The Most Dangerous Games: The Fear Less Ritual

Previously: The Clock And Candles Game.

For some, the act of facing your fears and coming out stronger on the other end is its own reward. For others, a bit more incentive might be required — and if that’s you, then the Fear Less Ritual might be worth the effort.

As far as I know, the Fear Less Ritual is more or less made-up; it appeared on the r/ThreeKings subreddit in 2018 courtesy of Redditor u/IkerRivercast, who was also responsible for rituals like One Step Ahead and Miss Fortune. (I say “was” because this Redditor has been inactive since 2018 — shortly after posting the Fear Less Ritual, in fact.)

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All of the rituals posted by u/IkerRivercast are framed as things they heard about by word of mouth or from other vague sources — but since all of these sources are unverifiable, it’s anyone’s guess how true these framings might be. They’re fun stories, though, and that’s what we’re here for, right?

The r/ThreeKings post about Fear Less states that the ritual “seems to be related to the story of ‘Juan Sin Miedo,’ the Spanish-language version of the Brothers Grimm fable ‘The Youth Who Went Forth to Learn what Fear Was.’” I’m unclear why the Spanish language connection is made here, though, as “Juan Sin Miedo” — in English, “Juan Without Fear” or simply “Fearless Juan” — is literally just what the Grimm story is called in Spanish. It’s pretty much the exact same story, just rendered in translation; therefore, there’s no need to consult the Spanish language version specifically. You’ll get the same information by referring to the original German version, or the translation corresponding to whatever language you speak fluently. It’s available for free via Project Gutenberg, of course, but there’s also a terrific version in Phillip Pullman’s 2013 volume Fairy Tales From The Brothers Grimm.

(As is the case with many of the Grimms’ tales, there are a couple of versions of this one floating around; the earliest one, from 1812, features only the final section, with the later version, first published in 1818, is greatly expanded. The 1818 version is the most well-known one.)

It perhaps is worth noting, though, that the story itself appears to be particularly popular in Mexico; it has leant is narrative to numerous film and television adaptations over the years, including in 1939 and 1961. There was even a children’s television program that aired in Mexico in the 1980s titled Juan Sin Miedo — a puppetry-based series along the lines of the Muppets or Sid and Marty Krofft’s shows that retold numerous fairy tales, with the titular Juan taking on the roles of the protagonists. In some ways, it seems similar to the Jim Henson series from the same era, The Storyteller. A number of episodes of Juan Sin Miedo are available to view on YouTube, for the curious.

In any event, the Fear Less Ritual takes its cues from the castle portion of the Grimm story — a section in which the protagonist spends three nights in a haunted castle in an attempt to finally experience fear. Here, though, instead of spending three nights in a haunted location, you’ll find yourself traveling through three rooms in whatever location you decide to use as your playing space.

How brave are you feeling?

I hope it’s quite brave, indeed.

Because, as always, this game is played at your own risk.

Players:

• One principal.

Requirements:

• Access to an indoor location to serve as your playing space that satisfies the following conditions: The location contains at least three distinct rooms or spaces; and the rooms or spaces may be traveled through sequentially, without doubling back through a room you have already visited en route to another. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A time-keeping device.
• Four candles.
• Matches or a lighter.
• A safe place to sleep. This location should not be a part of your playing space. Ideally, it should be at least several miles away.
• A wish or desire. (Optional.)

Instructions:

The Preparations:

1. Before you begin, locate a suitable playing space and gather your supplies.
2. Wait until dark; then bring your supplies to your playing space. Ensure that the playing space is absent of other people or pets. Do NOT attempt to play this game with others present.
3. Determine the route through which you travel the rooms. Assign numbers to the rooms that corresponds with this sequence. Room 1 is the room in which you will eventually begin; Room 2 will be the second room you plan to visit; and Room 3, the third. Make sure that the playing space’s primary exit is near Room 3 and easily accessible.
   • It is recommended that you designate the room furthest from the playing space’s exit as Room 1.
   • Do NOT designate the room located physically in the middle of the three rooms as Room 1 or Room 3. It MUST be Room 2.
4. Close the curtains or otherwise block the windows of all three rooms, as well as any hallways, etc. you may have to traverse throughout the course of the game. Additionally, turn out the lights in Rooms 2 and 3, as well as any lights located within the playing space that are not located within your three rooms. You may keep the lights on in Room 1 — for now.
5. Place the candles in Room 1. Arrange three of them in a triangle shape; then place the fourth at the center of the triangle. Be sure to remove anything flammable from the vicinity. It is also recommended that you bring at least one fire extinguisher with you and keep it nearby.
6. Wait until midnight.
7. Consult your timekeeping device. Is it midnight yet?
8. No?
9. Keep waiting.
10. Now?
11. Good.
12. Using your matches or lighter, light the three candles that form the points of the triangle.
13. Turn out the lights in Room 1.
14. Now: You may begin.

