Inversion
Within the Hazfen Empire a small legion of leaders, known as the Burgeonend, sit at the top as immortals. These Burgeonend went through the traditional ritual known as Inversion.
History
During the second era, The Age of the Perisian Empire, wonders filled the world. The never-ending borders of this empire held within them all of the world's greatest scholars, magicians, and warriors. The Temple still ruled over them despite this. A great portion of the Perisian Mages Guild was dedicated to finding greater powers for their rulers, on their own terms.
While the temple blessed thousands of the Perisians greatest, many also suffered as The Temple's slaves. Power being stricken from those who fell into behind-the-scenes work, or disappeared to another plane for long periods of time was horrifying to many. Perisian Empire officials feared soon their temple blessed individuals would refrain from anything that didn't bring them fame or glory, and thus kept their blessings from the temple.
So the Perisians Mages Guild sought to find their own ascension ritual. Their answer came in the form of time and experience. The Temple's main advantage was its vast magical power it has gathered over millineum. Experience and long life were the keys. A great number of rituals began to be performed as experiments. Time and memory were manipulated. In the end, a great artifact was created. The Hourglass was housed in a huge structure. The great Hourglass would be inverted and by the end of the sand falling the ritual would complete. to those watching this seemed the key to the ritual, and thus its name spread.
While the rituals fell short of creating individuals that could challenge the temple, it did reach the goal of permanent blessings that the temple did not take away. Thus the first Inverted individuals were created. During the Perisian era, those who were allowed to take part in the ritual wore upside-down hourglasses to mark their blessing.
When the calamity struck and ended the Perisian era The Hourglass was left to it's desert structure. Only after the Calamity did the Hazfen Empire truly form and utilize this relic to quickly ascend in power and size.
Execution
Through long exposure to heat and sunlight, a complex ritual could be cast to bestow hundreds of years of knowledge and growth on an individual in mere minutes. The Hourglass is the key to this ritual. Without it, there would be no Inversion ritual.
Components and tools
Beyond The Hourglass a large structure aids in the actual process. While technically unnecessary, the spectacle and small aids the larger structure provides the process allow for comfort, ease, and speed.
Participants
Several Burgeonend is always in attendance, as well as a hundred clerical figures. Burgeonend watch and make sure the huge magical energies stay bound to The Hourglass. The clerical figures will prepare who that would attempt the ritual. Many spectators are allowed to gather and witness the spectacle.
Observance
Every inversion for three hundred years has taken place at solar noon. The actual ritual often starts early in the morning and slowly grows in participants and grandure closing in on noon. The rising sun bringing the entire ritual to a fever pitch with the actual inversion of The Hourglass marking three minutes to noon. At noon if the individual is placed in front of The Hourglass they will be struck with the energies and another two minutes pass as they are tested. Burgeonend keep the actual two minutes a deep secret, though most say it is unique to the individual, as most details that have been let slip are often contradictory.
The Hourglass will then be left to cool from huge amount of heat and time. Traditionally three days and night will pass before another Inversion is attempted, but this is not as strict as the solar noon rule.
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