Fear stops most people before they even begin.
Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of being seen. Fear of not being enough.
But Velrith Aranwë doesn't run from fear.
He weaponizes it.
This is Grimlore's Influence — the cantrip that deals psychic damage to frightened enemies. It's a spell that turns terror against itself, making fear a tactical advantage rather than a weakness.
And like all of Velrith's powers, this transcends the battlefield.
It's a philosophy of psychological sovereignty.
The Spell: Grimlore's Influence
In combat, Grimlore's Influence only works on enemies who are already frightened.
When an opponent is gripped by fear, Velrith doesn't comfort them. He amplifies the terror and deals psychic damage directly to their mind.
The more afraid they are, the more power he has over them.
But here's the deeper truth:
This spell works on your own fear too.
When you're frightened — of starting, of failing, of being judged — you have two choices:
- Let the fear paralyze you
- Use Grimlore's Influence on yourself
Turn the fear into fuel. Deal psychic damage to the terror. Make it serve you.
The Two Faces of Fear
Fear comes in two forms:
External Fear — What others think, say, or do to intimidate you
Internal Fear — Your own doubt, imposter syndrome, and self-sabotage
Most people try to eliminate fear. They seek comfort, safety, certainty.
Velrith understands that fear never disappears.
So instead of fighting it, he commands it.
External fear? He uses Dread and Phantasmal Killer to turn it back on his enemies.
Internal fear? He uses Grimlore's Influence to deal psychic damage to his own doubt until it kneels.
This is the third Edict:
Fear is not your enemy. It's your weapon.
How to Cast Grimlore's Influence
Here's the ritual for weaponizing fear:
1. Identify the Fear
Don't hide from it. Don't minimize it. Name it clearly.
Open your Grimoire of Progress and write:
What am I afraid of right now?
Be specific:
- "I'm afraid my product will fail and I'll look stupid"
- "I'm afraid no one will buy and I'll have wasted my time"
- "I'm afraid I'm not good enough to build this empire"
- "I'm afraid people will see through me"
2. Acknowledge It's Already Here
The fear exists. You're already frightened.
This is important: You can't cast Grimlore's Influence unless the target is already afraid.
So stop pretending you're not scared. You are. Good.
Now you can use the spell.
3. Deal Psychic Damage to the Fear
Ask the critical question:
What would I do if this fear had no power over me?
Write the answer. Be detailed. Be bold.
Then ask:
What's the SMALLEST version of that action I can take right now?
This is you dealing psychic damage to the fear. You're not eliminating it — you're acting despite it.
Every action you take while afraid weakens the fear's hold.
4. Amplify the Terror (Advanced Technique)
Here's where it gets dark:
Make the fear WORSE on purpose.
Ask yourself:
What's the absolute worst-case scenario if I do this?
Write it out in excruciating detail. Let the fear reach its maximum intensity.
Then ask:
Can I survive that?
99% of the time, the answer is yes.
And once you realize you can survive the worst case, the fear loses its psychic grip.
This is Grimlore's Influence at full power.
5. Turn Fear Outward
Now that you've weaponized your own fear, you can use it on others.
Not to harm them — but to understand them.
Every competitor, every hater, every person who tries to intimidate you is operating from their own fear.
When you see their fear clearly, you have tactical advantage.
You know what they'll do before they do it. Because fear is predictable.
The Grimoire Connection
Grimlore's Influence is named after Bixmodeus — Velrith's sentient grimoire.
The grimoire doesn't just store spells. It whispers forbidden knowledge.
And one of the darkest truths it teaches is this:
Everyone is afraid. Always.
The difference between the sovereign and the servant is this:
Servants are controlled by their fear.
Sovereigns control their fear.
Your Grimoire of Progress is your Bixmodeus.
When you write your fears on its pages, you're not confessing weakness.
You're extracting psychic ammunition.
Fear as Fuel
Here's what changes when you embrace Grimlore's Influence:
You stop avoiding scary decisions. Because you know fear = opportunity to cast the spell.
You stop seeking comfort. Because comfort means no fear, which means no fuel.
You start choosing the frightening path. Because that's where the power is.
You become psychologically unkillable. Because you've dealt so much damage to your own fear that it can't stop you anymore.
The Dread Combo
In Velrith's spell list, Grimlore's Influence pairs with Dread — a 2nd-level spell that inflicts overwhelming fear on a target.
Here's how they work together:
- Dread creates the fear (in yourself or others)
- Grimlore's Influence weaponizes it
In practical terms:
Step 1: Identify what terrifies you about your next move
Step 2: Amplify it until you feel the full weight
Step 3: Act anyway, dealing psychic damage to the terror with every step
This is the Dread Combo.
You're not waiting for courage. You're manufacturing dominion over fear itself.
Ritual Practice: The Fear Audit
To practice Grimlore's Influence daily:
- Morning (Before the 3rd Hour of Silence)
- Don your Phylactery Hoodie (Deathless Nature protects you during this work)
- Open your Grimoire of Progress
-
Write:
- What am I afraid of today?
- What would I do if this fear had no power?
- What's the smallest action I can take despite the fear?
- Speak the incantation: "Fear is not my enemy. It is my weapon."
- Take the smallest action immediately
- Document the result
Every day you do this, your psychic resistance to fear increases.
The Shadow Monarch's Mastery
Velrith Aranwë walks into battle surrounded by enemies.
They try to intimidate him. They try to make him afraid.
But he's already mastered his own fear.
So when they attempt to frighten him, he reflects it back with Grimlore's Influence.
Their terror becomes his power.
This is psychological sovereignty.
You don't eliminate fear. You command it.
Next Steps:
- Acquire your Phylactery Hoodie (protection during fear work)
- Perform the Fear Audit ritual daily
- Document your psychic victories in the Grimoire of Progress
- Prepare for Edict IV: Dark Teleportation
"Fear is not your enemy. It is your weapon." 🖤