Hallowing (Ritual =this.Level)

Rarity: 3-Rare
Casting Time: 3 Hours
Cost: Special materials (see description) costing at least 300gp
Secondary Casters: 1
Primary Check: Arcana (Master)
Secondary Checks: Astral Lore or Alchemy Lore
Area of Effect: Touch
Duration: Indefinite

Hallowing is a complicated Arcanimancy ritual that extracts, implants, or otherwise manipulates the esoteric essence within a subject. The ritual is based on the The Celestine beliefs that a being is composed of different levels of existence, from the sinful physical body to the sanctified spiritual essence, and that these levels are interconnected. If the subject's Essences can be arranged and combined correctly, this can enable them to experience a "cosmic energetic transmutation" that allows them to ascend from those lower levels of existence into higher ones, eventually merging with Holy Genesis. It is a process of inner purification, transforming from one state into another state, from the profane to the sublime.

Hallowing has four stages-- one for each step of the alchemical process of rebirth and transformation. Techniques for performing the ritual vary slightly from one arcanimist to another, but normally requires specialized ingredients, designs, and circumstances, such as performing the procedure at certain times of day or under certain weather conditions. The ritual always involves material components that represent each of the four Essences. Though the exact nature of the components are a personal choice that varies slightly from caster to caster, the most commonly used are:

as well as special anointing oils that represent Akasha. The primary caster also uses a personalized talisman known as a Spirit Locket that has been carved with Astral Runes to aid in their casting. The effectiveness of the ritual is dependent on the arcanimist’s knowledge and skill level; loss of control can lead to a variety of unintended mutations and side effects. In most cases, Hallowing results in some kind of permanent change to (or loss of) the subject's mind, body, soul, or life; this is believed to be related to the alchemical Principle of Equivalent Exchange.

Rarely, this ritual can result in Astral Binding instead. Very little is known about how or why this result is achieved, only that Astral Binding appears to compensate for the altered Essences and enables both halves of the newly formed Syzygy to survive the ritual without any meaningful loss of self-identity. Subjects with this result are called scions-- also known as "star-touched", due to the starlight sigils that appear on their body after forming this Bond.

Critical Success The ritual is successful and the primary caster is able to control which Essences they interact with
Success The ritual is successful, with unpredictable results.
Failure The ritual has no effect.
Critical Failure The ritual backfires.