The Black Rite consists of studying one's lifestyle, fostering imagination, and engaging with the theory and practice of asceticism; it is comprised of reasonable skeptics and those who seek tangible inroads to self-mastery. By surveying religious history, ancestry, anthropology, and ethics, each individual is tasked to develop their worldview in scope of the human struggle.

Pragmatically, a large portion of the rite is geared toward conquering the dream-state; inasmuch as it is deemed analogy to enlightenment par excellence, training reliable and regular lucidity in sleep is the highest goal of the order. A broad study of physiology, psychological techniques, and dream analysis has to be undertaken to accomplish this.

Aside from the many somber and mortifying oaths aspirants may take within this path, the order only tests pain tolerance and self-restraint in fasting from food, speech, and entertainment; the development of habitual disciplines or skills of willpower are likewise required, but these may be chosen in alignment with one's personal inclinations.

Members are called to seek sobriety and clarity of purpose, they have no specialized role aside from their responsibilities to family and the world at large. Within guild assemblies, they may engage and debate with the laity; forming the ward or outer bound of ceremony, they are not trained in its participation. Every guild aspirant is required to complete their probationary period studying The Root Poisons within the Black Rite. 

Each area of study is broken into three explorations, accompanying each is a ritual practicum assigned by the Order's Preceptor. In recognizing individual predilection, the instructor may deviate from the straightforward progression of studies and recommend material from latter classes. The Black Rite provides the fundamental considerations and discipline underlying many techniques of the other orders, as such, general introduction is necessary but specific mastery isn't required to graduate the probationary period.