Marked

Within the magic community, 'marked' people are individuals, sometimes animals, who have been, for whatever reason, cursed with a long-lasting spells or enchantments that act as punishment, over years, decades or sometimes even through several generations, via a magic hex cast upon them. Marked are considered a sub-category of "majalts", that is people that have been fundamentally altered by magic for good or bad.

Depending on the mage, and the hex or curse, 'marked' usually possess heavily negative connotations as a form of punishment; often a good majority of recorded marked are actually normal humans, but in some cases other magi can be cursed in battle.

### **History**

Marked have been recorded over the centuries in a number of well-known and not-so well known books, ledgers and stories the world over.

### **Properties**

Often a curse causes the marked to be punished in some form though an action they cant control, or an inability to do something they could do before, and is usually cast to follow a set of rules such as happening at a certain time of day or night, when in contact with someone or something or a myriad of other stipulations; this is usually based on whatever punishment the mage wishes to dish out; this can last for decades, and if powerful enough the curse can even pass though generations, particularly if the curse is designed to do as such.

As such cursing and hexing a person is looked down upon in many 'good' magi circles, as it can cause irreparable physical and mental torment, and such 'marking' is usually a sign of darker magic in use.

### **Known Marked**

**Cu Sith:** Cu Sith was the codename of Emmett Morrissey, a member of the Irish band of superheroes known as Laoch de Éire who were part of the Southern Irish Government’s own superhero initiative to fight against extremist cells who used the advanced technology stolen from the original Ogma Institute’s destruction. As his name suggests he had the ability to morph into the mythical green dog of Irish legend from which Emmet took his name. First believed to be a neo, Emmet was told that it in fact started as a curse given to his great grandmother by a witch and would transform every time she became rageful, and the curse was passed to her children, however over time the family learned to control its form by willpower. In his Cu Sith form he has green fur, red eyes, enhanced senses, especially vision and smell, razor-sharp claws, supernatural strength, speed and agility, increased healing factor and the ability to detect magical energy. In his human form he still possesses the ability to heal rapidly and detect magic. He is also older than he looks, and may well be over 50 years old, despite appearing in his late 20’s. In his human form he resembles a tall, scholarly young man who often wears reading glasses; he is well-dressed and known for his love of history and books and is something of a keeper of ancient Irish lore.

**Kelpie:** Rhonda MacGill was the lover and later wife of Heather Thorburn, who she met as a teenager when Rhonda saved her life before her powers manifested by saving her from drowning in the freezing sea off the coast of the Shetlands. Rhonda’s family was cursed by the same witch that cursed Emmet Morrisey aka Cu Sith's great grandmother, and like him she learned to control her curse somewhat. Females in her family were cursed to take on the form of a water horse-like creature the wetter they got, and would only turn back to their human form when totally dry. Over he years they learned to limit the transformation to salt water, that magnified the curse beyond their will to control it.

**The Mel** - Melina Astapkovich is an ex-Dawnshadow cultist who tried to assassinate the President of her home country of Belarus for reasons currently unknown. she was cursed by another member of Dawnshadow into an elderly state which has limited her magic . Any attempts to touch her poison whoever touches her skin and can die within hours.