Marks

## Marks - What are they?

Marks are deals made with higher, supernatural powers. They are one of the primary forms of magic, and are incredibly prevalent. These bargains are a give and a take, power is granted in exchange for some sort of price— generally, the higher the price, the stronger the Mark. Marks are represented via visual, tattoo-like patterns, that glow when used.

## Mark Classification

There are, generally, two classifications of Marks: Traditional and Special. Both Traditional and Special Marks have Faustian variants. People with Marks are known as Mark-Wielders. The supernatural beings who give out Marks are known as Patrons. Both Traditional and Special Marks have subtypes, leading to specific abilities granted by specific powers

### Traditional Marks

#### Boons

Boons are Marks granted by Angels. They do not grant destructive powers, but instead, powers that enhance the Mark-wielder or allow them to assist others. The price for a Boon is normally some form of sacrifice in accordance with a religious tradition.

EX:

The Guardian Archangel, Michael, grants a Boon, giving the Mark-wielder incredible strength and durability. In exchange, the wielder cannot cut their hair.

EX 2:

The Healer Archangel, Emmanuel, grants a Boon, giving the Mark-wielder the ability to heal others via physical contact with the Mark. In exchange, the Mark-Wielder’s body is weakened per healing.

#### Pacts

Pacts are Marks granted by Demons and Devils. They give destructive, offensive powers, alongside corruptive, manipulative ones. The price for a Pact usually is some form of servitude, a dark sacrifice, worship, or a straight-up Faustian Bargain. Additionally, destructive abilities have intensive rules.

EX:

One of many Succubi, Yathia, grants a Pact, giving the Mark-wielder the ability to seduce others with magical ease. The price is 100 years of servitude to Yathia, as some form of lesser demon or slave.

EX:

A warmongering demon, Malakai, grants a Pact, giving the Mark-Wielder the ability to kick with several thousand megatons of force, enough to even level continents. Yet, they must have true hatred in their heart for their opponent, have consumed at least 2 gallons of blood, and they must have perfect form while kicking

#### Blessings

Blessings are Marks granted by Gods. They give incredible, reality-shaking powers, ones nearly beyond comprehension. They are exceedingly rare, and require nearly zealous devotion to the deity to be granted, or for some prophecy to be at play.

EX:

The Goddess of Destruction, Aharia The Conqueror, grants her high priestess the ability to annihilate matter and divine physiology. That high priestess, in exchange, must now be thousands of times more devout for the rest of her normal, mortal life, and serve as Aharia’s servant in what would normally be their afterlife

EX:

The God of Heroes, Lupus, grants a farmboy divine physiology, and the ability to condense and expand space. This farmboy is bound by prophecy to be a great hero, and now has next to no free will up until that point.

#### Seals

Seals are Marks granted by nature spirits and miscellaneous, mischievous supernatural forces. They normally grant very versatile abilities, or several abilities, yet modify the Mark-Wielder in some way. Normally, the more dramatic the modification, the stronger the seal.

EX:

A powerful water spirit, Akari, makes a deal with a normal human. That human now has blue hair, elvish ears, and a more bubbly, overly positive personality, but they can now breathe underwater, and can both create and manipulate water freely.

#### Beast Marks

Beast-Marks are Marks given by beastly patrons, monsters with incredible magical power. No “deal” can be made, instead, the mark-wielder must be bitten to obtain the Mark. They are granted the physiology and instincts of that beast, both good and bad, and have to learn to control their instincts to not succumb to them. Additionally, those with Beast-Marks can transform into beast hybrids at will

EX: A Mark-Wielder is bitten by a Direwolf, transforming them into a Lycan. The Mark-Wielder now has wolflike instincts, claws, enhanced statistics and senses, and the ability to transform into a werewolf. However, the desires of a feral beast now looms in their mind, desires they must fight off to remain sane.

#### Special Marks

Special Marks are unique marks given by unique, special-class patrons. They break rules, set their own rules, and are generally distinct and one-of-a-kind.

##### Hybrid Marks

Hybrid Marks are Marks that qualify as more than one type of Mark, granting unique abilities for unique prices. Hybrid Marks can only be given by especially powerful patrons, that have the qualities of several patron types.

EX: All four parts of Aharia grant a Special Mark, unlocking destruction-based, element-like abilities, enhancing the body, granting divine physiology, and granting smaller abilities with specific rules. In exchange, the user’s appearance, memories, and personality are permanently altered, they cannot cut their hair, must be incredibly, intensely zealous, and are basically Aharia’s slave for the rest of time.

