Balms of Humanity

Xùyì is caught between opposing truths, walking a fine line between good and evil, as a ship lost in the dark seas. Terrors fill the night skies, and the unspeakable have become commonplace in the far north. Spirits, once gracious towards humanity, have shown their true faces. Violence has become a necessity. Horrors walk openly, bound to the service of mankind. Still, the world is akin to a wheel: What is held high is bound to fall, and those things seen as foolishness are elevated as the world turns. What was once looked down upon with scorn often becomes the balm that soothes the wounds people suffer, the pain caused by their own hands.

Hypocrisy permeates the world, though the Empire of Trel is steeped in it. Condemnation towards the Kjurvog and the Vampires that have come from the northern land, along with the strange, though carefully guarded, magic they've uncovered among their allies, allows them to retain a lofty sense of self-righteousness. Trel mocks the lack of fortitude among the Gy'veorn, looking upon the silence with apprehension. Yet, even the most loyal subjects of Trel face temptations as they watch the surrounding nations scramble to attain greater power. The signs are written in the air. Ambitions leave the world, and the shaky alliances forged in times of peace, hanging on a rope that could snap at any moment.

Brilliant minds have sought greater knowledge, desiring the power that can be found within the paths of damnation. It is a fool's errand, believing that they can make camp at the edge of that abyss and not fall within. In the southern lands, where the Gy'veorn and Trel have reached a stalemate, humanity has been cast aside for victory. With the unfortunate appearance of the Flesh-Changers, a need arose for a tool to undo, or soothe the things which the soldiers of Trel have brought upon themselves.

The Balms is a blanket term used to describe one of the most fundamental tools needed for an exorcism. Though relatively simple to make, requiring only the sap from the Dawn's Claw and a few words of power, it will allow even the most untrained in the spiritual arts a semblance of control. The flexibility of these balms makes a significant difference, allowing them to match the ailments. Bandages can be soaked in the sap, with the words written upon them after being administered. The Sap can be mixed with holy water and drunk as well, and the body made into the canvas for the words to be written. While the effects vary, it helps prevent the continuation of the corruption. Scales fall off, like flakes of dead skin. Additional arms whither, and as the body rejects the interference of the Outsiders, the balms delay the corruption. It feels almost like discomfort when a sneeze refuses to come, and the pit in the stomach when confrontation draws near. Though the creature steadily gains ground, taking control of the vessel, these balms war against the inevitable.