You're never alone. Never. Not while the Shadow squats at your back. I can help you. I can hurt it. For a peice, yes, but I take far less than it would. If not for Castigate, the Shadow's power would be unchecked. Those who master this Arcanos learn what drives and feeds the Shadow, as a prelude to learning what weaknes its grip. Castigate is a highly personalized Arcanos. A pardoner may use physical force, psychology, meditation, sermons, ritual purification, drumming, taunts, sensory deprivation or any of a thousand other methods to fight the Shadow. The exact details depend on the Pardoner's tastes and beliefs. Most favor a kind of dialogue based on the target Shadow's Nature, a process called the Devil's Dialectic. Storytellers should keep their players from abusing Castigate. This Arcanos grants some minimal control over Shadows as well as great insight, and can thus be misused. Keep in mind that dealing with a wratih's dark side is a dangerous business -- those who dabble in Castigate often meet dire fates.
The Guild
The Pardoner's Guild was almost a Heretic cult; indeed, the Pardoners themselves looked on their work with a pseudo-religious zeal. In the Guild's heydey, the iron lanterns marking a Pardoner's available services were everywhere. The Pardoners joined the Guilds' rebellion mostly to correct the Stygian mistreatment of Heretics and other prisoners, and were not severely punished when Charon crushed the revolt. Even today, no Hierarchy soldier arrests a Pardoner for hanging out her iron lantern. The Pardoners are indespensable -- without them, Oblivion would have swallowed Stygia long ago. The older Pardoners tend to describe Castigate in almost religious or spiritual terms; newer wraiths prefer a more psychological approach to the Shadow. Pardoners are recognizable by their inky fingers, stained from the contact with wraiths' dark sides.
Botches
Botching a Castigate roll can be quite dangerous. A Shadow may gain temporary Angst from the muddled defiance, or exert more strength when it next rides its subject. The severity is left to the Storyteller's discretion; however, the Shadow will almost always be angered by a Pardoner's clumsy interference.
Basic Abilities
Bulwark: The wraith can briefly guard herself and her companions from a Maelstrom. Her Castigate acts as a shield wall, deflecting the Maelstrom's storm winds and protecting her from the attention of any passing Spectres. Soulsight: Those with Castigate can examine another wraith and see the Shadow on her soul. With careful study, the wraith may measure a Shadow's rough power level, and how close it lies to the surface. The user cannot examine her own Shadow. Soulsight can also detect Spectres (such as Dopplegangers) by gauging the terrible strength of their Shadows.
1 - Coax This art grants some power over the user's Shadow. A wraith using Coax may call on her Shadow's power with greatly lessened risk. The character pays no Pathos, but gains 1 Angst for each use of Coax.
2 - Dark Secrets This devious art allows the user to learn another wraith's dark secrets by studying her Shadow. Of course, the Shadow may feed the Pardoner false information -- spreading lies can be in the Shadow's interest. Generally, the weaker the Shadow, the more honesty the Pardoner can force or manipulate out of it. This art costs 1 Pathos to use, and gives the user 1 Angst.
3 - Purify By focusing her will, the wraith may directly attack the power of another wraith's Shadow. The actual methods vary from Pardoner to Pardoner, and can entail sermons, song, esoteric chants or even flagellation. This is an extended, careful process, and cannot be rushed without grave risk.
4 - Housecleaning By cloaking himself in his purity, the wraith may drive away Spectres and keep them from entering his immediate area. This art can shield an entire structure from Spectres (within reason -- only the greatest Pardoners could guard an entire skyscraper). Any Spectres in the area, hidden or no, are driven away. Perculiarly, this art cannot keep Doppelgangers at bay. A banished Spectre stay banished for the duraion of the art, even if other Spectres in the vicinity are not affected.
5 - Defiance Those who know this art can fight against their Shadows' bids for control. If the Shadow tries to take over a wraith with Defiance, the Pardoner may try to beat her dark side back into place. This art can be used to help other wraiths in their struggles as well at an additional cost of 1 Angst. Using Defiance costs 1 Pathos, plus another Pathos for every success. Failing this roll adds 1 point to the character's temporary Angst; a botch will add 1 permanent Angst.
