There should be grand philosophies about being tainted or scarred by the 'plague. After all, in the real world, we develop crazy theories and superstitions for things that are much less obvious and not powerful at all.
What kinds of philosophies (deep, academic attempts to understand it) and common superstitions (back-alley beliefs, hushed villager beliefs, or wardings against the evil
And more importantly - how will you use 'plague scars in your campaign world? Will they be rare, and incredibly special, or commonplace? What adventures can you build around the legend of those touched by the dying kiss of a goddess?
-I'd make them akin to lepers, in terms of how others see them.
Yes! Run them out of cities, carrying torches and flailing weapons. :D
They look kinda sexy though. Would you send 'way that beatiful big-eyed petite lass with that glowing blue sigil round her head?
-That's kinda of freaky.
On the other hand, as in the book Mistshore a spellscarred individual offers the theory that the "tainted" are in fact the remaining weavers of an Art that has lost its "Weaver". He also stated that the Art as it was is alive and can not survive without these remaining weavers. Therefore, one superstition might be that these individuals represent the shards of the Weave and that by uniting can reform magic as it once was and perhaps revive or elevate an individual as deity of magic.
They look kinda sexy though. Would you send 'way that beatiful big-eyed petite lass with that glowing blue sigil round her head?
Yes!!! UNLEASH THE HOUNDS! :D
*stands closeby the big-eyed spellscarred girl, slaying any dog coming near with deliberate killing strokes from his holy greatsword*
I would think the prevalent philosophy would be that these individuals are "tainted" and should be shunned. I think that is also the way the designers planned it as mythals register these individuals as "evil" if they use their spellscar powers. However, this only applies to those who do not have spellscars.
I like this perspective. If they're fairly rare, people could worry about the power they might unleash, especially if the spellscar is glowing or particularly noticable (like some of the art suggests).
On the other hand, as in the book Mistshore a spellscarred individual offers the theory that the "tainted" are in fact the remaining weavers of an Art that has lost its "Weaver". He also stated that the Art as it was is alive and can not survive without these remaining weavers. Therefore, one superstition might be that these individuals represent the shards of the Weave and that by uniting can reform magic as it once was and perhaps revive or elevate an individual as deity of magic.
Almost sounds Jesus-ish.
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As for the psychological premise of those that are Spellscarred, yes, they will be shunned. With the catastrophic power the Spellplague unleashed and the slow communication that would take place after that time--100 years even--those possessing portions of that power would not be looked upon lightly.
Given the appearance of Genasi I feel that many of them would be treated the same as the spellscarred, since most people will see glowing lines of energy and think spellplague. Not sure if this would bring down the fear of the spellscarred, or increase the fear of Genasi.
-Depending on where you are, they are going to feel racism regardless.
Perhaps local Sunites embrace spellscars as beautiful things and start localized fashions. Some tribes might embrace the scars for the advantages they can get in the hunt or in battle.
It might even be plausible that certain noble bloodlines with strong sorcerous aptitudes give the ruling cast a visible clue that they are fit to rule (real dragonmarks ripp off, yeah...).
Given the appearance of Genasi I feel that many of them would be treated the same as the spellscarred, since most people will see glowing lines of energy and think spellplague. Not sure if this would bring down the fear of the spellscarred, or increase the fear of Genasi.
Different story. The race has been known, if not dominant.
A few generations of abberant spellscarred have walked on Toril already. The racism will depend on how often spellscars can occur amongst family and friends. Would a parent scan newborn children for spellscarred defects? How would they react to their discovery?
Yes. Novels have already made it clear that family fear and reject spellscars.
Perhaps local Sunites embrace spellscars as beautiful things and start localized fashions. Some tribes might embrace the scars for the advantages they can get in the hunt or in battle.
It might even be plausible that certain noble bloodlines with strong sorcerous aptitudes give the ruling cast a visible clue that they are fit to rule (real dragonmarks ripp off, yeah...).
Perhaps. But outside the norm and what is known.
What makes the spellscarred so "dangerous"?
The scar gives only penalties with other spellscarred/spellplagued
nowhere it's listed that it makes you hideous or anything like that.
I kinda not understand why not everyone wants one ^^'
not my quote... The bottom one should be credited to Suin Bahhar
Indeed. Blame Microsoft—I didn’t do it.
My Question would be:
What makes the spellscarred so "dangerous"?
The scar gives only penalties with other spellscarred/spellplagued
nowhere it's listed that it makes you hideous or anything like that.
I kinda not understand why not everyone wants one ^^'
Have you read the recent novels?
Basically, I see it as "The spellplague destroyed a whole lot of stuff, and you're comin in showin that that evil thing tainted you? You must be evil! It's tainted your body and soul! We ain't gonna have what happened to all those other places hapen here! Get out!"
Uh...well...not so eloquently put, but...uh...yeah. Something like that.
The Drow would seem likely to take to Spellscars. Especially among males. The advantage that having a hidden ability would seem to fit the racial profile.
I think that every race would enjoy having that nice little "Ace in the Hole"
I wish i had but I'm not even through with Elminsters first one.
I get my Information purely from the WotC Guidebooks
@JudgeDookie Nope couldn't.
I wish i had but I'm not even through with Elminsters first one.
I get my Information purely from the WotC Guidebooks
You mean Elminster: The Making of a Mage? That was a good book, I thought Elminster in Myth Drannor was better though... Nothing wrong with guide books though...
I think that every race would enjoy having that nice little "Ace in the Hole"
-True, but that said, there are many that wouldn't appreciate an "ace in the hole" in the form of the Spellscar.