Krivas
From Mizahar Lore
| Gnosis | |
 You're Worst Fear Personified | |
| Granted by | Ssena |
|---|---|
| Positive marks | Know and Manipulate the Fear of Others |
| Negative marks | Easily Scared |
| Pos. mark appearance | Stylized symbols that cause unease |
| Neg. mark appearance | Stylized symbols that cause unease |
| Mark location | Neck or Shoulder |
| First mark | Terrorizing or Causing Fear in Others |
| Champion | None |
Krivas is name of the gnosis granted by Ssena, Goddess of Fear. Krivas is symbolized by Ssena's mark; a stylized tattoo located on the neck or shoulder of the marked. This tattoo causes those who see it to become uneasy and look away. The feeling is akin to standing at an open door. On the other side of the doorway there is only darkness. From that darkness, the feeling that one's greatest fear is about to jump out at them creeps in. The only way to save oneself is to close the door. In the case of Ssena's mark, the feeling of impending terror comes from looking at the mark. Looking away makes the feeling subside.
Ssena takes particular notice of those who terrorize or cause fear in others. This is why the Zith represent her largest body of followers for they greatly enjoy terrorizing their prey; toying with their victims before killing them. She gives her mark as a reward to such individuals so that they may help spread her influence throughout the world. Through her mark, she actively keeps tabs on the marked as it can often lead her to more opportunities and greater influence.
Those initially marked by Ssena and thus possessing Krivas experience a great blessing, the removal of fear. Krivas causes the marked to no longer experience fear. While they still recognize the dangers and threats that fear would otherwise steer them away from, fear has no hold over them. No longer will the marked feel nervous, hesitant or afraid to do things in life that before would cause them pause. The barriers that fear created in their lives are destroyed and their maximum potential is realized. This is even apparent to others they meet in the form of the marked exuding an aura of extreme confidence. The marked, without trying, comes off as being very confident to those around them. This confidence and lack of fear becomes such an ingrained part of the marked, their senses become heightened to the fear of others. By looking at a person, the marked can see the person's fear, they can smell fear in the air and feel it upon another's flesh. In addition, the marked can identify the greatest fear of a single person at any one time while their immediate presence.
Someone with Krivas can increase their command over fear by doing things that please the Goddess. After the initial mark, it takes a bit more to please Ssena than just a few random acts of causing fear. One must do things that instill long lasting fear in more than one or two people. Terrorizing a family or families, group, neighborhood or any collection of people that numbers more than a couple is a good way to gain Ssena's greater favor. The key however is to try and avoid using excessive amounts of pain or murder to cause fear as it encroaches on the domain of Krysus, Goddess of Pain and Murder. Assuming the marked does well enough to gain Ssena's attention and please her, the Goddess may grant another mark. This second mark enhances the first as well as enhances the Krivas. The second mark allows the person manipulate the fear of others to some extent. The marked can cause others to feel as though the marked is the center of fear or safety; which one is up to the marked. The marked can make a target avoid him at all costs out of fear or cause the target to fear everything but the marked; thus they see the marked as being safe to be around. This only works on a single person and only a single person can be affected at one time. The target may be affected for as long as the marked can see them. However, the target is completely unaware that anything unnatural is taking place. They simple feel as though the marked is either the safest person for them to be around or the absolute last person they would ever want to be near.
In order to be chosen as one of Ssena's priests or priestesses, the marked must literally scare a person to death. The target must become so frightened that they take their own lives in hopes of escaping fear; suicide being seen as one of the ultimate consequences of uncontrolled fear. If Ssena is pleased with the outcome, the marked will receive another mark and enhanced abilities with Krivas. With the third mark, they are effectively owned by Ssena with all the benefits that brings. The priest gains such control over fear that they can trigger that fear in others with a word. The priest can already identify a person's greatest fear and now may speak the name of that fear and cause the target to experience it as if the source of that fear was upon them. If the target is for example, afraid of the dark, they will no longer see the light. If they are afraid of spiders, they will suddenly be attacked by a swarm of spiders. Only the target will see these things as other, non-affected onlookers will only see the target reacting to something that isn't there. The target has no idea that it is all in their mind and will act as though their greatest fear is actually unfolding. Only a single person at any one time can be affected in this manner. In addition, the priest may spread their confidence temporarily to those around them. So, for those in the direct presence of the priest will feel their fears diminished. While they are not immune to fear, they are less hindered by it.
Ssena's champion is the master of fear second only to Ssena herself. With the fourth mark comes the greatest level of Krivas. The champion can ignite fear in others at varying levels. With a thought, the champion can cause a target to feel nervous, hesitant, uneasy, fearful and terrorized. The level of fear is up to the champion and can be progressive, growing slowly and creeping in or it can erupt instantly. The champion holds such mastery over fear that they can go to such extremes of making a target wet themselves or ultimately cause a person's heart to stop from fear. The champion can affect a single target or anyone in their direct presence. Not only can they cause this varying level of fear in their targets, but those affected are in fact, infected with fear. Dead or alive, those who have been affected by the champions control over fear will cause those who encounter them to suffer from heightened levels of fear. Those people then spread the fear, at lesser levels, to others and so on. In addition, the champion can give a single target a specified phobia of the champion's choosing. This is a permanent phobia that cannot be removed by any means other than the will of the champion.
Mark Progression
| Marked [Cursed] - 1 Gnosis Mark | |
| Immunity to fear/aura of confidence, sense fear in others, know a person's greatest fear.
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| Favored [Despised] - 2 Gnosis Marks | |
| Cause a target to either fear the marked or feel safe with them; the outside world being scary.
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| Priest/Priestess [Adversary] - 3 Gnosis Marks | |
| Trigger a target's greatest fear, inspire confidence in those in the immediate vicinity.
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| Champion [Nemesis] - 4 Gnosis Marks | |
| Complete fear mastery
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