The Corpus Thesis
The process of becoming a fully-fledged member of the College of Flesh is both an academic and metaphysical journey, culminating in the creation of a thesis that is as much a part of the scholar as their own soul. This final work, known as the Corpus Thesis, is the scholar's magnum opus—a tome of forbidden knowledge crafted entirely from the scholar’s own body. It is more than a mere document; it is a phylactery, binding their essence to the knowledge they have painstakingly recorded.
The Corpus Thesis: A Living Manuscript
The journey to creating the Corpus Thesis begins long before the final ritual. Scholars spend years gathering knowledge, experimenting with arcane and alchemical practices, and pushing the boundaries of their own physical and mental endurance. The knowledge contained within the thesis is not just theoretical but deeply personal, derived from the scholar's own experiences, sacrifices, and transmutations.
The Gathering of Materials
Blood as Ink: The scholar’s blood is the primary medium for writing the Corpus Thesis. Over time, they learn to refine their blood through alchemical processes, imbuing it with magical properties that allow the words to resonate with power. The blood is thickened and darkened, a deep crimson hue that stains the pages with a permanence that no ordinary ink could match. Each word written carries the scholar’s life force, binding them closer to the knowledge they record.
Skin for Parchment and Leather: The scholar’s skin is carefully flayed and treated to create both the parchment for the pages and the leather for the book’s cover. This process is excruciating and requires great skill to ensure that the skin remains intact and suitable for crafting. Some scholars take pride in intricate designs, etching arcane symbols into the leather, while others prefer a more austere approach, leaving the skin unadorned as a testament to their sacrifice.
Bone and Sinew: The bones of the scholar are often ground into powder to be mixed with the ink or used to reinforce the book’s spine. Sinew may be used as thread to bind the pages together, creating a literal and symbolic connection between the scholar’s body and their work. The binding process is crucial, as it not only holds the book together but also ensures that the scholar’s soul is securely anchored within the pages.
Hair and Teeth: Some scholars choose to incorporate their hair or teeth as decorative elements or as protective charms within the book. Hair might be woven into intricate patterns along the edges of the pages, while teeth can be embedded into the cover, serving as guardians of the knowledge within.
The Ritual of Inscription
The actual writing of the Corpus Thesis is a sacred and solitary ritual. The scholar retreats into the deepest chambers of the College, where they are left alone to inscribe their work. This ritual, known as the Rite of Inscription, can take days or even weeks, depending on the complexity of the thesis and the resilience of the scholar.
During the Rite of Inscription, the scholar enters a trance-like state, induced by a combination of alchemical potions, pain, and sheer willpower. In this state, they are able to channel the deepest recesses of their knowledge and experience onto the pages of the thesis. Each word etched onto the skin-bound parchment is a fragment of the scholar’s soul, a piece of their essence immortalized in the text.
As the writing progresses, the scholar's body begins to weaken, their vitality draining into the book. The process is both physically and spiritually taxing, pushing the scholar to the brink of death. It is said that the closer they come to death, the more profound their insights become, as they straddle the line between life and the afterlife, drawing wisdom from both realms.
The Final Binding
Once the Corpus Thesis is complete, the scholar must perform the Final Binding, a ritual that seals their essence within the book, transforming it into a phylactery. This ritual is performed in the Chamber of Souls, a hidden sanctum within the College where the walls are lined with the Corpus Theses of past members, each one a repository of forbidden knowledge and a vessel for the soul of its creator.
The scholar places the book upon an ancient altar, crafted from the bones of the first Fleshwrights. They then recite a series of incantations, invoking the college’s ancient power and binding their soul to the thesis. As the ritual progresses, the scholar’s body begins to deteriorate, their flesh sloughing off in strips, their bones turning brittle and pale. Yet, the scholar does not die—instead, their consciousness is drawn into the book, their physical form collapsing into dust.
The Corpus Thesis now serves as both the final academic work of the scholar and their phylactery. As long as the book remains intact, the scholar’s soul is preserved, granting them immortality in the form of a lich. They become a guardian of the knowledge they have recorded, able to interact with the world through the book and even manifest physically if needed.
The new lich is celebrated by the College, their transformation marking the culmination of their studies and sacrifices. They are welcomed into the ranks of the Fleshwrights, where they will continue to contribute to the college’s vast repository of knowledge, guiding new initiates and defending the college’s secrets.
Legacy and Power
The Corpus Thesis is more than just a record of the scholar’s knowledge; it is a living entity, infused with the scholar’s essence. Other members of the college can study the theses of their predecessors, gaining insights and power from the knowledge contained within. However, only those with the permission of the lich can access the most guarded secrets, as the book is still a part of the lich’s consciousness.
The creation of the Corpus Thesis is both a testament to the scholar’s dedication and a warning to those who might seek the forbidden knowledge within. The process of becoming a lich through the crafting of this tome is the ultimate expression of the College of Flesh’s philosophy: that true knowledge requires the ultimate sacrifice, and that in death, there is the potential for eternal life and endless understanding.
