Immortality

Immortality is, outside of Omnia and Dragons, only given by the gods, either The Major Gods or Minor Gods. This is most often given to the partners and mates of the gods, or their heirs as a way of protecting them. Traditionally, a god must gain permission from Shia, the God of Death or Mora, The God of Life before making someone immortal and have it approved, although there are cases where a god has circumvented their permission and done it anyway. One such god is Yung Pagoni, God of Peacocks, who made his partner Soliairs Taeyang immortal in a bid to save their failing relationship.   Omnia and dragons are an exception, as a form of immortality comes naturally to their kind. This quasi-immortality is not as powerful as that in the gods or ones gods have granted it to, and they can still be affected by certain diseases and be killed by others of their kind, but notably not by age. Omnia and dragons can only be truly killed by others of their own kind and the gods if their essence is completely destroyed, permanently killing them, and preventing them from ever coming back from it, the process known as Reformation.

All forms of immortality have one symptom in common no matter their cause: The inability to die by normal means. Almost all cases of immortality are conditional, however, especially in those granted by the pantheon, and can vary on a case by case basis. All unnatural immortals can suffer a secondary effect of immortality called Immortality Fatigue, though it is much more common in omnia.   All non-dragon omnia have high chances of developing depression at some point in life, oftentimes being attributed to outliving family, loved ones, and companions. This is often a temporary condition however, and one that generally resolves within 2-3 centuries alongside treatment such as medication and therapy. Those that do seek treatment may have relapse periods following traumatic events, but these relapses are oftentimes far less severe than initial onsets of depression.  

Divinely granted Immortality

Immortality granted to mortals by the pantheon is almost always temporary and can vary wildly depending on the god granting it. As this is almost always a safety measure for those close to a god, such as their young children, mates, or heirs, it's usually used to prevent their death in times of war and strife when the god is away and cannot protect them. Such cases of immortality come from Shia or Mora themselves, channeled through the god, and unlike other forms of immortality do not allow for death in any form. In practice and depending on the god, this will vary in its effects with a wide array of their own secondary effects. Listed below are common forms, from weakest to strongest:   Pathology immortality: This form of divinely granted immortality is sometimes granted to a god's followers, priests, or mates and specifically prevents death from illnesses and other condition. Those with this form of immortality can still be killed by other means, such as physical trauma and age, but cannot die from disease. It is almost always given to those who already have a terminal condition or will eventually develop one but are necessary for the divine's following and function in the world. In those with advanced terminal illnesses who are granted this form, they will experience temporary bliss and alleviation of their symptoms caused by their illness, causing a kind of euphoria. This will recede once the immortality is removed and can cause a rebound effect, making the symptoms of disease and condition significantly worse. Diseases and illnesses can accelerate following the removal of this immortality from a person, causing death far quicker than they would in the rest of the population. As such, this form of immortality is oftentimes used as a method of stalling terminal diseases by the pantheon, often to try and wait for cures or treatments if not being used until an individual's role is fulfilled.   Trauma immortality: This form of immortality prevents all death caused by physical damage to the body, such as injury. It does to some degree prevent diseases with physical conditions and damage, though is not effective for the vast majority of other illnesses nor does it prevent mental and psychological symptoms. This form of immortality does not prevent death via age or prevent aging either, and is most commonly used on a gods' heirs of any age during times of war. Those affected by this form of immortality cannot be killed by physical damage to their bodies, but will still suffer pain from such injuries, just without being capable of death.   Full immortality / Frozen immortality: The most potent kind of immortality that can be given out by the gods, and the rarest. This form of immortality does not allow for death under any circumstances- be it from age, disease, or physical trauma. As a side effect, those with this form of immortality also do not age physically. The only measure around this kind of immortality is direct intervention from Shia or Mora themselves, at the cost of the essence, which is destroyed entirely. As a result, once removed, individuals affected cannot form a ghost and are removed entirely from the cycle of life and death as we know it. Non-terminal illnesses and conditions can still affect a person, but they oftentimes appear to be incapable of catching disease with the capability to cause death as well or acting as vectors to spread such diseases. Soliairs Taeyang is an example of a person with full immortality, granted by Yung Pagoni, God of Peacocks prior to becoming a goddess, suggesting any god can grant it, but are not typically allowed to by the Major Gods.   Age immortality: A form of immortality that only prevents death by way of aging, commonly given to the heirs or mates of gods. This type of immortality does allow for aging, but will not allow death as a result of it. Death can be caused by disease and trauma, however. Individuals affected by this immortality will live as long as they do not catch a terminal illness or suffer trauma significant enough to cause death, oftentimes appearing to age at a much slower rate until the immortality is removed provided they were already mature once it was applied. Children and infants are not commonly granted this kind of immortality, but of those that are, will generally appear to age at normal rates until they do mature. There is some debate on whether or not this type of immortality is given intentionally, as it appears at a much higher rate in the pantheon's children and may do so naturally. If removed, those that had this form of immortality rarely suffer rebound effects and will continue to live until age or illness does claim them.  

"Natural" Immortality

Or sometimes called "draconic immortality", this form of immortality comes naturally to dragons and natural born omnia, being acquired by those who become omnia later in life. Unlike divine or divinely granted immortality, this form of it does allow the individual's body to be killed, reforming it later on without causing death. As a side effect, those with this form of immortality who work in dangerous fields and routinely suffer grievous injury can become numb to pain and death in a way likened to battle hardened soldiers. Pain, grief, and personal injury may become secondary to a goal, such as fighting for their own survival in dangerous situations, which many call 'fighting through it' even with wounds that would incapacitate or even cause deadly shock in others. It is by far not a common side effect, and oftentimes only seen in dragons or omnia who have lived through incredibly traumatic and violent periods, personally suffering such events. A common misconception is that dragons or omnia cannot feel pain at all as a result, and remains a rather common urban legend in the modern era, oftentimes used for propaganda.

Anyone can be inflicted with immortality, however a natural form of it is most common in the omnia and dragons.

Immortals are often revered, as the most well known cases are due to the gods. Most often those bestowed with immortality are individuals of extreme importance to the divine such as their heirs, children, or mates and spouses. Very rarely are individuals outside of those groups given immortality but of those that are, they are almost always crucial to the function of that god's role, such as their high priests or the guardians of their heirs. All such individuals can be considered an emergency replacement for the god should something happen to them, such as war with another member of the pantheon.