Nefandri's Prayer
Sometimes, sweetheart, it's better if you don't look backstage.In the wings of any performance, there is a chance that any vengeful actor or actress may find a prayer carved into the rafters. Though it has no voice, it calls to them. As they are sidelined again and again, as they find themselves abandoned by those they thought were their friends, they see it appear across wood and wall, as pamphlet, paper, or carving. This is Nefandri's prayer: a corrosive prayer to a manipulative god that delights in the poison she spreads.
Broken Hearted by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Nefandri herself is a little-known deity who rarely interacts with Istralar itself, but who is active in other areas of the Material Plane. With that said - those that catch her attention will draw it no matter which planet or plane they hail from.
While not a demon herself, many of the foul beasts of the Abyss regularly practice plays in her honour and will gladly latch onto her schemes.
Her prayer is a missive more than a prayer. Visible only to the vulnerable, it serves as the basis for her to twist upset divas or manipulative lovers into something far worse than they would have become.
Though a number of different cults compete for her attention, one of the few on Istralar call themselves the Carvewrights in honour of the way they were first recruited and their dedication to the performing arts. Nefandri is said to appreciate their additional artistry: it adds flavour to the gaslighting.
The Prayer
It should be noted that the following text includes manipulation and discussions of manipulation tactics. Please tread carefully.
Nefandri's Prayer: A Version Thereof
Nefandri's prayer is doubly manipulative not only in its contents, but in the way it shifts to match the situation of its reader. It draws on classic elements of the Narcissist's Prayer and cushions them in gentle praise, using the technique of lovebombing to get claws into the reader. Cleverly, the details of the prayer shift not only to match the details of the reader's situation, but also to match the reader in terms of their emotional intelligence. The above example is fairly obvious in its manipulations, its phrasing incredibly similar to the classical Prayer.
Someone has denied you what you want. That's not right, dear. They asked you to leave, didn't they? Kicked you off the stage, out of the production! All for what, their own feelings? You've always been more than good enough. Perhaps you've outgrown this place. They're claiming it's nothing personal. You have differing opinions. There's been tension. They claim you've been hurting people, you know. Of course you haven't been. You haven't caused a single problem! That didn't happen. I'm sure they're imagining things. You've been friends with everybody here for so long and nobody's ever mentioned anything bad to you. And if it did happen? It mustn't have been so bad for them to cause all of this fuss. You've really been affected more by this than anything they could have done. It's so cruel to put you through this. You don't cause trouble like that. You wear a confidence and a kindness - perhaps they're scared of you. And if it was that bad - do they need to be making such a big deal over it? One measly girl crying over your comments and corrections - that's really more on her than you. There's no need to kick you from something you've been excelling in! After all, this wasn't your fault. You simply said what needed to be said. The girl blew this up into dramatics, and your teacher was the one turning things on you. Have they been jealous, perhaps? And certainly, if this was your fault in the end, then they must have deserved it. You have never done anything without reason. Why can't they see what's important here? Why are their feelings being prioritised over yours? You are wasted on this pathetic place that would mistreat you over something entirely justifiable. They don't understand what you mean or who you are. They keep spinning your words into malice when they came from a place of peace - and we can't have that. No, dear, we can't let them ruin you. By reading this, I'm sure we've formed a bond. I'd like to help you, beautiful. You don't deserve this sort of treatment. When you go to bed tonight, light a candle and whisper █████████ to it. We shall see if we can come up with a plan for getting your rightful place back, and we shall see what can be done about the abysmal way these fools have treated you. And remember: You are justified in your anger. They have been so hurtful. You are too good for them, and you'll just have to help them see that. Perhaps you'll blaze past them in glory and light, dear. We won't let this stand.
Other examples, though, are far more subtle. Instead of thrusting praise and blinding the reader with adoration, they seek to introduce seeds of doubt or self-deprecation into the reader's mind. They point out contradictions or raise external actors as possible instigators, taking every doubt the reader has and magnifying it upon itself.
While these tend to be slower paths to manipulating mortals, they are nonetheless extremely effective. Even those who try to ignore the prayer's toxic words will linger on the doubts it raises, questioning themselves for decades once it has set those wheels in motion.
Obviously, the words aren't mundane. Those with strong wills will never experience the effects of the Prayer even if one manifests in their area, for the strength of their will (also known as 'passing a Will save' to those with a more meta point of view) will never actually see the text, for it is a form of illusion that blends itself well with enchantment.
Pleading by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Rejected by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Devious, despicable and down right playing dirty, as one would expect. I can certainly understand how these 'prayers' get their hooks in people, it is well approached from the example you provide, certainly appealing to the ego, stoking confidence, inflating self worth in all the wrong kind of ways too. That's the dangerous thing, there are right and wrong ways to lift someone's confidence/spirits and otherwise. This sort of route and tactic is the dangerous stuff, and I can imagine when inspired by something on the level of diety, this can rather swiftly lead an individual into quite the self destructive loop. I actually find a lot of inspiration for a particular Void diety in this portrayal, so I think I'll tuck this into my collection for future study material, well written Han!
Thank you! I was venting some pretty serious feelings about someone toxic in my life when I wrote this, so I guess I can thank them for one thing - the manipulation shows through pretty effectively ^^; I also love that it doesn't just spiral ONE person, but it connects them to others - and together, they all go to shit.
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