Difference between revisions of "Eternal Flame"
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[[Category: Rituals Under Construction]] | [[Category: Rituals Under Construction]] | ||
| − | + | The actions and elements of the ritual signify the creation and eternity of the flame. We add the trappings of a Celebration, mimicing the Olympic Games opening ceremony in style and intent (bring in the torch, parade it around, set it up in its proper place, add offerings to the glory of the flame, conclude the ceremony). | |
| + | |||
| + | Pre-ritual: | ||
| + | 1) Mark six evenly spaced points around the perimeter of the shrine for use down below (ideally the shrine will be hexgonally shaped) | ||
| + | 2) Place the parts of the unassembled metal stand in the shrine | ||
| + | 3) Place a set of fireworks in the shrine | ||
| + | 4) Place a set of six teacups with cold water and tea leaves in the shrine | ||
| + | |||
| + | Just before the ritual begins: | ||
1) Place the sconce on the ground in the shrine with a tight fitting cover next to it | 1) Place the sconce on the ground in the shrine with a tight fitting cover next to it | ||
| − | 2) | + | 2) Pour the fenjiu into the sconce and ignite it |
3) Immediately place the cover on it up to restrict the air intake and keep the flame merely smoldering | 3) Immediately place the cover on it up to restrict the air intake and keep the flame merely smoldering | ||
| − | + | Start the ritual: | |
| + | The ritualist picks up the sconce and moves to each of the six points around the shrine, bowing at each one, and makes an Accuracy roll with Cooking to gradually remove the cover, bringing the size of the flame up each time. He starts at one and must get one more success each time. After the last step, he then makes a Yang roll with Magical Ritual (6 successes needed). | ||
| − | + | The ritualist moves in reverse order to each of the six points again, bowing at each one, and adjusts the configuration of the sconce (angle of flanges, air intakes, etc) to produce a smooth-burning, uniform cone of flame. He starts at one and must get one more success each time on a Dexterity roll with Sleight of Hand/Sculpting. After the last step, he then makes a Yin roll with Magical Ritual (6 successes needed). | |
This gives direct connections to the flame and the sconce, which should be sufficient for a ritual of this size. | This gives direct connections to the flame and the sconce, which should be sufficient for a ritual of this size. | ||
| − | The ritualist | + | The ritualist then proceeds to the invocation of the elements: |
| − | The | + | # Creation of Metal: Assemble the metal stand (parts are preplaced) that will hold the sconce inside the shrine. [The stand must have been designed and the parts created earlier with at least 3 successes in metalworking/smithing.] Three successes on sculpture, metalworking or engineering are needed. The stand has a set of triangle-shaped slots on its sides to hold a set of 6 small gems (see next step). The ritualist places the sconce in the stand and bows again. (This reduces Creation a bit, but because metal is now a bit light, the plan is to get the Finger on the Balance schtick to adjust the metal part back up to balance with the other elements.) |
| + | # Seeking of Earth: Start with a preplaced wooden bucket, filled with water, a large number of stones and 6 gems in a trilliant cut. The ritualist must pull out six and only six objects (the 6 gems) without looking in the bucket by determining/feeling the correct shapes. He then puts the gems into the slots on the stand. Six successes on some sort of reasoning/deduction skill or some perception (touching) skill. The remaining stones are piled around the base of the metal stand. | ||
| + | # Destruction of Wood: Use the flame to ignite the fireworks. Ritualist needs six successes on Dex with Acting to do an impressive fireworks display without hurting himself. | ||
| + | # Transformation of Water: Take the six tea cups and use the flame to make tea. Six successes on cooking/tea ceremonies to make proper tea. | ||
| − | + | To complete the ritual, the ritualist kneels before the holder and drinks from each of the tea cups, giving a celebratory cheer after each one ("Kan bei!" [Dry cup!] is traditional). After he finishes the last one, the ceremony is complete. The Yang energy moves up to power the flame and the Yin moves down through the ritualist who soaks the damage. | |
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=Experiment= | =Experiment= | ||
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* The best secondary aesthetics for the ritual are the ones that are all about "Hooray for this fire spirit!" Having a non-elemental non-verb bit that ties through all the steps incorporating it would be ideal. | * The best secondary aesthetics for the ritual are the ones that are all about "Hooray for this fire spirit!" Having a non-elemental non-verb bit that ties through all the steps incorporating it would be ideal. | ||
| + | (Type of fuel experiment) | ||
| + | |||
| + | = Planned/possible experiments = | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Fire == | ||
| + | Test the amount/purity of fenjiu needd | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Earth == | ||
| + | Best type of gemstone (fire opal, ruby, emerald, etc) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Metal == | ||
| + | Shape of the stand holding the sconce | ||
| + | Best type of metal for the stand | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Wood == | ||
| + | What sort of fireworks to use? | ||
| + | What sort of display is best? (Aerial display, scattered across the ground, etc) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Water == | ||
| + | What is the best tea to use? | ||
| + | What is the best amount of time to take to make the tea (heating and steeping)? | ||
Revision as of 01:43, 10 July 2011
The actions and elements of the ritual signify the creation and eternity of the flame. We add the trappings of a Celebration, mimicing the Olympic Games opening ceremony in style and intent (bring in the torch, parade it around, set it up in its proper place, add offerings to the glory of the flame, conclude the ceremony).
