Mortalborn

OOC Note: If interested in starting a Mortalborn character, please check out the Rules on Mortalborn

Mortalborn are exactly as they seem. They are special beings born from a mortal with an Immortal parent. They have both the gifts and abilities of an Immortal being paired with the flaws and weaknesses of a mortal. Mortalborn are perceived in many different ways; some are frightened by them, others are intrigued while some individuals, namely the Immortals, find them to be abominations of the world. They are conceived and carried for a total of nine months or four and a half seasons, just as any other member of their mortal parent's species would be, whether mortal or Immortal.

Mortalborn are the union of both the surreal and the physical, a combination that should not have been possible. The Originals were not capable of creating Mortalborn but somehow their copies are. Some Immortals believe that mixing in elements of the mortals the Originals came to rule may be part of their own creation, a stabilizing element to help ensure an Immortal is well aware when they are reaching the limits of their own powers. The Originals never expected to Fracture, perhaps it was a quality of Idalos that was not present in Emea where the Originals came from. The truth, unfortunately, would lie with the Immortals.

Picture	Mortalborn	Domains	Status
	Aedan	Hexing, Bloodletting, Castigation	Alive
[[file:|center|link=|]]	Ayla Venora	Compliance, Rapture, Scandal	Alive
	Ethelm	Steel, Smithing, The Forge	Alive
	Ei'ryl Nji'ryn	Cold, Omens, Stasis	Alive
	Icarus	Monsters, Malice, Calculation	Alive
	Jesine	Dreams, Sleep, Imagination	Alive
	Kielik	Nightmares, Insomnia, Oblivion	Alive
	Labrae	Abduction, Brainwashing, Crows	Alive
	Leviana	Sacrifice, Joy, Innocence	Deceased
	Rhonwen	Vipers, Heritage, Purity	Alive
	Ti'atha	Creativity, Colors, Curiosity	Alive
	Terrwyn	Constrictors, Mist, Petrification	Alive
	Valtharn	Savagery, Torture, Murder	Alive
	Vericus	Rattlers, Shields, Strategy	Alive

Mortalborn come into the world with the potential for power. A set of domains, like their parent, but all the frailties that are inherent in a mortal body. In fact, their own Immortal domain abilities can damage their body if relied upon. Some Mortalborn see this damage in accelerated aging, others in internal or external damage, still others see it in the degradation of their own minds. The fact of the matter is that Mortalborn power is too much for their mortal forms to contain. Often, Immortals can intervene to stopgap the damage that a Mortalborn receives or even restore them, but a Mortalborn is a dangerous presence on Idalos. They have the terrifying 'Intent' that can kill Immortals along with Immortal Purviews. Some Immortals might consider the Mortalborn perfect weapons, and certainly some have counted on that fact against their own enemies.

A Player has freedom to suggest what form long term use of their ability will have on the character. Accelerated aging, a breakdown of the body, mental maladies, or other stranger and esoteric possibilities are all considered.

Heirs

The Heirs are Mortalborn who accept their Immortal part over their mortal heritage. Unlike any other Mortalborn, they turn to the fount of power that the Immortals crave...Devotion. A Mortalborn that begins devouring devotion is on the path to becoming something more. While the exact process by which a Bestowed becomes an Heir is not known, it is thought to begin with the collection of Devotion and worshippers. Those that reach this level become powerful enough to craft their own mark. While not as varied as a true Immortal's mark, few would suggest that they are any less powerful. A Mortalborn becomes more like an Immortal, collecting Devotion, granting marks, traveling through Emea and governing their own personal Domains.

Their ‘selves’ grow into Emea, much like an Immortal and their physical body becomes only a representation of their power and influence on Idalos, while the majority of their animated power remains in a domain of Emea.

They still have a mortal lifespan, unfortunately, which can be counteracted with magic or gifts from other Immortals, but they also hold the natural resilience of a mortal as well. An Heir is unique in that they can offer their devotion to another Immortal. Some collect this devotion and gladly hand it to their parent, their sponsor and others horde it for themselves, hoping to make the final jump into becoming a True Immortal.

