Luke Cromwell (Undergrowth AU)/Black Baptism

# **Black Baptism**

## **Procedure**

❖ Body of subject is examined for damage and state of decomposition. The less time a subject has been dead, the more likely the rate of success for bringing them back, and the more comfort the subject will experience once returned (there are recorded instances of the ritual working on decomposed bodies, but the subjects usually exhibit extreme signs of anxiety, depression, and anguish and seek out ways to self-terminate).

❖ The subject’s organs and fluids are removed from their body. Blood is harvested and treated according to Amon’s Rite*1* , producing **ichor**.

❖ The subject’s heart is infused with a specially prepared runestone (marked with the required rites and scriptures of various black books/deities)*2* to produce a fresh **core**. The core is then placed within the container of ichor, bonding it to the substance (signaled by the bubbling - trials show varying amounts of time).

❖ The core may then be placed back into the body at this point, sewn with strong thread, followed by the ichor. The substance will flood it’s new container, binding the flesh of the vessel together. Take note that flesh not originally belonging to the body may be used to substitute or replace, as the ichor will fuse all biological matter into a functioning mass.*3*

❖ The subject is now ready to resume function. For the final steps, the body must ████ ██ █████ and be prepared using the █████ ███, ████ ███████.*4*

## **Results**

❖ Upon a successful Black Baptism, the subject’s essence is now bound to their core’s form. The ordeal will require a span of time for the mind to settle and awaken, but results have spanned from a mere three days to a handful of weeks.

❖ When awoken, subjects typically show signs of confusion and memory loss. The memory loss can be scattered, but is typically found to revolve around the details of one’s death, but all returns with time. See Dr. Zhou for information on trials revolving this effect, as he studies on easing the transition.

❖ Subjects are able to exist indefinitely after awakening, but there is currently a flaw in the ritual’s design. The thick, black liquid known as ichor keeps subjects mobile and mimics the functions of life, but also requires the absorption of *other* forms of life. The subjects must continue to consume and absorb forms of life, or over time, their ichor will lose potency and the subject’s core will cease function.

❖ The thick, black liquid known as ichor allows for subjects to become incredibly durable once brought back, promoting limbs to function again once reattached and fuse together into one flesh (stitches may be used to accelerate this process, allowing for immediate use of limbs and masses once placed firmly). When masses are separated, if they hold within them amounts of ichor, they will remain semi-functional and attempt to move towards their allotted core. More testing is needed to test usable time of ichor away from core.

## **Notes**

❖ Subject’s do not require functioning organs other than the modified heart to be brought back (this *includes* a lack of necessity for a functioning brain), as their essence is bound to the core. The core may be placed elsewhere than the chest cavity, but is usually placed here for practical purposes and protection. Should the core be destroyed, the subject’s essence will again slip into the void and the ritual must be repeated from the start in a fresh attempt. However, testing logs indicate increasing difficulty in calling an essence from the void multiple times, as it grows resistant to the ritual. It is theorized that an essence may also grow weaker from the multiple crossings - possibility to cause vanishment of an essence over time?

❖ For unknown reasons, particular essences show extreme resistance to being brought across the void. This may be linked to particular belief systems, or claims upon that particular essence once it’s passed over.

❖ Ichor, while showing incredible properties for subjects brought back, are also recorded to have corrosive properties for living material. This extends to both plants and animals, as higher concentrations and extended contact with ichor has led to tissue/cell damage and, in extreme cases, death.

*1*: Amon’s Rite encompasses the harvesting of subject’s blood in a container of pure silver. The blood is mixed with █████, ██████, and ████ █████ and treated under the harvest moon. Participants will include a number larger than five, and during the harvest moon, the blood is █████████ and participants ████ ██ ██████ ██████. If subject’s blood is insufficient, or unavailable, animal blood may be substituted (preferably ram’s blood).

*2*: The runestone may be prepared using bone or stone. If bone, human or ram’s bone is preferable (commonly used is small or broken rib bones). If stone, composition of the mineral must entail trace amounts of silver (may be artificially placed). If the heart is unavailable for use due to damage or rot, a substitute may be used.

*3*: Note that this may be used to enhance certain aspects of the subject, such as granting them the sight of a predator or the strength of larger beasts. If use of the ritual is to bring back a functioning person, rather than a soldier or slave, this is ill-advised, as recorded instances show that when placed in perceived unnatural bodies that stray from what is remembered, subjects tend to  ██████ ██████████ and ██████████. If interested for practical use, see Dr. Zhou’s lab notes on *Abominations*.

4: Request access to Cromwell’s notes for specifications of the ritual.