Another fan CT, oh boy!
I realized a while back I never actually got around to making a post about any of my other fan CTs and one of thems been on my mind lately as I reworked it so I might as well make a post about it.
This is probably the most overpowered cursed technique I've come up with, and thus it has the heaviest restrictions placed on it because I don't quite care for overpowered techniques or characters without heavy drawbacks.
Binding vows have always interested me, they're such a fascinating concept. I decided to make a cursed technique dependent entirely on binding vows, specifically imposing them upon enemies for limited amounts of time.
Keeping in line with my last post a few weeks ago, I'll do a Neutral, Positive, Negative and Expanded application of the technique below.
Neutral Application: The neutral application is quite simple, when creating a binding vow for themselves, it takes practically no energy. I don't think it's ever stated that using a binding vow actually costs cursed energy in any substantial amount (Though as the technique elaborates on later, I personally believe it's a greater effect = higher cost situation.) Users of this technique will require almost no energy for simple vows like boosting cursed energy, and minimal energy for complex ones like restoring limbs or imbuing rules into a barrier. The reason this matters is because this technique relies HEAVILY on resource management, vows to increase and sacrifice cursed energy are the bread and butter of this technique. Positive Application: Shared vows. The user, through making physical contact and speaking the phrase "We are hereby bound to" followed by the vow's effects and duration (whether that be a specific time limit or a more vague flag-based system) they lock the target into a non-consensual binding vow. Think forging a signature. The effects of these vows will apply to both the caster and the target, however if the caster is skilled with their technique they can impose an addendum allowing them to sacrifice greater amounts of energy to lessen the effects placed on themselves. A typical starting vow for sorcerers with this technique is to force an opponent to not attack while the sorcerer creates a vow. Ex: "We are hereby bound to cease movement in the rest of our bodies while one of us makes a binding vow for the next 12 minutes." Negative Application: Task and punishment/reward. By utilizing this variation of the technique, they lock them and their opponent into a proverbial minigame of sorts where they must complete a defined task by a certain time limit or be punished, it's common for sorcerers to add a specific reward for completing the task, as well as a specific punishment. Ex: "We must clap our hands three times, wink and grin in 10 seconds. Failing to do so will cost 3% of your cursed energy, succeeding will grant a 3% boost to your cursed energy." You do NOT have to say the terms of the task loud enough for all participants to hear. So that example is likely being whispered by the sorcerer implementing it.
Domain Expansion: Uninhibited Constraint. This is a last resort domain, only to be used if there is NO chance of you winning without it. It's similar to Mahoraga in the sense that it tends to punish the user for using it. It drains almost all of your cursed energy within 20 seconds, but in those 20 seconds you can force your opponent to abide by as many vows and tasks as you can speak. The vows will not apply to you, as they typically do and will persist past the domain's lifetime, though not for very long. It's common for sorcerers to have a prepared set of vows and tasks before activating it, so they don't fumble around thinking. Afterwards, the spiritual strain forcing someone into so many contracts at once takes on your cursed energy and your body will put most sorcerers, with the exception of true prodigies like Yuta or Gojo, out of commission for at least a few hours.
Maximum: Automatic Reward. True masters of this technique can utilize it to make their brain, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, lungs and vocal chords autonomously assess the situation and make a binding vow that will provide the most detriment to their opponent and the most rewards to the caster. These vows are often incredibly complex, with so many caveats and addendums it tends to recoup the losses it makes, lose them again and then regain them twice over once more by the time it's out. Those rare few who have managed to utilize this technique describe the feeling that follows it's activation like being stabbed, healed, kissed, punched, hugged, kicked all while feeling like a million dollar with the most crippling headache you've ever had crushes your skull. Skilled sorcerers can replicate these vows, to a lesser degree, but people who have used this technique agree almost unanimously that a consciously made vow of this degree tends to have more flaws and detriments than letting your body make it's own. Some like to say it's as if your cursed energy itself is coming alive to make the vow for you.
If anybody wants me to make a few mockup scenarios this technique could be used in, I would be more than happy to! Just ask.