Avishraa Reloaded

User Tools

Site Tools

You are here: start » concept » doomtouched
concept:doomtouched

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Next revision		Previous revision
concept:doomtouched [2021/02/07 22:04] – created shyriathconcept:doomtouched [2024/01/25 10:09] (current) – shyriath
Line 1: Line 1:
-Though the magic of the [[chosen:|Chosen]] is perhaps the best-known of the types of supernatural ability to be found upon [[avishraa:|Avishraa]] - not counting [[concept:enchantment|enchanting]], which is though of more as a branch of learning - it is not by far the only one. The Chosen have a dark mirror of themselves in those that are called the **Doomtouched**, and it might be wondered whether the latter may have contributed to the poor reputation of the former.+====== Doomtouched ====== 
 +Though the magic of the [[chosen:|Chosen]] is perhaps the best-known of the types of supernatural ability to be found upon [[universe:mikurmiya:Avishraa]] - not counting [[concept:enchantment|enchanting]], which is though of more as a branch of learning - it is not by far the only one. The Chosen have a dark mirror of themselves in those that are called the **Doomtouched**, and it might be wondered whether the latter may have contributed to the poor reputation of the former.
    
 Unlike the Chosen, whose powers are of many kinds and uses, the Doomtouched have only one power: to destroy and annihilate, gifted to them by a terrible patron. Unlike the Chosen, whose powers are of many kinds and uses, the Doomtouched have only one power: to destroy and annihilate, gifted to them by a terrible patron.
  
 ===== Cause ===== ===== Cause =====
-Bound in its eternal chains in the dark realms beyond our own, [[extrinsic:hunger|Hunger]] rages, driven mad by its terrible need to consume all else, and its enforced inability to do so.+Bound in its eternal chains in the dark realms beyond our own, [[extrinsic:Hunger]] rages, driven mad by its terrible need to consume all else, and its enforced inability to do so.
    
 But the nature of the [[extrinsic:|Extrinsics]] is such that they are a part of every [[universe:froth|mortal universe]] in some fashion. Restrained though Hunger is, its influence is nonetheless felt in the relentless onslaught of entropy through which all things fall, in the end, to oblivion. But the nature of the [[extrinsic:|Extrinsics]] is such that they are a part of every [[universe:froth|mortal universe]] in some fashion. Restrained though Hunger is, its influence is nonetheless felt in the relentless onslaught of entropy through which all things fall, in the end, to oblivion.
Line 10: Line 11:
 It loathes all that exists independent of it. But it is capable of recognizing, in a dim way, those mortal minds that share something of its loathing. Perhaps it is wrong to say that Hunger appreciates them; but it sees their utility in speeding up, however infinitesimally, the end of their universe. And to those that seem especially promising, it may offer a tiny fragment of its power as a gift - or a welcome curse - so that they can more effectively act on their loathing. It loathes all that exists independent of it. But it is capable of recognizing, in a dim way, those mortal minds that share something of its loathing. Perhaps it is wrong to say that Hunger appreciates them; but it sees their utility in speeding up, however infinitesimally, the end of their universe. And to those that seem especially promising, it may offer a tiny fragment of its power as a gift - or a welcome curse - so that they can more effectively act on their loathing.
  
-Aside from the requirement of personality and worldview, those that become Doomtouched have little in common; the only requirements appear to be that they be sentient enough to feel the appropriate hate or loathing for the world, and sapient enough to understand where to direct their power of destruction. [[takma:|Takma]] and [[xtauh:|xtauh]] alike have become Doomtouched; presumably the [[orghysh:|orghysh]] might do the same.+Aside from the requirement of personality and worldview, those that become Doomtouched have little in common; the only requirements appear to be that they be sentient enough to feel the appropriate hate or loathing for the world, and sapient enough to understand where to direct their power of destruction. [[Takma:]] and [[xtauh:]] alike have become Doomtouched; presumably the [[orghysh:]] might do the same.
  
