Rite of Fangs

The flesh of the Man is but a curse to be destroyed by Its venom.

- The Serpentine Priestess

Ceremony of the Serpentine Profane

By nightfall, the Priesthood gather 'round the Pit of Rebirth. Only one among them breaks the robed circle, carefully navigating the pit's sharp decline. The figure carries in tow a pail sloshing with crimson ichor, which soon soaks the ground in myriad shapes of runes and sigils.
The Devout soon follow their speakers and the Tokli'ye among them take position alongside the Priesthood. From their ranks emerges a single human individual, who kneels humbly before the Priesthood. Soon, its flesh-corruption will be healed.
The aspirant is bathed in the remaining ichor by the Priesthood. Another robe ambles forth, offering a vial of potent venom to the Devotee. It drinks of the vial without hesitation, a single moment that seems to span minutes as others continue the ritual preparation.
The human is stripped bare, save for an icon of the Devourer wound around its neck. The Priesthood usher it forward, though it struggles to think or move with coherency and stumbles down the sheer drop. In its drugged haze, it collapses among the now-teeming serpent-kin. Above, the Priesthood lead the Devout in fevered prayer, rising in volume in accordance with the individual's screams.

Related Articles

• Tokli, the World-Devourer
• Tokli'ye

Related Organization(s)

• Cult of the Devourer

Ritual Component(s)

• Ceremonial Texts
• Icon of the Devourer
• Living Sacrifice(s) (Blood)
• Living Serpents
• Serpent Venom
• Transmutation Circle

Ritual Participant(s)

• Alchemist
• Living Sacrifice(s)
• Priest / Priestess
• Tokli'ye
• Tokli'ye Aspirant

Additional Notes

Oft the Devourer's Priesthood are simultaneously trained in the arts of alchemy and as such may fulfill more than one role within the ceremony. Similarly, the majority of the Priesthood consist of Tokli'ye.

Invocation of the Devourer

The profane act of the Rite of Fangs carries twofold significance in that its outward emphasis is on religious symbolism, whereas its inner mechanics consist of alchemical knowledge put to practical use.

- Unknown Alchemist

Alchemical Components

Only a partial number of the components utilized in the Rite of Fangs are necessary to carry out the desired outcome, namely:

• Living Serpents
• Serpent Venom
• Transmutation Circle

The Tokli'ye Aspirant is expected to writhe within the Pit of Rebirth among its Serpent-kin, which consist of a variety of snakes bred for ritual purposes by the Cult's Serpent-speakers. These living serpents act as the secondary "genetic ancestor" associated with the resulting Tokli'ye Beastkin. Without the presence of one or more serpents, the aspirant would be unable to achieve its serpentine appearance.
The serpent venom itself is not necessary, rather it is the consumption of the essence - at least in part - of the desired being which is theorized to lessen the risk of error in such transmutations. Were the aspirant to consume the flesh of a serpent, it is likely that the effect would be the same.
The transmutation circle is the core of any transmutative ritual. A transmutation circle is to alchemical components what an oven is to baking ingredients. Without it, the ritual would not take shape. However, it is important to note that the Priesthood utilize blood-sacrifice as the resource by which their sigils are drawn. Some believe that different mediums may impact the strength of certain alchemical rituals, though one could likely carry out the same ceremony utilizing another resource.

Religious Symbolism

Others tools and components utilized in the ritual are primarily of religious significance, such as the following:

• Ceremonial Texts
• Icon of the Devourer
• Living Sacrifice
• Serpent Venom

The Ceremonial Texts are primarily the invention of the Priesthood and draw upon existing scripture regarding the Devourer. They exist to draw the Devout together in the Rite and bolster the will of the aspirant. Should the aspirant succumb to the venom, their mind will break and the risk of the ritual's failure dramatically increases.
Although unnecessary in the alchemical ritual itself, the icon of the Devourer exists to remind the Devout and the single aspirant of Its power. The Cult believe that the success of the Rite is influenced too by the Devourer and Its belief in the usefulness of prospective Tokli'ye.
Living sacrifices are oft found in the various rites of the Cult. Seeing those beyond the Devout as lesser, they care not in occupying themselves with obtaining other materials at greater cost. It is considered a symbol of power to spill the blood of the heretical, and a symbol of the ultimate End to be delivered by the Devourer.
Serpent venom exists primarily as a tool of religious symbolism by the Priesthood, stated as the means by which the flesh of the Man will be burned away and the Devourer's scales revealed.

Risk Versus Reward

Kill it. The Devourer has uprooted the Unworthy from our ranks.

- Serpent-speaker Tethyss

The Rite of Fangs is not without risk. A minor deviation in the procedure has the potential to endanger the stability of the ritual, thus leading to an outcome more disfigured than the intent.

Typically such beings lose their higher intellect and become nothing more than beasts, which are soon put out of their misery by a Serpent-speaker.
Even without possibility of disfigurement or death, there is the risk of insanity should one's mind grow weak during the ritual. The Rite of Fangs mandates the consumption of a lethal dose of hallucinogenic venom, which "worthy" aspirants are expected to survive until the transmutation concludes.

Observational Aspect

The Rite of Fangs is an infrequent ceremony given the degree of time, preparation, and sacrifice necessitated by the Priesthood. Furthermore, the aspirant must be of sufficient prestige and receive recommendation for the Rite by those among the Tokli'ye or Priesthood.
Beyond the aforementioned limitations, there is no set time nor place the Rite must occur. It is carried out on an "as requested" basis.

Would you give yourself to the Devourer in not just mind and soul, but body too? Though the Devout pray to the Dark Serpent, few willingly embody Its form.

- The Serpentine Priestess