Lore / Gift of Creation ; Part 1.5 - 2

• Doctrines

In regular schools, a person is taught basic knowledge about our world, to develop a perception of physics. Even more knowledge about cosmic mathematics will be studied in higher academies. But the Engifted sistren require more than that – they must comprehend the potential of insight and nurture their imagination. This is the task beholden to numerous Engifted Doctrines.

While varying in design and purpose, the intent of most Doctrines is to present in-depth knowledge on the topic, streamline the use of the Gift, and stimulate future self-improvement. The doctrines teach the ideas and principles of conventional Miracles, from which the Engifted can build and continue their development independently. However, if desired, they can also explore collections of more complex Miracles in open Herquisitorial archives. And if she is confident enough, she can add her own creations to the collection for future generations.

One key technique common to all Doctrines involves training the brain to quickly recall memories and knowledge by associating them with specific words and gestures. These become mental triggers, allowing the Engifted, even under constant distraction and stress, to efficiently recreate Miracles binded to these signs. Some Doctrines achieved this through ceaseless drilling, while others use physical or mental sensations (pain or pleasure) to associate memories with the specified signs.

There are countless Doctrines, ranging from worldwide-recognized fundamental ones, branching out into several distinctive Tomes, to community-niche ones. Here are just a few examples:

Stability Doctrine

The first and foremost Doctrine for everyone. Great unnatural Miracles can affect the entirety of Meorenell, causing unforeseen chains of catastrophes in our only shared home. Although, only a few can poses such a powerful Gift, and Stability is something they certainly cannot learn or understand even as a word.

Young Engifted are first instructed on how NOT to use their Gift. They are disciplined to avoid foolish and unreasonable actions, and not to disturb others while actively contributing to society with their blessing. Furthermore, Stability teaches self-preservation, be that against natural hazards, another Engifted, or something far worse. The Tome of Remedy is key within the Stability Doctrine. It is used by eponymous Remedy Forces to counter the parasitic influence of the Serpent and Its creations on reality through consecration rituals: purifying of the Umbral Carcasses and cleansing the Infernal Malady from Her body.

Enchantment Doctrine

The opposite of the Stability Doctrine, the teaching of positive change. This one is especially favored by the Knights of Creation. The ability to enhance the internal processes of own body and natural attributes of equipment. By channeling the Gift, an armor never breaks, sword never cracks, mind never falls asleep, and muscles never tire of fighting. It can also aid in achieving phenomenal physique during exercises, improve memory, and reaction speed. However, prolonged self-enchantment or permanent modifications of body parts is not endorsed, because the sum of natural biological processes is far more complex than one’s mind can calculate.

Temperathurgy Doctrine

Another example of common Doctrines. It extends the mind’s comprehension of how true elements and substances work, and how they can be transformed through the absence or presence of heat. With simple gestures, Engifted can easily create balls of fire and walls of ice. For those seeking deeper study, Temperathurgy is divided into more specialized Tomes, each containing even more tomes. Cryomancy teaches how to generate temperatures below the freezing point of water through abuse of typically liquid or gaseous substances, and subsequent utilization of these substances if their frozen state. Pyromancy, meanwhile, teaches the specifics of the combustion, flammability, and plasma state.

Solithurgy Doctrine

A Doctrine that invested exclusively into knowledge of the solid state of physical matter. It includes such self-explanatory Tomes as Geomancy and Metal, but also the Tome of Crystal, which provides techniques for solidifying non-solid substances without affecting their natural state by preserving their molecular structure at the moment of channeling. A good example, and the first trial of this tome, is drinking a glass of water, but instead of the actual glass, the Engifted must use the outer layer of the offered water, maintaining its shape and not spilling a drop.

Illusiory Doctrine

It exists, though... not entirely legal. Manipulating another's innocent thoughts with the Gift is outlawed, and most of the stated uses are authorized for Herquisition Agents only. For example, to pacify some high-grade Engifted: the effect of their Anomalous Presence is somewhat tied to their perception of reality, thus, through Illusions, an agent can change this perception and, even if only briefly, reduce the impact of the Anomalous Presence for a fraction. Police are also permitted to use Great Illusions under Herquisitorial supervision. However, lesser Illusions are allowed in public as long as they aren't used directly on a person: puppeteers can fashion their puppets appear more lifelike, and hunters use it to conceal their presence from beasts.

There are two main Tomes in this Doctrine: the first focuses on using natural ambient light and atmosphere to fool the senses or create mirages, whereas the other instructs how to directly manipulate the brain's neurology through chemical alterations and hallucinations (which borders on outright brainwashing, hence this Tome is reserved for Herquisition authority only).

Slime and Tentacles Doctrine

This is... It is not hard to guess the purpose of such Doctrine, considering it was created by Vammabelle al Apole – Senior Doctor of Fetishes in Hornytology Academy, elevated to the rank of Saint among the Libidant Thighological Clergy, and with a place already prepared and maintained for the preservation of her pelvic girdle in the Grand Cathedral of the Golden City itself. When the Slime and Tentacles Doctrine was first presented to the Thigh Bishops, they were so fascinated that within a week an edict was issued ordering every Libidant Guild to dedicate a corner of their Horny Attics to this very Doctrine. At its foundation is a principally simple technique: a body-safe hydrogen-based fluid is Animated in various forms and motions to achieve carnal pleasure. The volumes range from a writhing girthy rod to an intimate casket overflowing with dominant hungry tentacles that want to fill every hole of whoever enters inside.