Ordinarily it takes years for a Barren to heal and become fertile again, if it ever happens at all. The Rite of Desert Rain temporarily undoes the effects of a Barren, allowing Essence to flow through the area once more. With repeated applications of this rite, and no small amount of luck and hard work to encourage Essence to continue flowing after the rite’s effects end, healing a Barren completely over time is possible.
Performing the Rite
The ritualist crafts a clay brick, baking it in a kiln or with the aid of a fire elemental. Once the brick is finished, the ritualist sets it on the ground at noon and begins slowly trickling 100 gallons of water over the brick. He may use an assistant to ensure a constant flow of water. The water must flow for precisely one day, and the flow cannot be interrupted for any reason (or the ritual fails and a new brick must be made). When this is complete, the ritualist and any assistants begin slowly trickling Essence into the precise spot on the brick weakened by the water flow. If the ritual succeeds, the brick cracks and melts into mud, and the Barren is broken. If the ritual fails, it cannot be attempted for at least 28 days.
