Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is an altered state of mind which is the result of a ritual performed by Dendrach clergy in Westlo. While in a state of Enthusiasm, the cleric will have a direct line of communication with Dendrah herself, who will be able to pass on her desires, warnings and admonitions to the community, through the Cleric.
While Enthusiastic, the Cleric will be accompanied by a scribe who will annotate everything that he or she says and does while in the altered state. Only the clergy of Dendrah and acolytes who prepare the associated ceremony have any idea of how the state is induced, and only Holys and Paters know for certain the mechanism.

Transmission & Vectors

According to Mochache the Ranger, who served as an acolyte at Temple of Dendrah - Duntown, the ceremony that causes Enthusiasm involves the preparation of a drink of pulped apples, mushrooms and a dark red, wine-like liquid. One of these, or the combination of them, are therefore believed to cause the altered state of mind.

Symptoms

On achieving the desired state, the Cleric will first go into a stupor and be led to a crimson couch in a side chamber of the temple, followed by the scribe.
A period of intense commune with the deity then follows, which manifest as hallucinations and vivid dreams. The Cleric may speak aloud in any language or in incoherent babble, and he or she may get up from the couch and walk around normally, or dance spasmodically, or crawl.
Enthusiasm typically lasts for a few hours, although durations of just over one hour are not uncommon.

Treatment

When the Enthusiasm has passed its peak, the scribe will call in another cleric, who will bathe the Enthusiast's forehead with water and, if he or she has moved, place them back on the couch (perhaps with the aid of an acolyte or attending paladin), covering them with a velvet blanket.

Sequela

There appear to be no major complications from Enthusiasm, except for the ardent desire to enter the state again. Once a cleric has been Enthusiastic, they are unwilling to recount their experience and look for any excuse to repeat it. Nor do they willingly pass the privilege of presiding over the ritual to another.

Cultural Reception

The worshipping public are aware of the ceremony and the condition of Enthusiasm, but are not aware of the ingredients that involved in the drink, nor indeed that the ritual drink is the cause of the Enthusiasm.
The ceremony at which Enthusiasm is induced is typically semi-public in that it is open but not advertised. Anyone can come to the temple while it is ongoing, but no one would know to come at that time.
As a result of the open secret nature of the state of Enthusiasm, in the public mind it is seen as a kind of innate gift that their holy men and woman have, and is the mark of special status before the deity. The fact that Pater Ty Holan died in a state of Enthusiasm is often taken as a sign of his extreme holiness and righteousness.

Type

Mental

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• Human