Shaishisii
There are no records of what immortals first engaged in the ritual of shaishisii, nor even whether they were angels or demons. What is known is that from the earliest days, the ritual has
been used to establish superiority between two immortals. This is its more mundane and benign
aspect. A more sinister application of shaishisii can establish dominance and
even complete control over another immortal.
The more harmless application of shaishisii is rarely necessary between two immortals of obviously disparate power. As noted above, the relative strength between two immortals is known instinctively when one is much more powerful than the other, and the lesser will virtually always yield to the greater. When the two are much closer in power, however, the difference may not be so easy to ascertain, and only shaishisii can determine the greater with any degree of certainty. Once the respective strengths are known, the usual social dominance would typically take hold and the two would act accordingly.
There are some special cases where a ritual (or contest) of shaishisii might not determine the outcome of the power relationship between two immortals. Though rare, two immortals may be of such equal strength that there can be no clear outcome. In such a case, the immortals must rely on other means to establish dominance, should it be necessary. Other social norms may alter the outcome of shaishisii, such as the respective Choirs of two angels. Should a Dominion or Power somehow gain the strength to overpower a Seraph in shaishisii (and yet has not chosen to ascend to the higher Choir), the mere fact of belonging to the Choir of Seraphim would assure the lesser-Choir angel would defer to the Seraph. In other, less direct forms of conflict, an angel of a lesser Choir might outrank one from a higher Choir should he have battle command entrusted by a superior. This was most common during the Great Schism, when command was granted based more on merit and ability than on mere strength.
Among the demons, the lesser application of shaishisii is often ignored (at great peril) when one demon is attempting to usurp the power of another and steal it for his own use. This sort of brutal predation is common among lesser demons and even those of middling power. By the time demons near the strength to declare themselves demon lords, the pool of demons more powerful than they has thinned sufficiently that only the most bold or cunning would dare such a confrontation.
The more powerful (and destructive) application of shaishisii is far more common among demons than it is among their immortal opposites, and it is the reason no angel and demon have ever entered into shaishisii with each other. In its full use, shaishisii can allow one immortal to completely dominate the will of another (and therefore their entire being), effectively rendering them mindless slaves devoted to the will of their captor. This state is known as dishnara among immortals, a word that most closely translates to “enslaved” in the human tongue, though this term pales in comparison to the reality. A dishnara is utterly dominated by their master so long as he desires, and in the most extreme uses the dishnara is incapable of even moving without the express desire of their master. The demon king Mephistopheles is known to use this method extensively to decorate his throne room with living statues of demons and damned souls who have displeased him, and their bodies retain full awareness as they are permanently immobilized by the twisting of their own minds.
One of the more sinister aspects of shaishisii is its subtlety. An immortal dominated by another may not consciously be aware of the control, though it may become apparent to others who observe attitudinal differences in the afflicted immortal. (This is obviously more of a concern among angels than demons, who rarely form the social bonds needed to notice such a difference.) Such dominance is outlawed and considered a grave sin by the angels for just this reason, but the lesser use of shaishisii is so prevalent that there exists considerable gray area around its stronger applications. For instance, were a Seraph to order a Parasim out of his way, few would question whether the obedience was the result of social norms or a subtle dominance of āyus of one angel over another. Indeed, there may be little difference.
It is worth noting that the dominance inherent in shaishisii has application in interactions between mortals and immortals as well. Mortals are not immune to the control exerted by the will of an immortal in their presence, though no suggestion has ever been made that a mortal might somehow engage in true shaishisii and potentially overpower an immortal. Lacking an immortal āyus of their own, mortals (and their souls that reside in Heaven and Hell) are largely at the whim of any immortal powerful enough to desire compel their obedience .
The more harmless application of shaishisii is rarely necessary between two immortals of obviously disparate power. As noted above, the relative strength between two immortals is known instinctively when one is much more powerful than the other, and the lesser will virtually always yield to the greater. When the two are much closer in power, however, the difference may not be so easy to ascertain, and only shaishisii can determine the greater with any degree of certainty. Once the respective strengths are known, the usual social dominance would typically take hold and the two would act accordingly.
There are some special cases where a ritual (or contest) of shaishisii might not determine the outcome of the power relationship between two immortals. Though rare, two immortals may be of such equal strength that there can be no clear outcome. In such a case, the immortals must rely on other means to establish dominance, should it be necessary. Other social norms may alter the outcome of shaishisii, such as the respective Choirs of two angels. Should a Dominion or Power somehow gain the strength to overpower a Seraph in shaishisii (and yet has not chosen to ascend to the higher Choir), the mere fact of belonging to the Choir of Seraphim would assure the lesser-Choir angel would defer to the Seraph. In other, less direct forms of conflict, an angel of a lesser Choir might outrank one from a higher Choir should he have battle command entrusted by a superior. This was most common during the Great Schism, when command was granted based more on merit and ability than on mere strength.
Among the demons, the lesser application of shaishisii is often ignored (at great peril) when one demon is attempting to usurp the power of another and steal it for his own use. This sort of brutal predation is common among lesser demons and even those of middling power. By the time demons near the strength to declare themselves demon lords, the pool of demons more powerful than they has thinned sufficiently that only the most bold or cunning would dare such a confrontation.
The more powerful (and destructive) application of shaishisii is far more common among demons than it is among their immortal opposites, and it is the reason no angel and demon have ever entered into shaishisii with each other. In its full use, shaishisii can allow one immortal to completely dominate the will of another (and therefore their entire being), effectively rendering them mindless slaves devoted to the will of their captor. This state is known as dishnara among immortals, a word that most closely translates to “enslaved” in the human tongue, though this term pales in comparison to the reality. A dishnara is utterly dominated by their master so long as he desires, and in the most extreme uses the dishnara is incapable of even moving without the express desire of their master. The demon king Mephistopheles is known to use this method extensively to decorate his throne room with living statues of demons and damned souls who have displeased him, and their bodies retain full awareness as they are permanently immobilized by the twisting of their own minds.
One of the more sinister aspects of shaishisii is its subtlety. An immortal dominated by another may not consciously be aware of the control, though it may become apparent to others who observe attitudinal differences in the afflicted immortal. (This is obviously more of a concern among angels than demons, who rarely form the social bonds needed to notice such a difference.) Such dominance is outlawed and considered a grave sin by the angels for just this reason, but the lesser use of shaishisii is so prevalent that there exists considerable gray area around its stronger applications. For instance, were a Seraph to order a Parasim out of his way, few would question whether the obedience was the result of social norms or a subtle dominance of āyus of one angel over another. Indeed, there may be little difference.
It is worth noting that the dominance inherent in shaishisii has application in interactions between mortals and immortals as well. Mortals are not immune to the control exerted by the will of an immortal in their presence, though no suggestion has ever been made that a mortal might somehow engage in true shaishisii and potentially overpower an immortal. Lacking an immortal āyus of their own, mortals (and their souls that reside in Heaven and Hell) are largely at the whim of any immortal powerful enough to desire compel their obedience .