This CT is a nod to a novel written by Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov somewhen between 1847 and 1859. The novel tells a story of a pomeshik (literally: "Owner of the manor", basically kind of a rich landowner) named Ilya Oblomov. Through him – novel embodies absolute apathy, indolence, and spiritual inertia, characteristic for the nation then and now alike. Despite having every opportunity and chance possible to live a meaningful life – time and time again Oblomov descends deeper and deeper into passivity, until there is nothing left to drown. Novel caused plenty of arguments between revolutionary democrats and liberal intelligentsia (Intellectuals), the depiction of Oblomov and transformation of him into quasi-image of "Oblomovshina" (meaning "people like Oblomov) sparked some controversy amongst other authors, but non the less, by many this novel is considered one of the iconic products of it's time.

I ask myself: if Oblomov wasn't an idler – what would he be? Nothing, I answer. And if so – let him sleep, then. (A.P. Chehov.)

:

Russian man sins, greatly and often, against love; but he is also the first to suffer for it at his own hands. He is his own executioner for it. It is the most characteristic property of a Russian man… This (Oblomov) isn't even a Russian man. Its a product of Petersburg. (F.M. Dostoyevsky)

Cursed Technique: "Oblomov"

Concept: Inherited Cursed Technique that haunts Russian clan of shamans for generations, this technique employs fossilizing shell of cursed energy to enburden opponents that don't have enough energy to resist.

War with the deadly sin of Sloth, in its slightly more refined reading of apathy, is far from being easy. Apathy is akin to thick, heavy blankets, layered on top of a person. When spring's sun is gentle and kind – blanket feels uncomfortable, sweaty, misplaced. If that's the case – blanket is thrown away, easily and passionately. But what if its cold outside? What if its dark, and dull, and the wind bites, and there is nowhere to go, not a single lush field with butterflies in sight? Blanket brings warmth and security. And the more cold it gets – the easier it is to think "one blanket is great, what if I add more?", the easier it is to say "they try to get me still, but with more blankets – nobody will be able to reach me". Then, before you notice – you already buried under too many layers to ever crawl out. Before you notice – you already crushed under the weight. But the worst part – even if you get uncomfortable under the weight – its still cold outside, and you got used to blanket's warmth so, so much…

Principle:

Started with now knowing how to put stockings on – ended with not knowing how to live.
(Qoute)

"Oblomov" is unsophisticated technique. It allows user to envelop the target in his CE Output radius (usually – nearly a touch's distance) with some of his Cursed Energy, and then launch the process of this CE's fossilization.

– Progressively, with each passing moment, with speed of progression depending on initial decision of Wielder, energy that envelops the target (so called "Shell") starts acting more and move viscously, resisting movement of the target.

– If left unchecked – it will continue until target is completely frozen, like a statue. When target stops stirring the Shell – it stops becoming more viscous, and begins getting harder instead, fossilizing in the most literal way.

– When this process starts – Shell becomes less transparent, less and transforms into substance similar to a mineral, completely burying target inside, and blocking the passage of light, sound, and air.

– Before fossilization Shell can be withered away by expelling one's Cursed Energy through it, which "burns" the Shell, not letting it to become more viscous properly. However – Cursed Energy used to shed the Shell is lost. Due to that – even if target's output is sufficient to neutralize the Shell – it is still costly to resist, and even Target's output is insufficient – escape becomes nigh impossible at all.

– At the same time – Shell regenerates automatically and continuously, based on amount of Cursed Energy that Wielder put into it. This regeneration may even exceed the speed of Shedding that target can output, thus making it impossible to burn away.

– After full fossilization is finished, the mineral shell around the target can be damaged physically, but it still continues to regenerate, as long as it has CE left, and will not disappear even if it's CE hits zero. To add to that – this fully fossilized shell is pretty durable on it's own.

– Additionally – fully fossilized Shell is strong, but not reinforced on itself. However it *can* be CE reinforced after fossilization is complete, when it transforms into actual, physical object.

Weaknesses:

When you don't know what you're living for, you just get by, day after day. You're glad the day is over, the night is over, and in your sleep you ponder the tedious question of why you lived that day and why you'll live tomorrow.
(Quote)

– To create the Shell, target of technique must be within Wielder's Output Radius, i.e. within how far wielder can throw his CE out of his body. For many shamans it means that Wielder must nearly touch his target to launch the "Oblomov".

– Due to its nature that allows the Shell to be burned by expulsion of CE – any target that has sufficient output is capable of ignoring the technique entirely, turning it from tactical advantage into a simple price tag in CE, "i'll give you 20$ to f*ck off" style. (And we all know how often characters run out of CE in JJK, Lmao).

– If targets are multiple – they can join forces in resisting the "Oblomov" technique. If they stand in Output Radius of each other – they can shed each other's Shells, or, if one target fully fossilizes, another can break through the Shell from the outside. (though it can be used as a form of tactical control by sufficiently smart Wielder).

