Shaping

Shaping is the magic of altering flesh, blood and bone. This biomantic Art was first taught to the Deep Algals and has come to define their culture to a considerable degree. It allows for its users to radically alter their forms, biologies and appearances over time, even to the point of transcending their original race and origins.

The Deep Algals hold the greatest mastery of the Art and refuse to teach outsiders. Their use of Shaping is carefully formalized and regulated to avoid Abomination - the creation of cancerous, ever-growing Shapings which escape the control of their Shapers and consume them. Other races utilizing Shaping have far less skill with it, but also far fewer safeguards against Abomination. Among the Lowland Myridna, Shaping is known as the 'Breeder's Art' for its key role in domestication and cultivating livestock breeds. The Stromic Umbrals use Shaping mostly for the creation of slime-filters, with only the secretive deep rangers possessing greater skill with the Art.

## Uses

Shaping allows for extensive changes to bodies and biologies. The Deep Algals have utilized it to graft themselves mobile bodies, additional limbs, air-breathing lungs, resistance to disease, faster healing, armored flesh, alternate means of communication, new senses, false appearance, symbiotic connections to other creatures such as Leviathans and much more. It can be used to grow reservoirs and amplifiers for other magics in one's body as well. Shaping even offers a yet-to-be-tried pathway for interspecies reproduction and the spread of Elemental Bloodlines between races.

## Limitations

Shaping always carries the risk of Abomination. The greater the changes, the bigger the risk. Abomination means a cancerous change in the Shaping, taking it out of the Shaper's control. When Shaping themselves, even master Shapers are usually overcome quickly if they provoke Abomination. They turn into mindless beasts of warping flesh and constant mutation, driven to feed on any available biological matter to sate an endless appetite for growth. Entire Algal settlements have been lost to rampant Abominations.

Some of these Abominations have eluded destruction and still roam the dark places of the seas, growing larger and stronger all the while; rumors speak of rarer Abominations born of Myridna livestock which are similarly unaccounted for. Occasionally Abominations retain their ability to Shape others as well, which always results in further Abominations.

Shaping requires time and sustained effort. It handles rapid changes poorly, as Shapers attempting to shift in the midst of combat have found to their dismay. Attempting to push Shapings at such an accelerated rate is almost guaranteed to result in Abomination. It may be within the power of masterful Shapers, but most Deep Algal masters would rather die than risk it.

## Rituals and Symbolism

Deep Algal ritual Shapings stress order, purity and restraint. Shapers may only wield their magic when given ritual permission and in the strictly ordained ways. Mistakes are not tolerated and may see the offending colony banned from any further use of Shaping for their lack of control. Shapings are usually undertaken in places utilizing mystical architecture principles of containment, confinement and limitation. Whenever possible, any Shaping is overseen by a council of master Shapers - providing both practical and ritualistic oversight for the one performing the actual magics.

For the Myridna, a bloodied shepherd's crook is always a central implement in rituals, representing the Shaper's power and guidance over life - the Deep Algals rarely use tools and would in any case consider this a symbol of arrogant presumption, if they knew about it. Individuals dabbling in Shaping elsewhere may utilize things of nature, such as saplings, rings of soil, fertilized eggs or other symbols of nature and life in their work.

## Gods

Brusoil is the God of Shaping and thus its most significant patron. Their whispers carry knowledge of Shaping to eager ears across Creation. Shapers revere Brusoil for their gifts, but recognize that Brusoil cares not how far a Shaping goes. Thus, Lazat, God of Order, is usually called upon to guard rituals against chaos and Abomination. Deep Algals consider Brusoil and Lazat brothers or divine balances for this reason - both needed for an ordained Shaping, with an equal place reserved for their effigies and priests in rituals.

Other deities are rarely involved in rituals of Shaping. Kronals is sometimes given offerings to protect against the unwanted consequences of Abomination or failure. Prose may be honored in their aspect of Metamorphosis. Some Shapers hold Fiel as a patron and involve him in their rituals; others may bring in the High Moon Holder as God of Magic for the same reasons. Shapers who are not ordered Deep Algals may also call upon gods such as Ikari and Vanti as creative forces as well.