Pre-ritual: 1) Mark six evenly spaced points around the perimeter of the shrine for use down below (ideally the shrine will be hexgonally shaped) 2) Place the parts of the unassembled metal stand in the shrine 3) Place a set of fireworks in the shrine 4) Place a set of six teacups with cold water and tea leaves in the shrine
Just before the ritual begins: 1) Place the sconce on the ground in the shrine with a tight fitting cover next to it 2) Pour the fenjiu into the sconce and ignite it 3) Immediately place the cover on it up to restrict the air intake and keep the flame merely smoldering
Start the ritual: The ritualist picks up the sconce and moves to each of the six points around the shrine, bowing at each one, and makes an Accuracy roll with Cooking to gradually remove the cover, bringing the size of the flame up each time. He starts at one and must get one more success each time. After the last step, he then makes a Yang roll with Magical Ritual (6 successes needed).
The ritualist moves in reverse order to each of the six points again, bowing at each one, and adjusts the configuration of the sconce (angle of flanges, air intakes, etc) to produce a smooth-burning, uniform cone of flame. He starts at one and must get one more success each time on a Dexterity roll with Sleight of Hand/Sculpting. After the last step, he then makes a Yin roll with Magical Ritual (6 successes needed).
This gives direct connections to the flame and the sconce, which should be sufficient for a ritual of this size.
The ritualist then proceeds to the invocation of the elements:
- Creation of Metal: Assemble the metal stand (parts are preplaced) that will hold the sconce inside the shrine. [The stand must have been designed and the parts created earlier with at least 3 successes in metalworking/smithing.] Three successes on sculpture, metalworking or engineering are needed. The stand has a set of triangle-shaped slots on its sides to hold a set of 6 small gems (see next step). The ritualist places the sconce in the stand and bows again. (This reduces Creation a bit, but because metal is now a bit light, the plan is to get the Finger on the Balance schtick to adjust the metal part back up to balance with the other elements.)
- Seeking of Earth: Start with a preplaced wooden bucket, filled with water, a large number of stones and 6 gems in a trilliant cut. The ritualist must pull out six and only six objects (the 6 gems) without looking in the bucket by determining/feeling the correct shapes. He then puts the gems into the slots on the stand. Six successes on some sort of reasoning/deduction skill or some perception (touching) skill. The remaining stones are piled around the base of the metal stand.
- Destruction of Wood: Use the flame to ignite the fireworks. Ritualist needs six successes on Dex with Acting to do an impressive fireworks display without hurting himself.
- Transformation of Water: Take the six tea cups and use the flame to make tea. Six successes on cooking/tea ceremonies to make proper tea.
To complete the ritual, the ritualist kneels before the holder and drinks from each of the tea cups, giving a celebratory cheer after each one ("Kan bei!" [Dry cup!] is traditional). After he finishes the last one, the ceremony is complete. The Yang energy moves up to power the flame and the Yin moves down through the ritualist who soaks the damage.
Contents |
Experiment
- Different Gem Shapes
- 2 points (Earth)
- Of the ones you've tried, marquise is best.
- Different Fuels
- 2 points (Fire)
- Best fuel: Baijiu, especially one of the "light fragrance" ones like Fen jiu
Ritual Hints
- It would be good to make the invoking the Yang and Yin steps more strongly Yang and Yin-ish. Those are the weakest correspondences. (Puttering from 4/2-4/16)
- A re-lighting "Eternal Flame" also wants some Creation in it. It's still mostly Control for not requiring fuel, but the re-lighting step is creation-y. So making the Creation step a bit lesser than the others would be good. (Puttering from 4/16-4/30)
- You want an explicit step that soaks the Yin. (Puttering from 4/30 - 5/14)
- Actually, a trilliant is probably an ideal shape, for the fire/triangle symbology (Different Gem Shapes experiment)
- The best secondary aesthetics for the ritual are the ones that are all about "Hooray for this fire spirit!" Having a non-elemental non-verb bit that ties through all the steps incorporating it would be ideal.
(Type of fuel experiment)
Planned/possible experiments
Fire
Test the amount/purity of fenjiu needd
Earth
Best type of gemstone (fire opal, ruby, emerald, etc)
Metal
Shape of the stand holding the sconce Best type of metal for the stand
Wood
What sort of fireworks to use? What sort of display is best? (Aerial display, scattered across the ground, etc)
Water
What is the best tea to use? What is the best amount of time to take to make the tea (heating and steeping)?
