The Provocateur is a stage where the path grabs at other people's nerves. The body gains moderately — strength, speed, agility, and quickness of reaction grow — and spirituality rises slightly again.
The Provocation itself is arranged curiously: it induces a constant change of state in the bearer, but for the needed action it also requires conscious activation.
The method of action explains how a real provocation differs from vulgar abuse, and this explanation is sobering:
one must possess a wealth of information and rumors and understand the one you intend to hurt — only then can a single phrase rob him of his reason and burn out his head;
a simple provocation barely helps to digest a potion: provocation is only a means, not an end;
one should strike at one who is stronger — at one who is higher on the Sequence.
The last point makes the eighth stage an extremely risky pursuit: to grow, a Provoker is obliged to anger those who could kill him.
