A brutal form of corporal punishment for those who have been deemed Shadow Touched.
History
As the Church of True Light began its crusade against the Shadow Touched still left within Fastheld, they came to realize the very danger of these mages being allowed to live. However, despite the fear that the Shadow instilled in the people, some had qualms with the idea of these mass murders. In an effort to appease the people, the Church began to Lessen those guilty of possessing the Taint as a way to ensure that they were no longer a threat to the people.
While many hail this punishment as just for the sins the mages have committed by their very existence, others still find it to be barbaric and horrifying. The sheer brutality behind the act has been enough to frighten some manifesting their Shadow abilities to remain hidden forever for fear of one day having this act happen to them.
In an effort to frighten mages from ever showing themselves and to ensure that no one ever thought to rise up against the Church, these Lessenings were often a public affair, taking place in the townships by members of the Church so all could see the Light's will being done.
Logistics
As many mages use their sight, voice or gestures as a channel for their power, the Church believed that be removing their eyes, tongue and hands, it would ensure that their abilities would be neutralized. Mages that were deemed too dangerous by the Church would often be killed on sight.
After these mages had been Lessened, they would often be employed by the Imperial Mines as slaves for the remainder of their life, forced into hard physical labor as a way to repent for their actions.