Withered
(Withered are a CA race, and may not be played without making an application.) When an infant is corrupted in the womb by Demonic presence, a common outcome is a Withered. These Offspring are cursed with the knowledge of the Truth of Fel-Slingers instinctively from birth, and cannot help but use it. They also learn other Fel Truths with significantly more ease than another of their species would. The skin of a withered burns hot to the touch, and their blood is literally boiling hot with the destructive fel magics coursing through them, though as an upside they are all but immune to fire, both normal and fel, originating from mortal sources.
Appearance
Generally they are pale and diminutive for their species, and this constant use of magic causes them to age rapidly, as well as diminishes their physical stature. A Withered ages three times as fast as their base race, and because they are constantly using magic, their life expectancy is not lowered by actively using magic. Generally they’re frail and weak for one of their species as well, and in many of the more tribal species, they are killed as a matter of course, as their upbringing tends to cause great damage.Body Modifications
Though continuous use of magics does not wither the body and soul of a Withered as it does any other mortal race, the more they use Truths, the more markings appear on their flesh. These markings appear in one of many ways, though the most common is tight, spiralling bars of straight, neat, demonic script, which usually starts appearing from the heart, belly, or hands, and then spread from there. It is said that if a Withered can use enough magic, and enough varied magic, as each new branch of Truths they explore generates a different spiral, to have all of the tattoos possible, they can learn and understand the Truth of their own soul and transcend to the Hoard to live forever after as an Awakened Spirit, rather than having their soul be consumed upon their final, true death. This is largely regarded as just a story, though, as none in recorded history have ever achieved such a lofty goal, not even the longer-lived Withered which come from the Elves or Drachev.Racial Abilities
The Withered constantly use magic innately throughout their life, the corrupted Truth of Fel Flames. They are incapable of not using this magic to heat their blood and flesh, and when they are very small children, they are incapable of controlling the more energetic expressions of fel flame, frequently burning buildings down or immolating their fellows on accident. Fel Flame: The Withered always have access to the Sigil of Wrath at birth, meaning they can become Fel-Slingers. They can also learn other Fel Truths, but they are incapable of learning normal Truths. Burning Body: Though their body is withered and weak, being about 20% less strong than an average member of their species, their flesh and blood burns hot. They are not subject to damage from fire or ambient heat up to 900 degrees fahrenheit, and they cannot catch any disease, magical or otherwise. Their blood is always boiling hot, at about 260 degrees, though it will not boil away into vapor. Your flesh itself is about 100 degrees, hot enough to hurt and be extremely surprising, but not hot enough to actually harm someone who touches you. See Cold Resistance. Withered suffer from, amongst other things, advanced aging. They reach adulthood, middle-age, and elderhood 70% faster than their base race (rounded up), and Withered will die of old age two ages after they reach elderhood, regardless of whatever sorts of immortality their base race might have. Withered corrupt the world around them. See Corruption & Purification.Redlines
Fel Flame is a Truth, and your access to this Truth will be defined in that Truth. Your character will begin at the base level of understanding of the Truth, and nothing more. Your boiling blood will rapidly cool once diluted, in the case of being spilled into blood, dirt, or sand, but if it is on a surface which it does not dilute into, it will never lose its heat.History
Most species have many a story of Withered, sometimes as cruel monsters, sometimes as tragic figures, but almost never as a good person. This is true to the real world, as the temper which is so common to the Withered extends to their temperament, and great rage combined with great power almost always results in unkind memories after passing. There are stories, few and far between, however, of Withered who used their destructive prowess to toss down what was unjust, to end things that should not be. While these figures are never portrayed as saints, they are also not the monsters many think that all Withered are. The only certain thing about the Withered is that they will not live dull lives.Naming Traditions
Other names
Withered tend to be pyromaniacs, being at least somewhat obsessed with fire and burning things in all sorts of ways. Their naming conventions usually follow those of their base culture, much like the rest of the Blooded.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
The Withered have no culture to call their own, but they definitely have tendencies which tend to greatly distinguish them from their base species.
Withered speak the language of their home and Common.
Religion
The Withered are viewed by most major religions in the same way as the obviously Halfbloods are, which is to say, while they aren't very well loved, most don't seek to purge them, either. After all, there have been many Withered who were good people, and used their destructive magics for better.Family
With their odd appearance and fast growth, many Withered children are abandoned for being obviously demonic. When they aren't, they usually have a strained home life due to the increased burden their strange abilities place on the family. Most will never feel welcome or quite at home no matter where they go.Common Dress code
The Withered typically wear the average clothing for their culture, although they usually wear the warmer things that their culture favors because they almost always feel cold, as the gentle breeze of the wind is far colder than their burning skin. Some of them also wear heavier clothes to try and disguise their withered forms.
Accessories
Makeup is fairly common among the Withered. If they wear gloves and cover their skin, all they must do is apply some makeup to make their complexion less sickly. There's nothing that will hide how hot and feverish their skin burns, but until they stand close enough to someone or touch someone, they can very easily disguise themselves as a relatively normal version of their base species.Common Myths and Legends
Creation Story
None are quite sure where the first Withered came from, or which demons are most likely to produce them. Indeed, as fel flame rolls of their skin, many suggest that demons don't even actually intend to create the withered. Regardless of the truth or falsehood of this, the withered and their strange abilities most certainly do exist.Major organizations
There are no major Withered settlements on the face of Gaia, though there are rumors of a strange kingdom of Withered Spring Elves in the Old World, nestled in the mountains at the Northern end of Rehkara, which somehow produces only Withered, and exists to attempt to help the Withered Transcend by learning all Truths available to them. These are merely rumors, however, as far as most are concerned.
Encompassed species
Related Myths
Related Locations
Height: Usually on the shorter end of their base race.
Eye Color: Usually red, orange, or gold.
Hair Color: Most often gray or white.
Age Range: 70% reduced from their base race.
Compatible Base Races: Humans, Elves, Beastfolk, Rehks, Dwarves
Block Speed: Base race minus 1
Related Systems
Corruption & Purification
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