The Corpus Thesis: A Living Manuscript
The journey to creating the Corpus Thesis begins long before the final ritual. Scholars spend years gathering knowledge, experimenting with arcane and alchemical practices, and pushing the boundaries of their own physical and mental endurance. The knowledge contained within the thesis is not just theoretical but deeply personal, derived from the scholar's own experiences, sacrifices, and transmutations.
The Gathering of Materials
Blood as Ink: The scholar’s blood is the primary medium for writing the Corpus Thesis. Over time, they learn to refine their blood through alchemical processes, imbuing it with magical properties that allow the words to resonate with power. The blood is thickened and darkened, a deep crimson hue that stains the pages with a permanence that no ordinary ink could match. Each word written carries the scholar’s life force, binding them closer to the knowledge they record.
Skin for Parchment and Leather: The scholar’s skin is carefully flayed and treated to create both the parchment for the pages and the leather for the book’s cover. This process is excruciating and requires great skill to ensure that the skin remains intact and suitable for crafting. Some scholars take pride in intricate designs, etching arcane symbols into the leather, while others prefer a more austere approach, leaving the skin unadorned as a testament to their sacrifice.
Bone and Sinew: The bones of the scholar are often ground into powder to be mixed with the ink or used to reinforce the book’s spine. Sinew may be used as thread to bind the pages together, creating a literal and symbolic connection between the scholar’s body and their work. The binding process is crucial, as it not only holds the book together but also ensures that the scholar’s soul is securely anchored within the pages.
Hair and Teeth: Some scholars choose to incorporate their hair or teeth as decorative elements or as protective charms within the book. Hair might be woven into intricate patterns along the edges of the pages, while teeth can be embedded into the cover, serving as guardians of the knowledge within.
The Ritual of Inscription
The actual writing of the Corpus Thesis is a sacred and solitary ritual. The scholar retreats into the deepest chambers of the College, where they are left alone to inscribe their work. This ritual, known as the Rite of Inscription, can take days or even weeks, depending on the complexity of the thesis and the resilience of the scholar.
During the Rite of Inscription, the scholar enters a trance-like state, induced by a combination of alchemical potions, pain, and sheer willpower. In this state, they are able to channel the deepest recesses of their knowledge and experience onto the pages of the thesis. Each word etched onto the skin-bound parchment is a fragment of the scholar’s soul, a piece of their essence immortalized in the text.
As the writing progresses, the scholar's body begins to weaken, their vitality draining into the book. The process is both physically and spiritually taxing, pushing the scholar to the brink of death. It is said that the closer they come to death, the more profound their insights become, as they straddle the line between life and the afterlife, drawing wisdom from both realms.
The Final Binding
Once the Corpus Thesis is complete, the scholar must perform the Final Binding, a ritual that seals their essence within the book, transforming it into a phylactery. This ritual is performed in the Chamber of Souls, a hidden sanctum within the College where the walls are lined with the Corpus Theses of past members, each one a repository of forbidden knowledge and a vessel for the soul of its creator.
The scholar places the book upon an ancient altar, crafted from the bones of the first Fleshwrights. They then recite a series of incantations, invoking the college’s ancient power and binding their soul to the thesis. As the ritual progresses, the scholar’s body begins to deteriorate, their flesh sloughing off in strips, their bones turning brittle and pale. Yet, the scholar does not die—instead, their consciousness is drawn into the book, their physical form collapsing into dust.
The Corpus Thesis now serves as both the final academic work of the scholar and their phylactery. As long as the book remains intact, the scholar’s soul is preserved, granting them immortality in the form of a lich. They become a guardian of the knowledge they have recorded, able to interact with the world through the book and even manifest physically if needed.
The Emergence of the Lich
The scholar, now a lich, is no longer bound by the limitations of a mortal body. They retain the knowledge and power they amassed in life, but with the added benefit of eternal existence. The Corpus Thesis, as their phylactery, becomes their most prized possession, safeguarded within the College of Flesh’s deepest vaults.The new lich is celebrated by the College, their transformation marking the culmination of their studies and sacrifices. They are welcomed into the ranks of the Fleshwrights, where they will continue to contribute to the college’s vast repository of knowledge, guiding new initiates and defending the college’s secrets.
Legacy and Power
The Corpus Thesis is more than just a record of the scholar’s knowledge; it is a living entity, infused with the scholar’s essence. Other members of the college can study the theses of their predecessors, gaining insights and power from the knowledge contained within. However, only those with the permission of the lich can access the most guarded secrets, as the book is still a part of the lich’s consciousness.
The creation of the Corpus Thesis is both a testament to the scholar’s dedication and a warning to those who might seek the forbidden knowledge within. The process of becoming a lich through the crafting of this tome is the ultimate expression of the College of Flesh’s philosophy: that true knowledge requires the ultimate sacrifice, and that in death, there is the potential for eternal life and endless understanding.
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