An Heir has limited ability to pass themselves along through their mark when they pass. Although not capable of simply becoming one of their Worshipers, their power and soul might be inherited by the highest marked of their followers, given form when that follower has their own progeny. So Heir Mortalborn can be reborn, so long as an Immortal has not marked them twice or more. In those cases, the Immortal will decide whether the Mortalborn reincarnates or joins the Immortal in their own realm.

Perhaps most alarming, the Intent becomes as deadly to them as it is to other Immortals. The Intent to kill an Heir is as deadly to them as it is to their parent.

One of the more remarkable differences between an Heir Mortalborn and their Immortal parent is their immense resilience. An Heir accepts both heritages and immediately gains the power to utilize any sort of ability within their own purview. Although notably weaker in prowess and raw ability than their parent, an Heir has natural resistance to Fracturing. The process is slower, and far less debilitating...making Heirs cocky about utilizing their powers.

Save power, one of the most notable differences between an Heir and an Immortal is that an Heir cannot grant a soul. While capable of making life, they are not capable of creating a new being with the power to feed them with devotion.

An Heir Mortalborn is not a playable character at this time. If you wish your character ascend to such a position, a mark will be created and a general agenda for their activities. The player will be consulted for direction and may even be allowed to develop the mark themselves (with some oversight). Those that become an Heir shape Idalos globally and become a story element for other players and staff. Currently there is no option to continue playing a character once they become an Heir, if this changes it will be announced.

Fallen

To be detailed in a larger write up. Basically, a Fallen is a Mortalborn who has found a way to Reveal. With the spark of the Original melding with their unique physiology, these rare and terrifying creatures become monsters of an entirely different nature. Historically there have been eight known Fallen Lords in the history of Idalos, although few are active these days and several have been struck down. No Immortal truly wants a Fallen Lord, an aberration of deific consequence and often oppose them where they come to be.

A Fallen cannot be a PC. If your PC becomes a Fallen they will become an NPC for the story (With your input)

Mortalborn Abilities

A Mortalborn can begin with three abilities, one for each domain. Many Mortalborn never step past this limit, content with what sets them apart from others. Other Mortalborn, however, begin to seek ways to increase their power. Any Mortalborn can tap into their domain to develop new abilities, but at a cost. So long as a Mortalborn is Bestowed, learning new abilities will impart to them the same horror that comes to their parents when over-extended. A Mortalborn will begin to Fracture, gaining small networks of incandescent scars across their body. These scars cannot be hidden with any magic or ability, only what one puts around them. Those with a special ability to sense ether in the world will find a Fracturing Mortalborn nearly impossible to overlook. There is no cure for Fracturing, even the Immortals are mystified in how to stop it.

Each new ability brings an additional network of Fracture scars, although no Mortalborn is fully aware of how often they can push this limit. There is no set number of new abilities a Mortalborn can develop, but each new ability must be submitted to the Prophet Support Forum for approval and earned via a relevant story thread. This thread does not need to be modded, but it must be significant to the character. New abilities for a Mortalborn are rare and although there is no set limit, Prophets are not inclined to approve several new abilities for use at once, but rather spread through a long story and adventure.

An Heir keeps any Fracturing they’ve had, but once they truly become an Heir they no longer need to develop new abilities as their domains work similarly to an Immortal, albeit at less power.

A Mortalborn is always aware of when their parent is near. While not originally intended, a Mortalborn is also capable of instantly recognizing when someone is marked by their parent deity. That recognition, when first encountered, seems interpreted as a deep and stubborn familiarity but eventually a Mortalborn will learn its truth.

Additionally Mortalborn are capable of sensing each other, but only if they learn they are able. In order to gain the ability to sense or ‘recognize’ other Mortalborn, a Mortalborn character must be in a thread with another Mortalborn who makes active use of their powers and observes them. There is a kinship and understanding between these strange beings which allows them to know each other so long as they have met and understood each other before. This is an ability that can be gained in the form of a Knowledge (Although it should be noted in your Mortalborn abilities for any curious players or staff)