 ===== Mechanism ===== ===== Mechanism =====
Line 44: Line 45:
 While some history of the Chosen can be reconstructed with reasonable certainty, no such thing can be done for the Doomtouched, who are rarer than the Chosen and far less likely to cooperate with each other or with non-Doomtouched. Unlike the Chosen, there is no reason to think that the Doomtouched began to appear at any particular time or place, and they may well have existed since the dawn of sapience. While some history of the Chosen can be reconstructed with reasonable certainty, no such thing can be done for the Doomtouched, who are rarer than the Chosen and far less likely to cooperate with each other or with non-Doomtouched. Unlike the Chosen, there is no reason to think that the Doomtouched began to appear at any particular time or place, and they may well have existed since the dawn of sapience.
    
-What history there is of the Doomtouched can be traced mainly through the atrocities of their more prominent or persistent representatives. Among the greatest of these was [[person:lidraf-the-empty|Lidraf the Empty]], the Tyrant of the [[avishraa:place:dawn-sea|Dawn Sea]], whose [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thanatocracy|thanatocratic]] rule virtually depopulated the far southeast of [[avishraa:place:sekhaa|the continent]].+What history there is of the Doomtouched can be traced mainly through the atrocities of their more prominent or persistent representatives. Among the greatest of these was [[person:Lidraf the Empty]], the Tyrant of the [[geography:ocean:Dawn Sea]], whose [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thanatocracy|thanatocratic]] rule virtually depopulated the far southeast of [[geography:sekhaa:start|the continent]].
  
 ===== Cultural reception ===== ===== Cultural reception =====
 Doomtouched are quite rare - more so than Chosen - and awareness of their unique nature is not widespread. Among the takmar, they are typically conflated with the Chosen, and may indeed be partly (but only partly) responsible for the poor reputation of the latter. This usually suits the Doomtouched perfectly well, since the anger of the populace is thereby deflected toward more visible targets. (It is, of course, entirely possible for Chosen to also become Doomtouched, and indeed an unexpectedly high proportion of Doomtouched are Chosen.) Doomtouched are quite rare - more so than Chosen - and awareness of their unique nature is not widespread. Among the takmar, they are typically conflated with the Chosen, and may indeed be partly (but only partly) responsible for the poor reputation of the latter. This usually suits the Doomtouched perfectly well, since the anger of the populace is thereby deflected toward more visible targets. (It is, of course, entirely possible for Chosen to also become Doomtouched, and indeed an unexpectedly high proportion of Doomtouched are Chosen.)
    
-The only groups that the Doomtouched may freely and openly associate with are the covens of the [[culture:mythology:imperial-religion:seekers-of-the-depths|Seekers of the Depths]]. As devotees of [[culture:mythology:imperial-religion:lamnar:uvuun|Uvuun]], the [[culture:mythology:imperial-religion:|Imperial]] deity corresponding to Hunger, they hold intense reverence for one gifted with power by their god. This is the only support network that many Doomtouched have, though it may come at the price of having to participate in their rituals.+The only groups that the Doomtouched may freely and openly associate with are the covens of the [[mythology:imperial_religion:seekers_of_the_depths|Seekers of the Depths]]. As devotees of [[mythology:imperial_religion:lamnar:uvuun]], the [[mythology:imperial_religion:|Imperial]] deity corresponding to Hunger, they hold intense reverence for one gifted with power by their god. This is the only support network that many Doomtouched have, though it may come at the price of having to participate in their rituals.
    
 Among the xtauh, who have no Chosen and usually no devotees of Hunger, Doomtouched are often more conspicuous. While few enough that they are rarely connected together as a group, individual Doomtouched, once identified - either by deduction or once their appearance has begun to be affected - must generally become hermits if they wish not to face mob justice. Among the xtauh, who have no Chosen and usually no devotees of Hunger, Doomtouched are often more conspicuous. While few enough that they are rarely connected together as a group, individual Doomtouched, once identified - either by deduction or once their appearance has begun to be affected - must generally become hermits if they wish not to face mob justice.
concept/doomtouched.1612753489.txt.gz · Last modified: (external edit)