Kuri had secluded herself, fasting and praying, for three full days before the night of Ritual. She had been utterly alone—speaking to no one except Hekate. During this time, Kuri set her Ritual Intent. Her intent was to protect the Olympian Peninsula from the nightmares ravaging
The Ritual began exactly at dusk on the third day of the priestess's fast. The circle was already prepared for her, with candles at each of the five element stations. In the center of the circle on a wrought-iron table, there was a red chalice filled with precious oil mixed with cinnamon. As the sun set, Kuri entered the circle without speaking. She was carrying long wooden matches and an athame.
The priestess cast the circle and then went to the oil-filled chalice. Holding it before her, she should begin at the east and walked deosil around the circle, pouring the oil into her right hand, and with that hand, sprinkling the oil around the circumference of the circle. As she walked, she said.
"I call upon the element fire to watch, bless, and guide this Ritual. To honor fire I anoint the circle with cinnamon oil poured by my own hand and I proclaim my Intent to seek the element's protection over this city. To show my Intent is pure, I proclaim these ancient truths first spoken long ago when Cleopatra, another child of Hekate, called upon you."
In a loud, clear voice Kuri cried,
"Hail, Hekate Strider! Coming forth from seclusion I have done no wrong. Hail, She-Whose-Two-Eyes-Are-on-Fire! I have not defiled the things of the Goddess in thought or deed. Hail, Disposer-of-False-Speech! I have not inflamed myself with rage. Hail, All-Seeing-Goddess-Provider-of-Her-Children! I have not cursed using Your name."
The ancient proclamations ended when Kuri returned to the center of the circle. She lit the oil left in the chalice and held it over her head saying:
"With pure Ritual Intent I hold fire to this oath of protection. Its strength is in me and through me its flame will be lasting, consuming with fierceness any who wish ill to this city."
Still holding the flaming chalice, Kuri then took her athame and approaches the yellow candle that represents fire at the east edge of the circle. Passing the blade through the chalice flame three times, she said:
"I am one with the flame. Even in the midst of sunshine, I enter into the protective fire, I come forth from the fire, the sunshine has has not pierced me, thou who knows my pure intent has not burned me, but thy fire will keep this city safe, cutting like this knife through wax any who dare to defile this Ritual."
With the hot athame Kuri carved the name of the city into the yellow candle, and then carefully placed it in the chalice, allowing the flame to consume it. While it burned, she thanked the other elements and sent them away, and the witnesses also went quietly, leaving Kuri alone with the burning candle. She waited until the entire candle is consumed and the flame died of its own accord before she left.
This Ritual was very draining for Kuri. Afterward she drank a goblet of blood and grounded herself