Rituals of Virael Ascensum (Vi-reel Ascen-sum)

Virael Ascensum

“Let winter strip me of name, let spring bind me anew. In silence I was seen; in chains, I am whole.”

Common Phrases & Invocations

“What blooms must bow.” — Spoken before purification.
“Chains do not bend. Only we do.” — Used during binding.
“In the silence, I was seen.” — A favored phrase from initiates who have completed the ritual.
“My burden was a gift.” — Often embroidered into the red veils of honored initiates.

Cultural and Psychological Purpose

These traditions condition obedience through ritual rhythm and strip away identity through repetition.

They’re also meant to be beautiful—poetic, reverent, and haunting—ensuring that even witnesses are emotionally affected. Breaking with any tradition (even accidentally) can lead to public humiliation, spiritual correction, or reclassification as a Doubtful Chain.

The Celebration Rituals of Virael Ascensum

Traditions condition obedience through ritual rhythm and strip away identity through repetition.
They’re also meant to be beautiful—poetic, reverent, and haunting—ensuring that even witnesses are emotionally affected. Breaking with any tradition (even accidentally) can lead to public humiliation, spiritual correction, or reclassification as a Doubtful Chain.

The Veiling of the Self

When: 3 days before the official ritual
Who: All participants and observers
What Happens Participants wear a plain gray veil over the face or eyes. Speaking one’s name is forbidden. Meals are bland or omitted entirely to dull sensory identity.
Symbolic Purpose: To represent the shedding of personal ego and history. The veil is not removed until the final vow is complete.

The March of the Chains

When: Sunrise on the ritual day
Who: Public procession of penitents, overseen by Chain-binders
What Happens: Participants are paraded barefoot through the streets, dragging symbolic chains behind them. The chain length corresponds to the weight of their "spiritual burden." Townspeople are required to witness silently and kneel as the procession passes.
Symbolic Purpose: The burden of sin is made literal, and the public is reminded that purification is a shared duty.

The Binding Chorus

When: During the mid-ritual cleansing phase
Who: Dominion Choirs and the Chainborn Youth
What Happens: Chanting groups recite the Seven Tenets of Dominion, harmonized in a rhythmic cadence. The final line is always whispered: “The chain breaks only when forgotten.”
Symbolic Purpose: The sound becomes a spiritual anchor, burning the Tenets into memory—especially for young initiates and reluctant converts.

Offering of the Self (Optional, Honored)

When: After cleansing, before final mark
Who: Voluntary participants only (often promoted clergy or high Chainborn)
What Happens: The participant chooses a piece of themselves to surrender—a lock of hair, a personal object, or even a name. This is sealed into a reliquary and placed at the Shrine of the Chained Flame.
Symbolic Purpose: Shows higher devotion and earns social favor or spiritual advancement. In rare cases, it's required for promotion within the clergy.

The Watchers’ Silence

When: Final moments of the ritual, just before the closing oath
Who: Everyone in attendance
What Happens: Complete silence is held while the presiding Chainbinder raises a relic chain toward the sky. Even birdsong and wind seem to still—some believe the Godhead watches at that moment.
Symbolic Purpose: A moment of spiritual stillness, interpreted as divine judgment. If a sound is made, the ritual is restarted from the beginning.

Red Veiling Ceremony (Post-Ritual)

When: Immediately after the final vow
Who: Newly purified initiates
What Happens: A red cloth veil is draped across the initiate’s shoulders. The initiate is addressed not by their name, but by a new role or title (e.g., “Devoted Ember,” “Silent Thread,” “Unbound Flame”). The veil is worn for seven days and may only be removed during sanctioned rites.
Symbolic Purpose: Represents rebirth—not as a person, but as a vessel of Dominion.