Technique Application: "Boat is The Same"

A long night would drag on from this, a dull tomorrow, an unbearable day after tomorrow, and a string of days growing paler and paler…
(Quote)

This extension technique is based on a simple premise: CT's are notoriously unwilling to target their Wielders. By creating a Shell with low fossilization speed, using himself as recipient – Wielder can move pretty comfortably. At a first glance this Application is pretty useless, but sufficiently witty Wielder can produce a variety of tactically viable results from it.

Extension Technique: "Priority"

Memories are nothing but shame and pulling hair out.
(Quote)

This Extension allows user to carefully and precisely control the distribution of CE within the shell, as well as change it's properties on the fly, as long as it's remain within reach.

Using "Priority" Wielder is able to:

– Hasten or slower the fossilization;

– Concentrate the power of "Oblomov" in specific part of the Shell, for example – on specific limb of Target;

– Syphon out or add more CE into already existing Shells.

Extension Technique: "Blankets"

There are people in whom, no matter how hard you try, you can't stir up a spirit of enmity, revenge, or the like. Whatever you do to them, they keep on being placable. However, it must be said in their defense that their love, if measured in degrees, never reaches "hot". Although people say that such individuals love everyone and are therefore kind, in reality, they love no one, and are kind simply because they are not malicious.
(Quote)

To layer "Oblomov" is not as trivial as it may sound. This Technique is rather awkward to put on top of itself, as different Shells would rather fuse together than stay separated, its the same energy that consists them both, after all.

Non the less, with due effort, Wielder can comprehend the path to do so – to create two Shells layered on top of one target without interacting with each other. It is significantly more demanding in concentration and CE to teach each Shell to ignore its compatriot, but such effort provides great results. When two or more layers haunt the same target – they all don't work at the same time, but lower layers protect the higher ones from being burned by target's expulsed CE, thus requiring MUCH more effort to shed.

Maximum Technique: "Collapse"

Passion! It's great in poetry and on stage, where actors with cloaks and daggers pace around, and then the killed and the killers go to dine together…
(Quote)

This maximum technique is simple in nature. By overloading own Cursed Technique, Wielder forces it to collapse, instantly breaching the gap between creation of the Shell and it's fossilization. It takes plenty of CE to jumpstart, and all of that energy is consumed during self-multiplication of technique, leaving nothing for the Shell to regenerate from, but if it is important to reach this stage as fast as possible – the decision is simple to take.

– Combined with "Priority" Extension, "Collapse" allows, for example, instantly encase target's limb in stone, providing Wielder with opening.

– At the same time, combined with "Boat is The Same" – I allows the wielder to instantly fossilize part of his shell to create momentary cover or armor.

Domain Expansion: "Weight Of The World"

The love is a kind of a job, is it not?
(Quote)

Philosophy:

I desire nothing, seek nothing but peace, the slumber of the soul. I have tasted all the hollowness and wretchedness of life and I despise it heartily. Whoever has lived and thought cannot but, in his soul, despise humanity. Activity, cares, worries, distractions – I am sick of them all. I wish for nothing, I seek nothing. I have no aim, for one gains that which one is eager for – and sees that it is all illusion. My joyous days have passed. I have cooled to them. In the educated world, amidst human beings, I feel the disadvantages of life too strongly, but alone, far from the crowd, I turn to stone. In this trance anything can happen, I see neither others nor myself. I do nothing and do not notice the actions either of others or myself – and I am at peace, I am indifferent. There can be no happiness for me, and I will not succumb to unhappiness.
(Quote)

Visuals: This domain manifests in a shape of a tundra, large field covered with snow with patchy, withered, dull grass. A few lonely trees all look sick and tired. Sky is a manifold, like a giant, dark cloth of black silk, starless, moving in slow waves. Despite the snow – those caught inside don't feel cold, neither do they feel warmth of any degree. The temperature is… dull. The exact hair-thin line of temperature between starting to cool and starting to warm up, a temperature that cannot be named for how nothing-like it is. The air is chilly, but, somehow, suffocating, thick, instead of fresh. Truly – a sight to behold.

Effect: Those caught within domain experience it's sure-hit effect as literal weight, pressing onto their shoulders, pinning them down, face-first, into the snow, weak at first, but growing in power quickly. Its not the actual gravity, but more of a compulsion, the way body feels heavy when somebody is deadly tired.

When the victim is laying in the snow – it finds the position oddly relaxing, dosing off until consciousness is lost. Such is the second part of the sure-hit effect, that everything that succumbed to Sloth slows down, which includes processes such as heartbeat and thinking.

It is a trick among the dishonest to offer sacrifices that are not needed, or not possible, to avoid making those that are required.
(Quote)

FIN

(This is yet another installment, for quite the lineup at this point, of Russian CT's and other things themed around classic literature. This one is rough around the edges, but non the less – I felt compelled to share.)