Handout 1, Adv 5 - Ceremony

The party came across the Ceremony of the Tower Wizard in their exploration of Cornelius' Tower (aka Redbrick Tower) - and will be trying to make avail of the instructions written within. They know they will have to take care of the Leechlings before completion, and there is still that smokey magic burning thing they had encountered and dispelled with a handful of salt.

Handout as written follows:

The Ceremony of the Tower Master

The Tower of the Secret Fire, commonly known as Redbrick Tower, must remain and be in the purview of the Greater Arcanus Arcanum Guild of Argos and one of its members at all times. In conjunction with the Followers of Artemis whose efforts helped in the clearing of the Barony of Shakun and the Church of Poseidon who supplied much of the funding and livestock during this time, the Tower of the Secret Fire and its Tower Masters will continue to maintain the Olympian Crystals in place above the Observatory.

If at any time the Tower Master should be slain prior to the investiture of a new Tower Master, the former Master’s spirit must remain on the premises until such time the Ceremony can be performed. 

At the heart’s level of the Tower will be found 3 shelves of decreasing length, each shelf containing specific markings on what is to be ensconced at each spot.

Firstly a Homunculus should be crafted. It must be made by hand and composed of a torso, two legs, two arms, and a head piece. They should be constructed of natural unrefined items in the manner of golem making and should stand 12” in height upon completion. Thanks to the Olympian Crystals and the ceremony by Arch Lechtress Grace Desevix, prospective Tower Masters can find the needed bark, wood shavings, leaves, tree seeds, and other crafting supplies in the root’s level of the Tower. Care should be made in the making of the Homunculus as it will also contain the hair, tears, skin, spit, blood, mucus, nail clippings, and urine of the prospective Tower Master inside the crafted figure.

Upon the satisfactory completion of the Homunculus, the Tower Master’s Grimoire should be reviewed and the following spells cast upon it: Stitch Right leg to torso, Stitch Right arm to torso, Stitch Left leg to torso, Stitch Left arm to torso, Stitch Head to torso, Color the Homunculus the same color as the prospective Tower Master, and Simple Illusion to make the Homunculus have the same appearance as the prospective Tower Master.

Then the Homunculus must be carried while maintaining the illusion by the prospective Tower Master to the Observatory and placed beneath the searing crystal. The prospective Tower Master must stay there until exactly noon where the searing crystal will burn the exact effigy into the Homunculus and the Simple Illusion can be dispelled. The Homunculus should then be placed on the proper shelf on the proper spot with the intonation, “Here is the effigy of the Tower Master. So that the Tower and all who enter will know my face and form.”

Secondly, an Olympian Crystal should be imbued with the heart of the prospective Tower Master. In the Library can be found a scroll on the imbibing of an Olympian Crystal. We owe a debt to the Church of Poseidon for allowing use the use of their pegasi and hippogriffs with which we were able to fly to our destination and acquire the crystals. A Heartstone must be crafted as detailed for the prospective Tower Master and then placed on the proper shelf on the proper spot with the intonation, “Here is the heartstone of the Tower Master. So that the Tower and all who enter will know my heart and soul.”

Thirdly, the prospective Tower Master should light a black candle with a Continual Flame spell. The black candle represents the mysteries of the arcanic arts and the fact that the mage recognizes that he doesn’t know everything that is needed. The black candle already lit should be placed on the proper shelf on the proper spot with the intonation “Here is the Light of Mystery, sparked into being by the Tower Master. So the Tower and all who enter will know that I am humble in my learning.”

Fourthly, the prospective Tower Master should light a white candle with a Continual Flame spell. The white candle represents the visible results of the arcanic arts and the fact that the mage harnesses the arcane power of the weave with forethought. The white candle already lit should be placed on the proper shelf on the proper spot with the intonation “Here is the Light of Revelation, sparked into being by the Tower Master. So the Tower and all who enter will know that I wield the powers of Magic.”

Fifthly the prospective Tower Master should place a spellbook of his own on the shelf. The spellbook should be his and his alone, and should be Wizard Marked accordingly with his or her own personal marking. This action and action alone precludes an sorcerer or battlemage from achieving the position of Tower Master as their grasp of the arcane is not tempered with  the discipline of learning hence has a greater penchant for misuse and personal abuse. The spellbook need not be the mage’s primary spellbook – and singular spellbook with at least one spell scribed within and sporting the names and markings as indicated earlier will suffice. The spellbook should be placed on the proper shelf on the proper spot with the intonation “Here is the Tome of the Magi, written by the hand of the Tower Master. So the Tower and all who enter will know that discipline and learning have led me to this position.”

Sixth and lastly, the prospective Tower Master will need to acquire ownership of the tower from the former master. If the Tower Master is alive, the Tower Master must spit upon his palm and then shake hands with the prospective Tower Master. Then the two should intone together, “From Master to Student, Adult to Child, Teacher to Pupil, I give (“I take” – in regards to the prospective Tower Master) control of this Tower from this moment forth.” The prospective Tower Master continues with, “No force in the world or from another can force me to relinquish this charge without my unfettered and uncharmed will. So I do swear from this day until I choose to end my duty. With this seal, let the tower and all who enter know that I am the Tower Master.” The new Tower Master then presses his anointed hand on the proper shelf on the proper spot until an imprint appears beneath his palm and fingers.

If the Tower Master is deceased the rite will take on a different tone. There must be no other spiritual forces in the tower environs that might interfere with this part of the ritual, so care must be given to make sure all conjured, ensorcelled, infernal, hellbent, angelic, or enchanted forms and spirits are removed, excised, or slain within. Then, some sort of fluidic medium must be placed upon the hand of the prospective Tower Master that is personal to the original Tower Master. Blood and spit work best. If they are unable to be acquired, then the spirit of the Tower Master can be coaxed to give forth ectoplasm if they are allowed to possess a willing host and then be driven from it.

At this point the spirit of the Tower Master should be lured to the heart of the Tower to witness the final transference and sixth step of the ritual. If it is friendly, it might already follow the prospective Tower Master at this time, if not it can be guided there if it were to possess an item or body. The Followers of Artemis had donated to the Order many vessels during the building and early years. They were a dog, a wolf, a puma, a bear, a stag, and a peacock. Any one of these would suffice as a possessable vessel for the Tower Master’s spirit should need be.

From here the ritual is similar to above where the prospective Tower Master then intones, “From Master to Student, Adult to Child, Teacher to Pupil, I take control of this Tower from this moment forth. No force in the world or from another can force me to relinquish this charge without my unfettered and uncharmed will. So I do swear from this day until I choose to end my duty. With this seal, let the tower and all who enter know that I am the Tower Master.” The new Tower Master then presses his anointed hand on the proper shelf on the proper spot until an imprint appears beneath his palm and fingers.