Transient Impurity and Core Corruption

There are 3 primary methodologies for the cleansing of spiritual corruption and the purification of the self: smoke cleansing, ritual bathing, isolation.

Smoke cleansing is the process of immersing oneself into incense smoke and engaging with meditation. This can be a regularly occurring practice for maintaining ritual hygiene. Typically speaking, incense is crafted into sticks from celadon, red cedar, hazelnut wood, pine, or sandalwood. There are some cases where it can also be a blend of materials. Chambers made for smoke cleansing have small easily closable windows which can then be opened to air out the space when the cleansing period is complete. This method of cleansing is used by both the living and the dead, though is the primary form of cleansing for the dead.

Ritual bathing is an extension of normal bathing with an eye to the spiritual well-being as well as physical well-being of the bather. Depending on the nature of the corruption and the physical nature of the subject, the cleansing may require cold water, extremely warm water, or even a natural body of water. Waterfalls are popular for this purpose, particularly members of the House of the Dragon. Alternately, there are many who seek out hot springs in Goljjagi. It is said that the Phoenix Palace is built with the hot springs in mind so the members of the house may use them at will.

Isolation is the most complex and involved form of spiritual cleansing. This methodology is prescribed only in the most serious of cases and only when the subject is truly dedicated to their cleansing and recovery. Isolation is typically practiced in more extreme environments, such as the caves of Jajeong or in rare cases the sea caves off the coast of Daeyang. A period of isolation can last up to a full year, or even more depending on the individual, though most isolation in terms of months. During this period, the only interaction would be weekly visitation from a designated individual who leaves supplies at a safe distance for the subject to collect. The designated individual will be gloved and masked during this period, with no skin showing, though they are allowed to speak to the subject briefly. The subject is not allowed to speak back except in dire circumstances. During isolation, the subject engages in meditation as well as physical exercise and other forms of cleansing.

Each character has two separate scores related to their corruption level: Transient Impurity and Core Corruption. Each type of corruption is gained differently and advances differently. There are some actions, such as entering a corrupted area or interacting with a heavily corrupted individual or entity, which have a risk of causing Impurity. These cases will result in a saving throw. There are also actions such as making deals with corruptive forces such as liches or demons or undergoing transformative rituals to become a lich or other type of undead creature which guarantee an increase in Impurity or Core Corruption. Most actions result in gaining 1 point of Impurity or Corruption, but some can cause more depending on the severity of the action or the degree by which the save was failed.

Measuring Impurity and Corruption

Corruption is measured in tiers: None (0), Mild (1-3), Moderate (4-8), Severe (9-15), and Catastrophic (16+). Transient Impurity can be cleansed at a rate of 1 point per week through daily ritual cleansing and mindfulness. In the more advanced cases (Severe or Catastrophic), magic can also be employed in the form of a Lesser Restoration or Greater Restoration to remove 1 point or 1d4 points immediately, respectively. Each time a person advances a tier of Transient Impurity, they also gain 1 point of Core Corruption and a Minor Affliction (or in the case of moving to the Severe or Catastrophic tiers, a Major Affliction). The exception to this is moving from None to Mild which does not result in Core Corruption. In addition, once a person is in the Catastrophic state, they gain another point of Core Corruption each time they gain another 3 points of Transient Impurity.

Core Corruption is measured on the same scale but is much more difficult to remove. To remove Core Corruption, it takes 1d4 weeks of daily ritual cleansing and mindfulness or a casting of Greater Restoration to remove 1 point of Core Corruption. Each time a person advances a tier of Core Corruption, they gain a Major Affliction. In addition, once a person is in the Catastrophic state, they gain another Affliction each time they gain another 5 points of Core Corruption.

Afflictions

Typically speaking, afflictions gained will relate to the source of the corruption they were gained from. However, in same cases that corruption is generalized or it took multiple sources of corruption to tip a person over. In these cases, afflictions will be applied randomly.

Minor Afflictions

Despite the name, Minor Afflictions still have a noticeable effect on a person's day to day life. These take the form of roleplaying guidelines such as paranoia, anger, fear, compulsion, distractibility, etc.

Major Afflictions

Major Afflictions have severe effects on an individual and can be dangerous for those who are members of the Imperial Gwishin Bureau. These are the afflictions which have both roleplaying consequences as well as mechanical ones. In this case, distraction could lead to disadvantage on concentration checks or anger could lead to saving throws to avoid attacking people.

The Causes of Corruption