EX 2: The Fox Empress, Tamaraki, grants a special boon, allowing the Mark-Wielder to transform into a Fox Spirit, granting power over nature, energy, willpower, and the very powerful ability to hold four more Traditional Marks. In exchange, the personality, memories, and appearance of the Wielder is permanently altered, they owe Tamaraki 3 sacrifices a week, are now innately zealous, and must fight off their new, beastly instincts.

##### Faustian Marks

Every Mark has different levels, the most extreme being Faustian Marks. Faustian Marks grant incredible powers, but like Faust, cost an incredible price.

#### Faustian Boons

Faustian Boons cause Mark-Wielders to become Angelkin, vessels of their new Master’s will till death, and the mortal hands of the Angel that gave them power. They become altered physically, to reflect the Angel’s will and appearance.

##### Faustian Pacts

There are three variants of a Faustian Pact

Variant 1 causes Mark-Wielders to become Imps, lesser demons bound to serve their new Master for eternity

Variant 2 causes Mark-Wielders to become hosts, possessed and controlled by the demon that granted them power, their bodies twisting to become devilish. Once the demon leaves, the Mark-wielder is left insane

Variant 3 causes insanity and an incredible physical transformation. The insanity manifests in different ways, but always causes an irrational fear of the sun, and a weakness to light.

##### Faustian Blessings

Faustian Blessings cause Mark-Wielders to fully transform into pseudo-gods, serving as servants, attendants, slaves, guards, or whatever their deity wishes. They are physically divine, and mentally altered by their deity to serve them better.

##### Faustian Seals

Faustian Seals completely reshape the identities of Mark-Wielders, yet grant power equal to the Spirit. Normally, Spirits use this as a chance to incarnate as a mortal, or create some form of a child or family member. Special Faustian Seals can cause Mark-Wielders to become Spirits themselves.

##### Faustian Beast Marks

Faustian Beast Marks are granted via several beast-bites from different creatures. The user is now permanently stuck in a 75% Original Species 25% Beast Chimera state, and can shift into 50%/50% or 25%/75% at will. The instincts are now almost entirely dominant, and worked into their personality.

##### Faustian Hybrid Mark

Faustian Hybrid Marks effectively rewrite a person as a lesser servant or aspect of their Patron. The Mark-Wielder’s soul is now effectively a piece of the Patron’s soul. They lose almost everything, but gain nigh-godly power.

#### 1: Deals

Making a deal with a Supernatural Being can lead to a Mark with a specific, known price being granted

#### 2: Deals on Behalf

Others can negotiate for a Mark on your behalf. Be warned, they will set the terms, and therefore, the price.

#### 3: Hereditary

Lesser versions of Faustian Marks and Seals pass down through family lines.

#### 4: Gift

A Mark can be gifted by a Supernatural Being for some greater purpose or as a reward.

#### 1: Deal-Breaking

Every Mark has three “strikes.” Going against a Mark’s deal is one “Strike,” which temporarily deactivates the Mark. Going against it again is two “Strikes,” weakening the Mark and temporarily deactivating it for a longer period of time. Breaking the deal a third time causes the Mark-User to lose the Mark. In the case of Pacts and Blessings, some sort of punishment can be doled out for any three. This does not apply to Seals

#### 2: Passage

If a Mark-Wielder has a child, they can willingly pass on the Mark to their child.

Seals are automatically duplicated and passed on, with the Child having a lesser version, and lesser modifications.

#### 3: Sacrifice

A Mark-Wielder, if brought within an inch of their life, can sacrifice a Mark to save their life, and return to full health

#### 4: Agreement

If a price is just too much to pay, a Patron can be convinced to retract a Mark.

### Mark-Born

Mark-Born are the children of two people with the same Mark of any type. This child passively carries a stronger version of that Mark, and their personality and appearance are shaped by the Mark’s requirements. Mark-Born, additionally, has a passive connection to the Mark’s initial granter, being able to sense their presence, and in rare cases, communicate telepathically. Mark-Born, additionally, cannot lose their Mark under any circumstances. Lastly, a Mark-Born can sacrifice half of their Mark’s power, and give another person a Mark.

#### Faustian Mark-Born

Faustian Mark-Born descend from two people with any two Faustian Marks. They have properties identical to a Mark-Born, with all contradictory statements being met with some form of middle ground. They are incredibly powerful, and seen as demigods, prophets, and symbols of both destruction and salvation.

#### Mark Dynasties

Some families foster specific Marks, all members of the family eventually becoming Mark-Born. The longer a Mark is fostered within a family line, the stronger that Mark becomes.