Great Transition

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The Transition Ritual: From Life to Undeath

The process of transforming a Cult of the Eternal Covenant member from life into undeath is known as the "Great Transition." This highly secretive and meticulously orchestrated ritual is designed to sever a mortal's connection to the natural cycle of life and death, replacing it with a twisted version of immortality in undeath. Below is a detailed description of the steps involved in this ritual:

1. The Preparation (Days Leading Up to the Ritual)

Before the Great Transition can take place, the cultist must undergo extensive physical and spiritual preparation. This phase lasts several days to weeks, depending on the individual and their role within the cult.

Purification of the Flesh:

The subject undergoes a strict regimen of fasting and consuming special necromantic elixirs provided by the cult’s necromancers. These elixirs, made from rare herbs, bones, and blood, begin the process of weakening the connection between the soul and the living body. This also helps prepare the body to resist decay post-transformation.

Ritual Tattoos and Symbols:

The body is inscribed with necromantic runes and symbols using blood ink. These runes are drawn by a high-ranking member of the cult, typically a Seeker or Herald. The tattoos act as conduits for the dark magic needed to catalyze the transformation. Often, these tattoos glow faintly when the cultist nears death or the transition ritual.

The Death Meditation:

The cultist must meditate daily in the days leading up to the ritual, focusing on accepting the death of their mortal self. They recite mantras provided by the cult, which reinforce the belief that life is a prison and undeath is true freedom. This psychological preparation helps mitigate the shock of the transformation.

2. The Gathering of Power (Day of the Ritual)

On the day of the Great Transition, the cultist is brought to a hidden, consecrated location steeped in necromantic energy. These locations are often crypts, abandoned temples, or underground chambers tied to death and the afterlife. The process itself is divided into key steps:

The Circle of Death:

A necromantic ritual circle is drawn on the ground, using a combination of powdered bone, ash, and blood. This circle connects the Weave of life and death with the dark energies required to initiate the cultist’s transition. Cult members, often cloaked and chanting incantations, gather around the circle to lend their power and focus the magic into the ritual.

The Catalyst of Death:

For the transition to begin, the cultist must die. However, the nature of their death is crucial—it cannot be a violent or sudden one, as the soul must be tethered just long enough to ensure that it doesn’t pass into the afterlife. The most common method is poisoning with a necromantic venom or a slow-acting elixir of death, allowing the subject to peacefully drift into death's embrace while the magic is woven around them.

3. The Severing (Final Moments of Life)

As the cultist nears death, the ritual’s true magic begins. The High Priest or Herald presiding over the ritual calls upon Durmstang, drawing from the God's power to sever the dying soul's connection to the natural Weave.

Chanting of the Severing:

The attending cult members begin chanting the “Words of Severing,” ancient necromantic invocations that call to Durmstang and beg his favor. These chants help break the metaphysical link between the mortal soul and the gods, preventing the soul from moving to the afterlife. Instead, the soul is caught within a liminal state, suspended between life and death.

Blood Sacrifice:

A small amount of blood from a willing undead or a powerful necromancer is poured onto the dying cultist’s chest, symbolizing the “gift” of undeath. This blood, steeped in necromantic power, acts as the catalyst for the transformation. It binds the suspended soul to the now-dead body, animating it with undeath.

4. The Rebirth (Transformation into Undeath)

Once the cultist’s soul is severed from the natural cycle and bound to their body, the final stage of the ritual begins, transforming the lifeless body into an undead vessel.

Ritual Surge:

Dark energy flows into the body from the necromantic circle, reanimating the flesh. The tattoos and symbols on the body glow with dark light as the body recovers from the poison that has brought it close to death. It is at this point where the necromancer leading the ritual identifies whether or not the process has worked. If the undead body is not strong enough to fully throw off the effects of the poison and recover, then the person returns to undeath, but as a lesser version - and will instead become a Thrall rather than a member of the Living Faithful and the process will effectively stop here. If however the body throws off the poison, then they will continue to the next step.

Awakening of the Undead Soul:

As the necromantic energy fills the body, the cultist’s soul is “reborn.” Their consciousness returns, though they may experience confusion or even agony as they adjust to the change in their physical and mental state. After a short period of time, the confusion and pain dies away and they feel pretty much themselves as they did before the process.

5. The Final Oath (Post-Transformation)

Upon successful transformation, the newly risen undead is required to take an Oath of Eternity to the cult leader. This oath binds them to the Lich's will and the tenets of the Eternal Covenant. The ceremony is as follows:

Recitation of the Oath:

The new undead, guided by a Herald or Seeker, recites an ancient oath declaring eternal allegiance to the Cult of the Covenant, including the Lich leading their chapter as well as Maltherion and Durmstang. They also pledging to further the cult’s goals of freeing other mortals from death’s cycle, recommending others who might be suitable to go through the process.

Mark of the Eternal:

Upon completion of the oath, the undead cultist is branded with the Mark of the Eternal, a symbol that glows faintly on their skin, showing their loyalty to the Eternal Covenant and their transcendence of mortality. This mark cannot be seen by ordinary mortals but is visible to other undead, necromancers, or anyone attuned to death magic.

Post-Transformation: Life as an Undead

Once transformed, the cultist must adapt to their new state of existence. They are now undead, no longer bound by the constraints of life but also subject to the limitations and downsides of their new form.

Physical Changes:

The body no longer ages or decays, and the undead cultist is immune to disease, exhaustion, and normal forms of healing magic. However, they are vulnerable to radiant magic and holy symbols, as well as anything that disrupts necromantic energy.

Psychological Changes:

Over time, the new undead will find that their emotions gradually fade. While they retain memories and personality traits from their mortal life, their capacity for empathy, joy, or sadness diminishes, making them more cold and calculating. However, they retain all their intellectual faculties, often growing in wisdom as their immortality stretches onward.

Loyalty to Maltherion:

The transformation also comes with an inherent connection to Maltherion, his immediate subordinates and his power. While the cultist retains free will, they are spiritually bound to the Lich’s will and will find it nearly impossible to act against the cult without severe consequences.

The Great Transition marks the beginning of a new existence for the cultist, forever severed from the gods' domain and now part of the Eternal Covenant's ever-growing army of undead.