Most people set goals and hope they happen.
They write them down. They visualize. They affirm.
And then they wonder why nothing changes.
Velrith Aranwë doesn't hope his goals manifest.
He cages their souls and forces them to serve.
This is Soul Cage — a 5th-level spell that allows Velrith to steal the soul of a recently slain foe, trap it in a spectral cage, and interrogate it for knowledge, power, and tactical advantage.
And like all of his powers, this transcends necromancy.
It's a philosophy of ruthless goal extraction.
The Spell: Soul Cage
When Velrith kills an enemy, he doesn't just loot the body.
He captures the soul before it can escape.
Once caged, the soul must answer his questions. It must reveal its secrets. It must grant him power.
The soul has no choice. It's bound.
This is the principle of Soul Cage:
Your goals are not wishes. They are entities to be captured, interrogated, and forced to reveal the path forward.
Why Goal-Setting Fails
Here's why most goal-setting doesn't work:
People treat goals like distant destinations.
"I want to make $100k."
"I want to build a successful brand."
"I want to be free."
These are vague coordinates on a map. They give you direction but no binding contract.
Velrith doesn't set goals.
He cages souls.
The difference:
A goal is something you hope to reach.
A caged soul is something you've already captured and are now extracting power from.
The Soul Cage Method
Here's how to cage a goal's soul:
1. Kill the Vague Version
First, you have to slay the weak, undefined version of your goal.
"I want to be successful" — DEAD.
"I want to make money" — DEAD.
"I want to be happy" — DEAD.
These are not goals. These are fantasies.
Kill them. Show no mercy.
2. Capture the Specific Soul
Now, from the corpse of the vague goal, extract the specific soul:
Instead of "I want to be successful":
→ "I will generate $10,000 in revenue from House Aranwë relics by December 31st"
Instead of "I want to make money":
→ "I will acquire 100 members in The Pale Legion at $11/month by Q1"
Instead of "I want to be happy":
→ "I will complete the 7-Day Rebirth Ritual and document my transformation"
This is the soul. Specific. Measurable. Mortal.
3. Bind It in the Cage
Open your Grimoire of Progress.
Write the soul at the top of a fresh page.
Draw a circle around it. (This is the spectral cage.)
Speak the binding oath:
"You are mine. You will serve me. You will reveal your secrets."
The goal is now caged.
4. Interrogate the Soul
Now comes the extraction.
Ask the caged soul these questions and write the answers:
What must die for you to live?
(What habits, beliefs, or commitments must I sacrifice?)
What knowledge do you possess that I lack?
(What skills, information, or connections do I need?)
What is the first step you demand of me?
(What is the immediate, smallest action?)
What will you grant me when you're fulfilled?
(What is the actual transformation, beyond the metric?)
5. Extract Daily Power
Every morning during the 3rd Hour of Silence, return to the caged soul.
Ask:
What do you demand of me today?
Write the answer.
Then execute it before noon.
The soul feeds you power. You feed it action.
This is the binding contract.
The Difference Between Soul Cage and Manifestation
Manifestation says: "Put it out to the universe and trust."
Soul Cage says: "Capture it, bind it, interrogate it, extract its power, and force it to serve."
Manifestation is passive.
Soul Cage is necromantic dominion.
You're not waiting for the goal to come to you.
You've already captured it and are now draining its essence daily.
Multiple Soul Cages
Here's the advanced technique:
Velrith can maintain multiple soul cages simultaneously.
Each caged soul grants different knowledge and power.
In your Grimoire, you can cage:
Soul Cage 1: Revenue Goal
- Specific number, specific timeline
- Daily interrogation: "What action moves me toward you today?"
Soul Cage 2: Audience Goal
- Specific follower/member count, specific platform
- Daily interrogation: "What content serves your manifestation?"
Soul Cage 3: Product Goal
- Specific relic to create, specific launch date
- Daily interrogation: "What must be built today?"
Soul Cage 4: Transformation Goal
- Specific identity shift, specific evidence
- Daily interrogation: "What old self must die today?"
Each morning, you visit each cage.
Each soul tells you what it demands.
You execute.
This is how empires are built.
When the Soul is Fulfilled
When you achieve the goal, the soul is released.
But you don't just celebrate and move on.
You perform the Soul Extraction Ritual:
-
Acknowledge the fulfillment
"The soul has served its purpose." -
Document the transformation
"I am no longer who I was when I caged this soul." -
Harvest the knowledge
"What did this soul teach me that I can use forever?" -
Raise it as a Shadow Warrior
(This connects to Edict II: Shadow Genesis)
The fulfilled goal becomes a spectral ally in your army.
Every goal you achieve is a warrior that serves your next campaign.
The Grimoire as Soul Prison
Your Grimoire of Progress is not a journal.
It's a prison for souls.
Every page with a caged goal is a cell.
Every morning when you open it, you're the warden making rounds.
The souls don't rest. They don't escape. They don't fade.
They serve until they're fulfilled.
This is why the Grimoire is sacred.
It's not where you write your feelings.
It's where you bind your ambitions and extract their power.
Ritual Practice: The Soul Cage Binding
To cage a new goal:
- New Moon (the darkest night, when souls are most vulnerable)
- Don your Overlord's Mantle (authority over the souls you're binding)
- Open your Grimoire to a fresh page
- Kill the vague version (cross it out violently)
- Write the specific soul (clear, measurable, mortal)
- Draw the cage (circle around it)
-
Speak the binding oath:
"You are mine. You will serve me. You will reveal your secrets." -
Interrogate immediately:
- What must die for you to live?
- What knowledge do you possess?
- What is the first step?
- What will you grant me?
- Execute the first step within 24 hours
The soul is now caged and serving.
The Pale Master's Dominion
Velrith Aranwë doesn't chase goals.
He captures souls and forces them to serve.
He doesn't hope for success.
He binds it in a cage and extracts its power daily.
He doesn't wait for transformation.
He interrogates the soul of his future self and demands the path.
This is Soul Cage.
Your goals are not wishes. They are prisoners. Make them talk.
Next Steps:
- Acquire your Grimoire of Progress (your soul prison for binding ambitions)
- Perform the Soul Cage Binding on your next goal
- Interrogate your caged souls daily during the 3rd Hour of Silence
- Prepare for Edict VI: Finger of Death
"Bind your goals. Extract their power." 🖤