Sumage

A sumage is a mage who cannot control quintessence. Sumages are created when a mage attempts to access quintessence, but due to their inability to control it, it damages the skin creating scar lines called Tracers (or trace marks). Sumages have no access to ambient quintessence, they can only work with a Civic Mages casting. They can’t draw quintessence themselves but they can absorb it when hurled by others. 
A sumage can then channel and disperse quintessence safely through their trace lines, but they have no control over what form the quintessence will take and it is quite painful. Trace lines cover different parts of the sumage's body (depending on the type) like spider veins. They fade with inactivity, but when a sumage has channeled quintessence, they become pink and angry like fresh scars. 
The main use for a sumage is to counteract users of quintessence and disperse large bursts of built up quintessence safely. Depending on the type, they can counter an out of control shifter or mage. 
== Types ==
There are three types of sumage to counterbalance the three types of Civic Mage. 
* Placer - a Placer has tracers over most of their body (except hands, feet and head) and can counteract only very large sudden bursts of power, like those generated by certain kinds of shifters in a very emotional state, or Surge class mages. Because both kinds of magic are rare, and you have to be there at the right time to handle it, placers are considered rather useless outside of some military use. They are called Placers because they are space/time dependent and because they displace the quintessence of “places the surge.” 
* Pincher - a Pincher has trace marks on their arms. This type of sumage “pinches the Siphon,” they can diffuse set casts (small amounts of magic fixed out of time), but they will also do this accidentally so they can’t be around universities. 
* Plug - a Plug has trace marks on their legs. This type of sumage “plugs the sluice,” they can diffuse maller casts as they occur but they don't necessarily have to be present to do it, so small amounts of magic fixed in place. 
 Known Sumages 
* Maximillian Barker - Placer 
== Trivia ==
*To werewolves, sumages smell like chemical coolant, which is the scent of quintessence that has been used and corrupted. 
*Placing a Surge costs a sumage energy. Best to try to get blood sugar back up, Max drinks sweetened lattes. (The Sumage Solution Chapter 2) 
== Quotes ==
*“A sumage, a dud, full of vast ability to tap quintessence, yet he could only clean up someone else’s mess.” (The Sumage Solution, Chapter One)
*“A sumage’s only purpose was to diffuse a quintessence discharge. They didn’t have the same kind of control and thus disrupted quintessence at all times, in a haphazard way, simultaneously drawing it to them and not holding on to it at all.” (The Sumage Solution, Chapter Two)
*“It happens when you hit puberty and can’t control quintessence. All us sumages get them. Mine are so extensive because I handle so much power. Or that’s what they tell me.” (The Sumage Solution, Chapter Eight)
Category:Supernatural Types
Category:San Andreas Shifters