Cleansing

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'Cleansing' is a term that is intentionally ambiguous, as it relates to the removal of the taint of sin at any of its levels. The most basic versions, such as minor sins, are considered to be properly cleansed by prayer, simple rituals, and confession. Greater experiences with the taint are handled by the Order directly - anything from the larger sins such as fornication to the utmost sin of being a mage yourself falls within the continuum of requiring a specific and possibly drastic cleansing. As taint is considered communicable - one tainted individual may well influence others to follow suit - it is important to have your taint cleansed as soon as possible.

Commonly known remedies - roughly in order of extremity - are blessings, prayer, isolation, fasting, flogging, exorcism, and of course burning. Ordained priests handle the minor cleansings that are involved in confession, such as assigning penances or simply blessing the sinner. Inquisitors or higher officials may personally handle cases where someone has been marked by a mage, using whatever methods necessary to remove the visible marks of taint. An Orderite manual called the 'Book of Penance' provides priests with guidelines for how to assign proper cleansing to specific sins.

Good, church-going citizens are as desirous to have taint cleansed from them as the Order is desirous to do it; however, sometimes the drastic measures that may be necessary somewhat inhibit that desire. It's not uncommon for people to both acknowledge the need for swift, decisive cleansing lest the taint spread and grow, yet mortally fear its effects upon themselves. The most zealous sometimes even claim that the taint of sin, if unchecked, will grow and spiral into magery itself through the wicked heart of the sinner - a potent inducement for cleansing indeed.

There are two major elements utilized in Davite cleansing: fire and water.

The initial elements from which the world was made, fire and water lie at the heart of Davism, and water first and foremost. For many minor sins, water is enough - blessings with holy water to remind the sinner of the Lord, or ritualistic baths.

However, the most serious of sins require the fire. Any execution on charges of heresy is nearly assured to be at the pyre, with some rare exceptions for charges besides magery. Exemptions, when they occur, are usually a consequence of a heretic's death during Questioning or while being arrested. Typically, greater care is taken with mages.

However, if the choice is between a mage's escape and a mage's death by sword as opposed to fire, few would be counselled to aim for the former, and extremely dangerous mages are sometimes slain if there is a serious fear they will harm others and no other possible way to combat it.