Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy

The Faculty of Daemonology At the University of Teutonia
By Professor Boris von Kaiserstein
Spring 1111 Edition

Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy

The process of Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy allows a Daemonologist to initiate a full Daemonic Possession upon a subject. However, the process is frozen almost immediately, and the Daemons’ full power is contained. This results in the subject sharing his body with the Daemon. This arrangement is advantageous to both entities, as the Daemon once again has a physical body and the host has access to a portion of the Daemons power.

Calling upon Dark Spirits to possess an individual is both dangerous and foolhardy to the untrained. To the trained it is merely dangerous so great care must go into your training. It is suggested that a reputable source of training is sought, one that has a proven track record and a documented survival rate like the Faculty of Daemonology There are many other forms of Daemonology in Erdreja, although most other forms have been classified as ‘ridiculous’ by the Teutonic Sage of Daemonology.

Through Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy, you can enact Daemonic Possession that can last for anything from 1 day (such as Daemons contained within Amulet Fetishes) to permanent symbiotic creatures, such as the Archchancellor. Your contract with the Daemon will decide this, yet other factors can be bought into play by the cunning Daemonologist.

There are several key elements to Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy, which we shall cover briefly before getting to the actual possession.

Prime Fetish

This object is a conduit that links directly to the Daemon Portal at the Faculty Facility. It acts as an easily controllable means of gaining access to the Plane of Dark Spirits anywhere in Erdreja. A Prime Fetish can be easily created and attuned to the portal, and its connection can be severed just as easily. Certain objects have proven to be most effective in acting as a prime fetish. Human Skulls, Large Gemstones and, oddly enough, partially decomposed Chinchillas appear to be effective. Most members of the Faculty refuse to use Chinchillas.

You must have some source of Dark Spirit energy available to you, and apart from travelling to the nearest Portal, carrying a link to that Portal is the most sensible option.

The Binding Potions

These alchemical cocktails consist of a range of ingredients, formulated initially by Rosamund Von Trügelhof and later refined and perfected by Kitty-Bü Von Geshalt and the Daemon Scampexzethiel. The Malleator binding potion makes a subject’s body ready for Daemonic Possession. The pattern-merging binding potion freezes the possession process, preventing the Daemon from assuming complete control of the host body.

I will assume that you have taken the relevant Alchemical lectures of the Faculty’s Daemonology 101 course. Obviously you will have to prepare the potions beforehand depending on the Dark Spirit that you are attempting to summon. You must ensure that you get the correct ingredients and test the potion beforehand, for without proper research the subject may suffer damage.

Onorian-Barbaric Sigils

Taken and adapted from ancient Daemonic languages, these potent symbols have a powerful influence over Daemons. Although not always required, these sigils placed precisely onto the subject’s body will contain a Daemon’s ability to consume the pattern of its host. These Sigils will also prevent the Daemon leaving the body and attempting to jump into other potential hosts in the circle.

Take in the lecture, and research your daemon until you know which Sigils to use. It would be foolhardy to attempt a possession without the basic protection this method provides.

The Possession Table

This custom designed table is made from Black Sapwood, and is woven with very fine strands of various metals like tungsten and bronze. A subject that is held down to the possession table becomes partially magically grounded, meaning that a lot of the Daemon’s energy will be drawn away from it, preventing the creature from using the full force of its power to break free.

It is not something that is particularly required for Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy, yet we feel that any precaution that can be taken should be. At least ensure that any subject you are possessing a Dark Spirit into is disarmed before the process begins.

Tailored Fetishes

With particularly powerful Daemons, such as Daemon Princes, it proved necessary to further ground their powers, by tying a portion of their patterns to specially prepared objects. These fetishes, although fragile, are made to contain the pattern of the Dark Spirit, with only parts of the host and daemon patterns merging in the rite.

If these fetishes are destroyed the Daemonic pattern bound inside the fetish reunites with the part of the pattern tied to the possessed and the pattern of the host would be consumed by the Dark Spirit. Although this is a risky endeavour, the powers that can be gained from being partially possessed by a Daemon Prince are great enough to make it worthwhile.

The Fetish Amulets which provide a one day possession were tailored for the purposes of the specific daemon in mind, and were specially crafted in the Faculty Laboratories.

Dark Spirit Possession

Mark the relevant Onorian Sigils onto the subject in the required areas, and once done, give the subject the Malleator Binding potion so that his body can get ready to accept the Dark Spirit.

Next, ready the area you are going to perform the Possession in. Set up your Possession Table and call down Dark Spirit energies through your Prime Fetish to make the area more inviting to your daemon. Setting a boundary by walking round the area you are going to work in is a good idea if you have any spectators not involved in the Rite. Appropriate chants of protection should be made along with the ringing of a bell at the correct intervals to ensure containment of the Dark Spirit to your boundaries. This procedure should also include a Shielding to drive away rogue Dark Spirits.

When the potion has started to affect the pattern of the subject, run your hands six inches over the subject’s body invoking the Onorian Sigils as per your researched daemon. This is a vital part of the procedures as it will aid the pattern in retaining it’s form when the possession takes hold. Start at the heart, do the left leg followed by the right leg, the torso, the right arm and the left arm before tying your protection off at the head.

Begin to summon your daemon using the True Name of the daemon and sacrifice the Lure in the manner as previously informed by the Dark Spirit. Ensure that your part of the Contract already made with the daemon is met in full at this point. Failure to do so will result in a voided contract, which is never something a daemonologist does twice.

Impel your daemon to come using the relevant chants of command, and if the Contract has been met the Dark Spirit will have no option but to appear. At this point you should activate your Possession Table to magically ground the daemon.

Whilst the daemon pattern is in a state of flux, perform the Binding Ceremony in the same order as when you last invoked the Onorian Sigils. This will bind the patterns of the subject and the Dark Spirit together whilst ensuring that they remain separate entities. Putting two patterns into one body is a sign of Teutonic Magical Supremacy.

Distract the Dark Spirit with any offerings that appeal to it as per your research. Assert the Contract upon the daemon, stating the main terms in full so that misunderstandings cannot occur during the possession. Ensure that the time spent in this particular host is confirmed by the daemon, and make any reassurances to the daemon that what they desire from the deal will occur. Higara daemons always want to make sure that they will have blood on their sword or similar sentiments. It’s probably being put into a warrior and Teutonic warriors are always killing things, so it’s safe to confirm this. Ensure that you are putting your daemon into a suitable subject who will provide the daemon with the stimulus it requires.

Once the Contract has been confirmed with the daemon, conclude the Binding Ceremony.
If the subject is a wielder of magic in some form, they will quickly be able to converse with you. Ensure that they understand not to use all of their magical energy whilst possessed. If the subject has no magical power, or if the subject is not able to communicate with you, an Iron Will will be helpful during their time possessed. Once an Iron Willed subject has confirmed their name to your satisfaction, you may send them on their way. Alcohol should be avoided by all subjects for the period of the possession.

It is helpful to have many daemonologists present to perform all of the different tasks involved in Dark Spirit Thaumaturgy, although it is possible for highly competent daemonologists to perform a possession on their own.