Deathmarks

This week, we bring you an excerpt from the Spiritual Protections Handbook...

The Ravenscourt Tragedies is a gothic fantasy gaslamp web serial. Read the first chapter here, or read on to learn more about the World of Ravenscourt.

Deathmarks are used by approved and licensed undertakers in order to ensure the rest and safe passing of our deceased loved ones. Though the particulars of the Deathmarks used in any specific case are unique to the individual spirit being treated, every proper pre-resting treatment will include the Anchor, the Eye, and the Knots, which ensure that the spirit will be able to pass on without trouble.

The Anchor is perhaps the most prominent Mark used in funerary preparations, as it covers a large part of the body, centered on the heart of the deceased. The purpose of the Anchor is to act as a replacement connection between the body and the spirit of the deceased while they await their resting. It ensures that the spirit of the dead person cannot wander away before being Rested. Without the Anchor, there is the possibility of the spirit lingering in other places, where it might take up residence as a ghost or poltergeist, eventually decaying into a hungry shade.

The Eye, which should be placed upon the deceased’s forehead as soon as possible after their death, is another vital component in preventing hauntings and dangerous incidents. The Eye guarantees the peace and slumber of the severed spirit while it awaits its final Resting. Without the binding power of the Eye, a spirit may become restless and destructive, filling a mourning house with whispers, cries, and other strange occurrences.

Last of all, the wholeness and integrity of the deceased’s spirit is preserved by the Knots—a set of at least three Marks placed upon the hands and throat of the dead person. The Knots ensure that the spirit remains intact throughout the time leading up the Resting, and it is only once the Knots are removed during the Resting service that a Resting Record may be taken. Without the safety of the Knots, the spirit would quickly begin to fray, which would allow pieces of it to remain behind—and indeed, after the Resting, the remaining Record is also preserved with a Knot.

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