The Children of the Abyss

[StoneWolf18]

The Children of the Abyss as they are known are those who have given up their soul to become one with Sirris, the Abysmal Queen, for great power and immortality. Yet in turn, they gain a thin, skeletal like appearance and are more than frail making combat almost impossible in their natural form.



The Ritual
There is one way to go about it, but whether it is alone or in a group is dependent on the one that is enacting the approval of Sirris. 

• First there must be limited levels of light, which means only the smallest candles may be lit in order to see and it cannot be done in any amount of sunlight. 
  
• Second, the ash of a tree that had recently been burned so that they are still warm are set in a small stone basin on the floor/ground of wherever the worshiper is.
  
• Next, meditation. Their mind is cleared, trying to gain a very delicate connection with the abyss that would take even the most advanced scholar months to achieve. Although it has been done by those who have never studied a tome in their lifetime, driven by strong emotion alone, sheer will, and depending on the situation, possibly help from Sirris.
  
• Once the delicate connection is sure, noted by an extremely unpleasant and foreign sensation filling the host. This is the queen’s arch-mages beginning to take hold of their soul, preparing it for the first part of the trial. At this point, a dagger or similar sharp object being held would begin to be shrouded in a thick darkness, the power within the weapon allowing it to vibrate gently. As this is felt, the host would lower their hands into the small basin and slit their wrists, allowing their blood to freely mingle with the infused weapon and ash.
  
• The host’s corpse would soon lose enough blood to lose consciousness, leaving the arch-mages to take hold of their soul and pass it through the first stage of inspection. Strength. If the soul is unable to withstand being pressured against the mage’s power and dissipates, they are permanently lost. But if they do manage to survive, then it is onto stage two. (Note the host wouldn’t be able to interact or do pretty much anything at this point because they are technically diseased. A sure sign that they have past is the smoldering of the ash and darkening of the host’s blood in the basin.
  
• The second stage would be if the soul of the host is strong enough to pass into the abyss without becoming tainted or dissipating under the stress it causes. This is where many of the souls begin to falter, only about half making it this far. If they do, the basin would begin to slowly swirl, combining the now pitch black ash and blood mixture. It growing warmer.
  
• Finally, after entering the abyss, it is up to Sirris to judge the remaining few. She takes the souls guided to her and sees which can withstand her tainted touch. Most cannot and end up corrupting, or being lost to the darkness around them. But there are a few who can and do survive. Some even claim that at this stage they had gotten a glimpse of their Queen’s face, although not many believe such. In the mortal realm, the basin had already grew to an intense boil before suddenly beginning to crystallize into a small, roughly shaped, onyx colored gem that can be refined. (More about this later.)
  
• The host would then remain unconscious for another day or so while their soulless body deteriorated into a husk of their formal self. Once they wake, extremely weak and frail, they’re magical ability won't show itself until the caster learns to call upon it either through the help of another Child or luck via a strong burst of emotion.
  

The Physical Form
The natural form of a Child is hideous. All of them carrying the characteristics of corpses via unhealthily gaunt appearances, sunken black pits for eyes, rotting teeth, and coarse, thinning hair if any at all. So how does one get around this? Simple. The stone that is form from the infusion of the weapon, blood of the Child, and ash is called a Soul Stone despite there being nothing within the stone that relates to their soul. Only one is created during the ritual and they are usually carefully guarded for it is the only way they are able to alter themselves. The gem is usually set within a ring or other piece of jewelry but is not limited to of course. After it is fashioned in a way the Child would like, they are then able to, albeit painfully, shape their form to their liking not having to regard race or appearance before hand. Although, added mass had to come from somewhere which is why the use of animals or other corpses if the Child is in a cult is common. They are able to change themselves extensively, save for their gender. But doing it often is a sure way to put stress on the gem and cause it to shatter. Another thing to note would be that the gem has to be on or touching the Child in some way to take effect.



The modification is done via meditation and focusing their energy into the stone they are blood-bound to, before slowly forming a mental image of what they would like to look like. The more it strays from how they appeared before, the longer, more painful it will be and more stress it will put on the gem. Should mass need to be added, the chosen form (animal parts, sentient race corpses, etc) would be set near the caster for them to reach when necessary. As for removing mass...it would be a gruesome process of ripping one's flesh and or limbs from themselves and isn't recommended.



Women are more commonly chosen to be Children than men because of the way Sirrus was banished to the Abyss. That being said, they prefer more falsely beautiful and youthful appearances making it somewhat easy to spot them in a crowd. Men should they be chosen, however, don't care that much about looks.



Other Things to Note

• All Children will cease aging once they become immortal. But if a child or someone under the age of twenty-five passes the trials, they will continue to age physically and mentally until that point. This also goes for those altering their appearance, unable to appear younger than twenty-five.
  
• Despite the harsh prejudice against them, the Children are often offered projection in trade for their services to Royal Courts. Yet this is also dangerous for one wrong move could have them In the dungeons fast than they could be able to apologize.
  
• Hiding their worship of Sirris is simple for some, which makes accounts of a few rulers of grand kingdoms having secretly been mages seem rather plausible. Although none of them would openly admit their affiliation of course.
  
• Not all Children were willing. There are a few who were forced to undergo the ritual in order to sate a cruel bastard’s lust for power. Those that this happens to are looked upon with mercy by Sirris, the goddess usually urging them to betray the one that put them through the ordeal via indirect means. 
  
• Children are unable to cast spells upon each other. The reason for this is mostly unknown except for the speculation that their spells lash out at the other's and imbed itself into their souls.