of these images to be worshipped and revered, ornamentation must take place.
His sculpted Holiness watches us, rigid, from on high, but it is the relief of the bronze that dictates who is worthy of passing under its adorned arch.
Find the Holy Visages, and the Bronze will know.
For fickle are the wishes of the Miracle.