The Darkness:

1. Sit before the candles.
2. Look at them.
3. Now look beyond them. Look into the darkness beyond the flames, and find the darkest, blackest, most shadowed point you can.
4. Keep looking at that point. Keep your eyes fixed on it.
5. While you keep your gaze trained on that darkest, blackest, most shadowed point, think about what might be lurking there in the darkness with you.
6. Do not show your fear.
7. Extinguish one of the lit candles.
8. Keep looking.
9. Keep thinking.
10. Do not show your fear.
11. Extinguish the second candle.
12. Keep looking.
13. Keep thinking.
14. Do not show your fear.
15. Speak aloud, firmly and clearly, the following words: “Are there none who can show me the meaning of fear?”
16. Keep looking at that darkest, blackest, most shadowed point as you speak.
17. Do not look away.
18. Extinguish the final candle.
19. Wait.
20. Breathe.
21. Keep looking.
22. Take up your matches or lighter, and light the fourth candle — the one at the center of the triangle. The one you haven’t previously lit. Keep the matches or lighter on your person.
23. Keep looking. What do you see?
    • If you see, feel, or otherwise sense no changes to the room: The ritual has failed; do not proceed. Extinguish the candle, turn on the lights, and vacate the premises. Do return until after the sun has risen. You may try again another time, if you wish.
    • If you see, feel, or otherwise sense minor changes room: You have uninvited guests; do not proceed. Extinguish the candle, turn on the lights, and vacate the premises. Do return until after the sun has risen. Upon your return, perform the purification ritual of your choice in the space. Then leave, and do not return again — not if you can help it. You may try again another time, as long as it is in a different location — but it is NOT recommended that you do so.
      • “Minor changes” may include, but are not limited to: Changes in the room’s layout; changes in the room’s architecture; small items where there were none before; no items where there were items before; a change in temperature; unusual noises; etc.
    • If you see, feel, or otherwise sense something that inspires great fear within you: The ritual has succeeded; you may proceed.
24. Keep looking.
25. Do not speak.
26. Do not run.
27. Do not show your fear.

The Trials:

1. Keep looking at that darkest, blackest, most shadowed point.
2. Keep looking at the point that holds the thing you fear.
3. Keep looking at the thing you fear.
4. Look for least three minutes.
5. Do not blink, if you can help it.
6. Do not run.
7. Do not show your fear.
8. After the three minutes are up, pick up the lit candle and exit Room 1. You may now finally break your gaze; you are now beginning your journey.
9. Carrying the lit candle and the matches or lighter with you, move to Room 2.
10. When you enter Room 2, extinguish the candle and place it on the floor.
11. Lie down, keeping the candle nearby. Close your eyes.
12. Do not open them.
13. No matter what you may hear or feel, keep your eyes closed.
14. Do not show your fear.
15. Lie down, eyes closed, body relaxed, for at least three minutes.
16. Do not show your fear.
17. After the three minutes are up, open your eyes. Pick up the candle, relight it, and exit Room 2.
18. Carrying the lit candle and the matches or lighter with you, move to Room 3.
19. When you enter Room 3, do not show your fear.
20. No matter what you might see — no matter what you might meet — do not show your fear.
21. Set the candle down somewhere safe. Keep it lit; do not extinguish it, and do not allow it to go out.
22. Face whoever — whatever — you have met here, in Room 3.
23. Do not show your fear.
24. Reach a hand out to your companion.
25. They will respond in kind. When they offer their hand to you, shake it.
26. Do not show your fear.
27. Now: Reach out further. Embrace your companion.
28. Remain in this position for at least three minutes.
29. Do not show your fear.
30. After the three minutes are up, release your companion. Then, turn your back to them.
31. Speak aloud the following words: “Thank you for your thoughtful visitation, but I’m sorry to say I still do not know what fear is.”
32. Retrieve your candle, and exit Room 3.
33. Do not show your fear.
34. Approach the playing space’s primary exit.
35. Extinguish your candle, and vacate the premises.
36. Go to your pre-determined safe location. Once you have arrived, make yourself comfortable and go to sleep.  
37. If you have chosen to incorporate a wish or desire, make your wish upon awakening. If you have not, simply rise when you wake.
38. Then — or shortly thereafter — you will find yourself the recipient of a gift. The form this gift may take is varied: It may be a physical item; it may be something less tangible, like good luck or good fortune; it may be your wish, but even if you have made a wish, it will not necessarily be that wish.
39. Accept it, and be glad.
40. But whatever you do: Do not show your fear.

Additional Notes:

Due to the use of open flames, this game should be regarded as a fire hazard. Should you choose to play, take common sense fire safety precautions As such, players should make sure to take common sense fire safety precautions before attempting to play: Make sure you have at least one fire extinguisher on hand; remove highly flammable items from the premises and/or your person; etc. Note that these instructions are for informational or entertainment purposes only; we bear no responsibility for anything that may or may not occur over the course of the game, should anyone be so foolish as to attempt to play.

The conditions for the playing space — namely, the condition that the three rooms within must be sequentially accessible — may be satisfied in a number of ways:

• You may, for instance, use a space that contains a hallway with several rooms branching off of it and zigzag your way across the hallway in order to reach each of the three rooms.
• You may count the hallway itself as a room (it is, after all, a separate space with doors and doorways between it and the other rooms); it is best used as Room 2.
• You may perhaps even use a large, walk-in closet as one of the rooms, although it is recommended that you empty it entirely before use, especially if you plan to place candles inside it.
• If you have access to a railroad-style apartment, this kind of location is ideal; however, it is NOT recommended that you play this game inside your home.

Do NOT allow any bystanders to be present while playing.

Concerning Your Fear:

Should you show your fear at any point during the ritual, you will suffer no harm — not at the hands of the companions you have been attempting to reach. You may or may not experience a loss of time, but you will, at some point, awaken in a safe space away from your playing space during the daylight hours. You may try again another time, if you wish, although it is recommended that you do so in a different location — and that you be somewhat better prepared for what you intend to face during the game.

HOWEVER:

You should not reveal to anyone else that you intended to perform the ritual in advance; nor should you dwell on your upcoming attempt in your own mind.

If you do, you are more likely to alert… others about your plans.

And these others?

Unlike your intended companions, they are… not so kind.

There is more than one reason you must not show your fear.

The Fear Less Ritual: FAQ.

***

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[Photo via ramykabalan/Pixabay]