Warden Biology

## What is the taint and what does it do?

First of all let us establish some facts about the taint.

* What the Blight does not destroy it corrupts.
* The taint spread by the darkspawn twists and corrupts all living organisms, which go mad, develop physical afflictions, and/or perish outright.
* Survivors are transformed into ghouls (animal equivalents include bereskarn, blight wolves and corrupted spiders).
* In rare cases an infected subject (e.g. The Mabari Hound) may make a full recovery if given early care; however, most are put down to prevent them from transforming and/or spreading the disease further - or to spare them a slower and/or uglier impending death.
* Even "ghouled" victims will ultimately be killed by the disease, leaving whole areas completely lifeless.
* The longer an infected creature 'lives', the more it will manifest hair loss, aggressive or even rabid behaviour, and numerous deformities, protrusions, boils and sores.

## So you survived the Joining, how does the taint change a Warden's physiology?

According to Avernus:

* The taint allows Wardens to sense the darkspawn. The longer they survive with the taint in their blood, the more potent it becomes.
* Unfortunately, this corruption will eventually overwhelm the Warden; over time, it devours both mind and body, leaving nothing.

Avernus has, over the last 20 years and with the help of various Wardens and other... allies, been able to harness the power of the taint in a small but significant way. He has created several potions, each of varying effect, mimicking an ability shown by Yuri Delaval. Avernus can give some Wardens the ability to hunt specific Disciples. Wardens already have heightened senses, more speed than the average mortal, more strength and the power to heal more quickly, but the Wardens who have been a part of Avernus' experiments have such speed and power that small groups have been known to take on broodmothers Dens and hundreds of gathered darkspawn.

This ability takes it toll though and unless the Warden has the refined and rare potion of that grants this specific hunting ability then they will succumb to the Calling in a terrifying and painful way, more so than what the Wardens have come to know. Their sanity ebbs away first, leaving them paranoid and highly aggressive. The song hurts them, it is constant and a huge contributing factor to the derangement these Wardens inevitably experience.

As yet Avernus has not shared any potential discoveries regarding halting the spread of the corruption, though there are examples (himself and Fiona) of this happening. We do not know how this is achieved and no other Wardens have this ability (thus no characters are allowed it either). However the taint has been contained by Avernus latest potion, but as he said to Lerun, "I know not when the Calling will continue its charge into the depths of your being, it could be moments from now or never. There is no way to tell for sure!"

This is an admin approved power and you must ask the Cadmin for permission to gain this power IC and to apply with it.

## Regarding having children

* Warden - Non-Warden babymakers would produce no more than two children and both births would be life-threatening. The female would be in poor health after the first birth and her life span dramatically reduced after the second.
* Warden - Warden no babies. This is non negotiable. Gaider introduced this as a game changer, we are at present not interested in using this as a plot device since we believe this is something specific to Gaider's story and purpose for his characters.
* Given the low birth rate for dwarfs even a non-warden/warden pairing involving a dwarf would result in no conception.
* No twins. The conception of fraternal (DZ) twins is most certainly impossible. Identical (MZ) twins are possible given the unique genetic structure of Wardens and the mutagens that cause identical twins, but such a conception would result in the death of both mother and children.

## In summary then....

**Warden's physiological traits are:**

* Generally more resistant to virus and bacteria and other illnesses.
* They have more stamina and endurance.
* Faster healing.
* More speed.
* Possess a high metabolism, thus need to eat a lot.
* They experience aggression and other taint/ghoul typical ailments when close to their Calling.
* Warden - Non Warden pairings rarely produce a child and Warden exclusive pairings never do.
* They can sense darkspawn and some possess a naturally evolving ability to hunt specific darkspawn, other have the artificial talent that grants a similar ability. \*\*This is called "Avernus' Gift".