Pact-Making

In Pre-Church times, and even early Kadian Empire and Kadian Republic, the act of making pacts with spirits was seen as taboo and even feared. Members who did were seen as witches and often put to death in many places in Azora.   However, once the Empire had accepted St. Lucia, and begun to idolize her teachings reforms became possible. By the collapse of the Kadian Empire, many of St. Lucia's teachings had become widespread. In the 800s, St. Byblos' "Book of Pacts" had improved and outlined the ethics of spiritual contracts and consent-based bargaining. St. Byblos even noted pact-makers as "Keepers of the Unearthly Balance".   By the modern era, Pact-making has become regulated and even welcomed. While traditionalists and nobility still look down on those who make pacts, many pact-makers are common in daily life - even serving in the military and working as priests and healers and commoners. However, in many Azoran cities, pact-making is both romanticized and feared—seen as both a gift and a weapon.

The classical steps of Pact-Making is separated into five steps.

The Calling (Invocatio): The perspective pact maker must first call spirits from the Still Realm. This is done a number of ways, from sleep-walking, to using Veilwicks to bend the veil between realms. They must speak the name of the spirit and offer something truly personal. A lock of hair, blood, tokens, the air from their breath, etc.   The Crossing (Transvectum): Once summoned, the spirit appears and takes form. It is important that by this point, the spirit is surrounded by salt or a metal ring so that it cannot harm the perspective pact-maker. This crossing can take hours, which makes the space where the veil is thinnest dangerous to perspective or hostile hungry spirits to interrupt or enter, giving the potentiality to demons.   The Bargain (Commercium): This is the most crucial step of the ritual. The exchange or the deal. In this moment, it is considered that the Dium has accepted its current state and is ready to consent. At this moment, the Dium will offer something of its nature, fire, shadows, light, wind, etc. In exchange, the human will offer to be their guide in the mortal realm by giving them something immaterial. memories, years of life, a vow of action, an emotion.   The Binding (Nexus): Once accepted, the human may undergo a slight change. A sigil on their form, a physical changing of the eyes, becoming cold to the touch, become ecstatic or easily excited. This act is often painful as the body shifts to accept the new body in unusual and unseen ways.   The Acknowledgement (Testimonium): This is less spiritual, and more bureaucratic. The pact-maker must announce the success of their pact and perform the first act of their magic to confirm the bond. At which case, a member of the Lucian Faith will bless or monitor the pact to ensure its cleanness.