Queen Bavmorda performs the Ritual of Obliteration.
The Ritual of Obliteration,[1] also known as the Rite of Ultimate Oblivion,[2] or just the Rite of Oblivion,[3] is an evil and complex arcane ritual, the result of which was worse than death, it was the wiping-out of all a person was since Earth began, of all that they were, of all that they woud have been.[4]
Description[]
The ritual takes twelve hours to complete, requires a purified copper altar, thirteen large candles, large quantities of human blood, many rare ingredients, a thunderstorm, and at least two assistants. The target, of course, had to be present at all times, and the caster could not leave the ritual area until completion of the ritual.[1]s
The Ritual of Obliteration begins with the sounding of a gong, and it sound again at the start of each hour. All the while, the executing sorcerer casts many spells of binding on the target, as well as summoning a great deal of energy through a routine spell of weather control. At the end of the twelfth hour, the gong sounds thirteen times, and the accumulated energy strikes the target in the form of lightning, destroying his or her spirit.[1]
History[]
This ritual was invented by Bavmorda, malevolent enchantress and queen of Nockmaar. It would draw upon the energy of the universe to destroy a living being's very essence,[1] sending his or her spirit forever into the Outer Darkness, beyond all hope of rescue or redemption.[1] Bavmorda planned to cast it on Elora Danan, an infant whom prophecies described as the future empress of all Daikini kingdoms, for fear that simply killing her would not be enough.[1]
When Bavmorda attempted to cast the Ritual of Obliteration on Elora Danan, she was interrupted by the sudden arrival of the good enchantress Fin Raziel, her long-time rival, who wielded the powerful wand of Cherlindrea. Although Bavmorda managed to overpower Raziel, she also had to deal with the seemingly ineffectual and harmless Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn farmer who aspired to become a sorcerer. When Ufgood worked his disappearing-pig trick to make it appear that Elora Danan had vanished, Bavmorda was confused enough to believe her target was really gone. She panicked, which caused her to trip and upset some of the bowls containing fluids used in the ritual. Because the altar had been corrupted by the spilled fluids, the concentrated energy turned on the evil sorceress.[1]
Appearances[]
- Willow (First appearance)
- Willow: A Novel