Magic
The Marsh King’s Blessed
This page details the marsh-blessed mutation, which may be applied to a character with a marsh-blessed slot from the Bits Store.
A sacred and ancient practice shrouded in secrecy, the Marsh King’s Blessing is a direct and visible manifestation of the god that rules over the wetlands of Padwell.
Dangerous but rewarding, those who are brave enough to attempt the Blessing awaken changed, with features from local wildlife and an extended lifespan.
Dangerous but rewarding, those who are brave enough to attempt the Blessing awaken changed, with features from local wildlife and an extended lifespan.
The Ritual
The process of becoming Blessed by the Marsh King is an old and sacred one, kept secret to the people of Padwell and only ever conducted on volunteers who are certain of their desire to go through with it. It is generally only done during times of crisis, as people rarely have the conviction otherwise. The ‘ritual’ done can be fatal; it is believed that only those deemed worthy survive.
To begin to undergo the Blessing, a person must seek out a member of the Haikaroita (the priesthood of the Marsh King). If they convince them that they are serious about undergoing it, the priest will bring them to Heronhall, to speak with the leader of the Haikaroita. They will again be asked to consider the risks involved with the Blessing, and decide with certainty that they are willing to undergo it.
If they are, then they are given a special potion - one that only the priests of the Marsh King can make - and prepared as though for a burial. As parts of the process to create said potion are known only to the head of the priesthood, no one can be forced to undergo or allowed to try it without their approval.
Their body is washed, wrapped in clean cloth, and sunk to the bottom of the Heart of the Marsh. The potion will have taken effect by this time, bringing them into a deep sleep and sustaining them for the next three months to a year. The time it takes depends entirely on the individual, and some die during this slumber.
Both humans and dragons may undergo the Blessing. Outsiders to Padwell must, however, first earn the respect of the community before they would be allowed to undergo it.
To begin to undergo the Blessing, a person must seek out a member of the Haikaroita (the priesthood of the Marsh King). If they convince them that they are serious about undergoing it, the priest will bring them to Heronhall, to speak with the leader of the Haikaroita. They will again be asked to consider the risks involved with the Blessing, and decide with certainty that they are willing to undergo it.
If they are, then they are given a special potion - one that only the priests of the Marsh King can make - and prepared as though for a burial. As parts of the process to create said potion are known only to the head of the priesthood, no one can be forced to undergo or allowed to try it without their approval.
Their body is washed, wrapped in clean cloth, and sunk to the bottom of the Heart of the Marsh. The potion will have taken effect by this time, bringing them into a deep sleep and sustaining them for the next three months to a year. The time it takes depends entirely on the individual, and some die during this slumber.
Both humans and dragons may undergo the Blessing. Outsiders to Padwell must, however, first earn the respect of the community before they would be allowed to undergo it.
Dreams of the Marsh King’s Domain
While undergoing the changes in the Heart of the Marshes, an individual has dreams for the whole time of the Marsh King’s domain. It is a vast, sprawling expanse of endless swamps, largely peaceful; the territory is said to be the embodiment of the god and the environment changes to communicate what he wishes to pass on to the individual undergoing the blessing. He does not speak directly, but through the land and animals in the dream-marsh. It changes to reflect the Marsh King’s mood, and if one has done something to harm Padwell or its people, it can become terrifying and deadly.
One may stumble upon the spirits of the dead - who have been properly buried in the marsh, that is - while in this dream-realm. Conversations are brief and often cryptic, involving imagery and symbolism rather than words. For those who have been revived with the souls of the dead, they may find that they are not alone in their journey through the Marsh King’s realm.
Individuals are conscious in this dream-realm through the entire span of time they are asleep. They take the form of a marsh-dwelling animal while asleep; it reflects what changes will occur to their real body.
One may stumble upon the spirits of the dead - who have been properly buried in the marsh, that is - while in this dream-realm. Conversations are brief and often cryptic, involving imagery and symbolism rather than words. For those who have been revived with the souls of the dead, they may find that they are not alone in their journey through the Marsh King’s realm.
Individuals are conscious in this dream-realm through the entire span of time they are asleep. They take the form of a marsh-dwelling animal while asleep; it reflects what changes will occur to their real body.
Awakening & the Changes
After anywhere between three and twelve months have passed, the individual awakens and rises from the marsh changed. They are often taller, with lighter builds and features from swamp-dwelling wildlife (but not plants). The extent of the changes varies highly; some look largely the same, while others are extremely changed. It often depends entirely on what the individual themselves would have been most comfortable with. They have a naturally calming aura that makes people feel more at ease around them.
Mutations caused by the Blessing are not painful, but can take time to get used to; one with bird features might find their sense of taste changed, or snake features having altered vision, or other similar effects. The Marsh King may also heal scars or old injuries; he cannot regrow a lost hand or arm but can repair injured eyes, joint pain, or remove the signs of a Necromantic Revival from a person. Other changes to the body can be made as well, like shifts towards different gender presentation, depending again on what the individual needs.
Priests are usually present to assist them in getting out of the mud and cleaning themselves from the dirt and plant growth that wrapped around their body in the time they were asleep, but some awake at odd times and must do part of that on their own. They are given food, a bath, and shelter until they feel comfortable enough to be guided home.
Marsh King’s Blessed are revered in Padwell as being directly touched by the god, and of course for having communed with him for months, and while they are not owed any special treatment or authority, they often receive gifts and warm welcomes when travelling. Their mutations are not seen as any detriment to their appearance and, instead, actually rather attractive.
The Marsh King’s Blessed age at half the typical rate for their species after awakening. They are often more adept at reading signs from the Marsh King, as they spent months surrounded by his influence.
Mutations caused by the Blessing are not painful, but can take time to get used to; one with bird features might find their sense of taste changed, or snake features having altered vision, or other similar effects. The Marsh King may also heal scars or old injuries; he cannot regrow a lost hand or arm but can repair injured eyes, joint pain, or remove the signs of a Necromantic Revival from a person. Other changes to the body can be made as well, like shifts towards different gender presentation, depending again on what the individual needs.
Priests are usually present to assist them in getting out of the mud and cleaning themselves from the dirt and plant growth that wrapped around their body in the time they were asleep, but some awake at odd times and must do part of that on their own. They are given food, a bath, and shelter until they feel comfortable enough to be guided home.
Marsh King’s Blessed are revered in Padwell as being directly touched by the god, and of course for having communed with him for months, and while they are not owed any special treatment or authority, they often receive gifts and warm welcomes when travelling. Their mutations are not seen as any detriment to their appearance and, instead, actually rather attractive.
The Marsh King’s Blessed age at half the typical rate for their species after awakening. They are often more adept at reading signs from the Marsh King, as they spent months surrounded by his influence.