Banishing
There are few fates worse than that of becoming the target of a Geist, as their haunting is harrowing and life-long. There is, however, a way to get rid of a Geist that has latched onto someone. This ritual, known as Banishing, is a sacred rite performed only by the most confident and headstrong priests of the Church of Resounding Truth or the sturdiests of hearts in the Purification Guild.
There must be no one else present in the room except the afflicted and the person performing the ritual, to eliminate the chance of a repeat haunting as the Geist is dislodged from its host. It is actually preferable if there is no one else in the residence at all.
Once these steps have been taken, the banishing can begin.
The one performing the ritual then proceeds to spray upon the afflicted some of the Tears, which will often provoke a reaction from the inhabiting Geist, either in the form of the agonized thrashing of the afflicted or as the manifestation of an apparition. In the latter case, the Geist will often try to engage in conversation with the priest or healer, which they must not entertain but continue with the ritual, the next part of which calls for all the spiritual strength they can muster.
The performer of the ritual must fall upon their knees and begin to hum the Eternal Hymn, which will enrage the Geist beyond all measure. During this rage, it will often harm the afflicted and the surrounding room, with deep gashes appearing on the flesh of the afflicted and on the walls. Objects will be hurled at the priest or healer, as well as the afflicted.
This will continue for some time until the Geist usually resorts to one final, desperate measure. The afflicted will sit up on the bed and plead for the performer of the ritual to stop, claiming that they do not feel the presence of the Geist anymore.
This is a deception concocted by the Hateling, and the healer or priest must steel themselves against the pleading of the afflicted and continue their humming. It is at this point that the Geist most often will engage in direct spiritual battle with the performer of the ritual and attempts to latch onto them.
To avoid this, the priest or healer must clash wills with the creature and they often embolden themselves with variations of the following words;
Preparation
The ritual most often takes place in the residence of the afflicted, as it is thought that the comfort of home allows for a better mental fortitude to endure what is to come during the ritual. The performing healer or priest must anoint every doorframe leading to and from the room the ritual is to take place in with Tears of the Divine, as well as placing a rag moistened with the selfsame liquid onto the forehead of the afflicted.There must be no one else present in the room except the afflicted and the person performing the ritual, to eliminate the chance of a repeat haunting as the Geist is dislodged from its host. It is actually preferable if there is no one else in the residence at all.
Once these steps have been taken, the banishing can begin.
The Ritual
Once the opening words of the ritual have been spoken, the one performing the banishing cannot leave the room nor can anyone enter. These opening words are often recited as follows;"I stand here now, a shield against the forces of darkness that have sought to claim this soul.
Wretched spirit, know this: You have no power here. You are a dream, a mere nightmare that haunts the waking world.
And just like a nightmare, you will be exiled by the light of day.
Flee now, return to the darkness that spawned you of your own volition, or I shall send you back to it, broken and dishevelled!"
The one performing the ritual then proceeds to spray upon the afflicted some of the Tears, which will often provoke a reaction from the inhabiting Geist, either in the form of the agonized thrashing of the afflicted or as the manifestation of an apparition. In the latter case, the Geist will often try to engage in conversation with the priest or healer, which they must not entertain but continue with the ritual, the next part of which calls for all the spiritual strength they can muster.
The performer of the ritual must fall upon their knees and begin to hum the Eternal Hymn, which will enrage the Geist beyond all measure. During this rage, it will often harm the afflicted and the surrounding room, with deep gashes appearing on the flesh of the afflicted and on the walls. Objects will be hurled at the priest or healer, as well as the afflicted.
This will continue for some time until the Geist usually resorts to one final, desperate measure. The afflicted will sit up on the bed and plead for the performer of the ritual to stop, claiming that they do not feel the presence of the Geist anymore.
This is a deception concocted by the Hateling, and the healer or priest must steel themselves against the pleading of the afflicted and continue their humming. It is at this point that the Geist most often will engage in direct spiritual battle with the performer of the ritual and attempts to latch onto them.
To avoid this, the priest or healer must clash wills with the creature and they often embolden themselves with variations of the following words;
“I do not fear you, for I know you lie! I know you deceive!
You have no dominion here. Your power is as fleeting as the night, as weak as the shadows you hide in!
You cannot withstand the light of the coming day, and so you mewl and struggle!
So I cast you out! Your presence is unwelcome, your existence a stain on this world!
I will not let you remain! You will haunt my brothers and sisters no longer!
As the sun rises, you and the darkness that birthed you will fall! Out with you! Out!”
If the will of the performer exceeds that of the Geist, it has no recourse but to leave the body of its host. Once this happens, another rag wetted in the Tears is placed upon the whole face of the afflicted, in an effort to thwart off repossession.
Geists expelled in this way will attempt to leave the room through one of the doors, but as they have been anointed, they are destroyed upon floating through the threshold and their hold on the afflicted vanishes alongside their essence.
The Afflicted
Thankfully, Geists latching onto individuals is exceedingly rare thanks to the fact that they reside mainly in the Demented Glen, in the deepest reaches of the Black Forest. Therefore it comes as little surprise that the vast majority, if not all, victims of a Geist haunting are Seekers.
Is it... over?–A victim of a Geist after a successful banishing
Related Organizations
by Midjourney
Entry for WorldEmber 2024
Answering: "Tradition"
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by
Midjourney
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