The ritual of chosen traits.

 

The Ritual Of Chosen Traits

This is a ritual that allows the caster to choose specific physical traits for the child within their womb. Each drop of blood they shed at the end allows them to make one choice, however each one reduces their chance of surviving the childbirth. The only thing that can not be requested is the gender of the child.

The ritual must take place in a private wooded area after a fresh snow has fallen on the ground. No other person may have walked through the snowfall around her before the ritual begins. The caster must wear the cloak of the cabal that taught her the necessary magic and nothing more. While kneeling in the snow she must recite her ancestors names going back three generations and praising each one for their achievements. Then calling upon Astoria the Goddess of Life for the permission to grant her child the traits that are desired. While bargaining with Aedarius the God of Death for what may be the cost of these traits. The calling out takes about fifteen minutes and must not be interrupted.

Then the caster pulls out the dagger that is to be used for cutting the umbilical cord and drives it into the ground before her. If it falls over immediately the offspring is to be a girl, if it sinks into the ground it will be a boy. Next she must slice the tip of a finger for each trait bargained for. Letting the blood from each to fall into the snow. She then thanks the Goddess and God for listening to her request, cleans the blade and leaves the area where the ritual was performed.

The caster does not know if the ritual was successful only the birth of the child and it's growth will tell. Also she doesn't know if the God of Death will take her during childbirth or not. But the less that is asked the more likely she is to survive.

Inspired by the origin of Snow White in the original Bothers Grimm story.