Within Fastheld, the Shadow Touched are regarded with great fear and anyone found to possess these powers is Lessened by the Church of True Light or killed immediately if deemed to dangerous.
Contents
History
A millennia ago, there were once people born with magical powers. These mages wielded gifts that had never been seen before, creating awe and admiration through the land. However, a war broke out between these people. Cities were swallowed whole, mountains destroyed in an instant. Fastheldians began to know this war as the Shadow's Touch, plunging the world into a dark age. This became known by many as the Cataclysm. The magical folk, once revered and respected, became known as the Shadow Touched. In this time, a religion was formed, known as the Church of True Light. Its sole purpose became to protect the people against the Shadow.
Over 600 years ago, Talus Kahar I determined that a large wall should be built to protect the Shadow fearing citizens of Fastheld from the Touched. Realizing that it would take years, if not decades to achieve such a feat, he struck a deal with the Shadow Touched. Build for them this 700 foot wall around his city-state and he would allow them free passage out into the wilds surrounding it with a horse and wagon full of supplies.
For those that remained behind, they were forced to live in secret, knowing that the Church would never rest until every last Touched person has been purged from Fastheldian soil.
The Meaning of a Shadowed Life
Within society, there are a few thousand Fastheldians that are Shadow Touched. About three-fourths of these people will never realize that they carry the Taint. Their powers will simply never manifest. But for the remaining quarter, their powers have emerged in some way, typically in the midst of a crisis. The way it will happen will vary from person to person.
More than two thirds of those who manifest Shadow Touched powers will attempt to suppress it. The most common way for this to happen is their devotion to the Church of True Light. As people do not know how or why the Touch manifests, they will believe it was due to their lack of devotion. Others will attempts to suppress it, pretending as though the incident never occurred and it will not effect their lives in any way. Others will break away from all of their current relationships, fearful that they will succumb to the Shadow and hurt their friends and loved ones.
But within this is a small percentage of people who do not see their Touch as a curse and do not fight against it. They do not worry that it will turn them evil, but instead embrace this piece of them. For some, it has never been a curse, but a part of who they are. Many teenagers see it as a way to rebel against the Church. There are those who already believe that they have already been cursed by manifesting the Touch and choose to embrace it, often turning to a life of crime or vice. Whatever the reason, they all seek to train themselves and learn more about their powers.
Societal Views on the Shadow Touched
In short, by being Shadow Touched, you risk your very life if you choose to divulge your secret to anyone. For generations, the Church of True Light has encouraged the fear and suspicion of the Shadow, using it to solidify their own grasp of political power. While there may be some people in Fastheld who do not agree with the Church, it is widely acknowledged that the Shadow is evil.
The view on the Shadow Touched has become so skewed over the years that any abnormalities in a person is often viewed as the work of the Shadow. These could be birth defects such as a cleft palate, albinoism, physical deformities and more. In a larger scheme, any irregularities within the city-state of Fastheld will also be blamed on the Shadow, such as unusual weather patterns, failing crops, strange herding patterns of animals and much more.
Mageblock
There are times for mages when magic will seem to stall up within them, creating something known as Mageblock. While most common amongst inexperienced or injured mages, it places a physical limitation upon them, making it impossible to cast spells without serious risk to their life. Physical symptoms include nausea, migraines and muscle aches. It can be a very unpleasant experience, but will dissipate after the mage has had sufficient time to rest and recover.
Imagine a magic user as a conduit. As the magic is called upon, it moves through the caster and into the physical world. However, there are times when the mage is an ineffective conduit, forcing the magic to build up inside of them with no way to release it. Until the mage allows time for this magic to be grounded, they will suffer through the effects of mage block.
In an OOC sense, rolling very badly, (a 3 or below) will cause Mageblock.
The Shadow Touched and You
So you are thinking about making a Shadow Touched character? What are some things that you should keep in mind as you are preparing to create that bio?
- One of the first things to remember is that your powers should be kept secret. If you are determined to tell someone, ensure that you can trust that person with your life, or you may find yourself facing the Church very quickly. You want to have established a normal life for your character, typically with a profession and hobbies as to not draw unwanted attention to yourself.
- Be careful where you use your powers. The Church is everywhere. In this type of world, discretion is the better part of valor and will help you stay alive.
- Ensure that you have picked a gift that you will personally enjoy using. While offensive gifts may be the most powerful, there can also be something said for subtlety. Pick something that will help enrich your character but won't be the sole focus of the RP. You still want this person to have a personality and a backstory that is compelling enough that you want to RP with him/her.
- Remember that you are not alone. While your character might feel alone, you as the player never have to be. There are Shadow organizations out there, and if you look in the right places, you may be able to find them and give your character a place to feel as though they belong.
Shadow Powers
See here for a list of Shadow Powers.