Crystblood Ossification (KRIS-tuhl-blood oss-ih-fih-KAY-shun)

Crystblood Ossification is not contagious. It is present from birth and cannot be transmitted through contact, injury, blood exposure, or spellcasting.

The condition is believed to arise when a developing fetus is exposed to sustained ambient magical saturation, particularly in regions rich in arcane minerals, ley-stone, or residual spell-forge activity. In some cases, repeated exposure of a bloodline to such environments increases likelihood, but inheritance is irregular and non-dominant.

Early symptoms are mild and often unnoticed, including stiffness, aching joints, and reduced flexibility. As the individual ages, crystalline growths become denser and may emerge visibly beneath the skin, especially along the spine, shoulders, forearms, ribs, and jawline.

Advanced cases involve reduced mobility, chronic pain, restricted blood flow, and increased fracture risk due to brittleness at crystal-bone junctions. Some individuals experience faint magical resonance when the crystals are struck or stressed.

There is no cure. Treatment focuses on slowing growth and managing pain. Common approaches include alchemical suppressants, mineral-binding tonics, surgical shaving of external crystal growths, and enchanted braces designed to redistribute stress across affected bones.

Magical healing can repair fractures but does not reverse crystallization and may accelerate growth if overused.

Most affected individuals live normal lifespans, though mobility often decreases with age. Those who receive early treatment and avoid high-strain labor fare significantly better. Severe cases may result in partial disability.

Long-term effects include permanent skeletal deformation, reduced flexibility, chronic pain, and in rare cases spontaneous crystal shedding. Some individuals develop heightened resistance to piercing damage at crystallized sites, while remaining vulnerable elsewhere¹.

The condition appears across all humanoid races of Cindria. Higher incidence is observed among populations living near arcane quarries, spell-forges, ancient ruins, or regions of long-term ley exposure.

There are no carriers. Only individuals born with the condition develop Crystblood Ossification

Preventative measures are limited. Avoidance of high-saturation magical environments during pregnancy is advised where possible. Some midwives employ mineral-dampening charms, though their effectiveness is unproven.

Crystblood Ossification is rare, estimated to occur in approximately one in several thousand births, with higher prevalence in historically arcane regions.

Early records describe those affected as “stone-touched” or “glass-blooded.” In Older eras, and less educated peoples, individuals with visible crystallization were sometimes mistaken for cursed beings or elemental hybrids. Systematic study began only after the rise of formal alchemical medicine.

Public perception varies widely. In mining regions, the condition is often viewed with wary familiarity. In urban centers, visible crystallization may provoke fear or fascination. Some mercenary companies prize affected individuals for perceived toughness, while others reject them as liabilities.