Introduction
Praising the spirits is not so different from praising gods. The essence is not very different as many of them represent an aspect of nature. Fortunately, as lesser beings they are not as exigent as deities. However the challenge lay in their variety and great number. There are different processes to summon different types of spirits; shamans are the masters dealing with this realm. However, knowing the spirit’s name will greatly help in the hard task of summoning them. Although spirits are not as greedy as deities may be, there are a few exceptions to this; the perverse spirits of negative nature. While other spirits, such elementals, merely follow their nature and; for example: fire elementals pursue burning their surroundings or wind elementals seek for the perfect whirlwind; negative spirits crave for devouring this world. This make them easy to lure but hard to deal with and very perverse. Making them closer to fiends, and therefore as some of them share their motivations, the methods to call upon them are also similar. Although demonology is not my expertise I have some knowledge on planar beings and behaviors and I will apply them to the following experiment.As I have pointed before, the process of a ritual includes three main stages: purification, the body of the ritual, and the closure. However what that means may change depending on the object of the ritual. In this case the objective of such is the summoning of a wraith. Wraiths are guardian spirits of anger and resentment leaved behind by a living being, therefore, in this case the purification consist in cleansing the body and mind from any other emotion and inducing the mind a similar state. It is known some Rashemi warriors use some sort of mushroom to induce a state of rage and madness, however it is unknown to me exactly which mushroom this is. Instead I will use belladonna for this purpose. It is poisonous and it also causes anger and wrath, in the correct dose it will be more than enough.
The Calling
I eat the paste of belladonna and I chew it for a while until I start to feel the effect; of course I am fasting since yesterday. I cleanse my face and hands with spring water; however, not my feet. Wraiths are spirits of the dead and therefore they belong to the ground, they are corrupted and so my feet shall be to keep in contact with them. This will do for the purification.Now I approach to the circle, as before I light the burners, this time with dried petunias. They are flowers of resentment and anger and the objective is to emulate that state. I feel my teeth chattering and my hands shaking already, it takes me a little to focus. I bite my own arms until they bleed, which helps to keep my mind on the matter. My fist clench and I feel my eyes burning with rage, but I continue. Master helps with a melody of the drums. It is continuous and rhythmic, repetitive. The drums make the dead shake and call upon the spirits. He did not oppose in spite he does not consider animism worthy of his attention. I believe he enjoy watching me jeopardizing my own life. I must admit that while my arms bleed to the ground making another offering, I feel excitement and ecstasy. At this point I cannot discern whether it is the drug running from my veins or a genuine emotion. Now it is time for the offering.
Wine is spilled around. The dead appreciate alcohol, and red wine also emulates blood, which for a wraith is rather appropriate. My blood also blooms on the ground as a consequence of several bites and scratches:
“Oh guardian spirit I call upon you. Oh angry spirit I call upon you. Feel my anger, answer my call. Feel my life spilling on the ground, come to take it.”
The main offering is also prepared, a black heart filled with malice and fury. That Gibberling won’t need it anymore. The knife cut through it as it was butter. The black blood bubble and spurt over the circle, splashing over my dirty feet:
“Oh lost spirit filled with rage, I call upon you, I call your name. Oh roaming soul, listen my voice. Answer my calling and manifest yourself, Scarlet Riddle!”
...No closure was needed further than a dead body adorning the cold stones.