Spellscars

The utilisation of magic can cause great strain on an individual, particularly if the magic in question is powerful and/or unrefined. Spellscarring is the natural result of the use of magic and comes in two forms.
Self-Inflicted spellscars form on the caster, and as a direct result of their own magic, whether it be from overuse of a particular spell, magical experimentation or attempting magic more powerful than what the caster can handle safely.

Atrius scarring forms as the result of magic used by a creature or force against someone else, like burn scars left behind after being on the receiving end of a fireball, or being frequently victim to mind-controlling spells.

Man with Geas Spellscarring

by Moonbro

Causes and Prevention

If one spends their life around magic it's only a matter of time before one either receives or causes a spellscar. Those that experiment with magic or create their own spells like the Lisun Empire's Spellweavers are more likely to be subject to self-afflicted scarring. In much the same vein those that overuse the same spell over and over may find themselves developing scarring. That being said the frequency of self-afflicted cases has greatly fallen as the practice of arcane magic became more refined over time, and self-inflicted cases caused by divine magic are exceptionally rare and not well documented.
Atrius scarring is the most common form, as it includes any scars left from burns, slashes and blunt impact caused by spells that visually appear mundane, as well as the more obviously arcane wounds. Minor scarring may fade with time, or be removed or reduced via magical healing, but many examples of spellscarring have proved permanent. Reducing the chances of scarring is as simple as not venturing outside your own magical limits, or only doing so in a controlled way. The only way to entirely limit the possibility of any scarring is to never use magic and to never be affected by magic, which is entirely unreasonable for a person to accomplish given their career, or forces outside their own control.

"Divine magic can scar just as badly as arcane I can assure you. Do you think it was my own magic that caused my severe muscular atrophy? No, of course not - it was that novice cleric performing a botched resurrection on me. Idiot."

— Ailerys Berevan, Master Evoker

Appearance

There is great variety in how spellscarring manifests, varying depending on the spell used and how the magic of the caster manifests. In Sien people have learned to identify frequent victims of the Geas spell by the appearance of a circular red ring around the inner iris, and some conjurers of fiends have been identified by the summoning circles and arcane sigils burned into their skin as a result of overuse. Some of the most disturbing cases of spellscarring come from Polymorph spells gone wrong, or overuse of Alter Self and Shapechange.

History

References to individuals suffering physical alteration as a result of magic have been found going back to the dawn of humanoid civilization, and many of the oldest recorded expert wizards and powerful mages seemed to have at least some minor forms of spellscarring. For the most part, cultural reception depends entirely on the severity of the scarring, someone may gain a reputation for being reckless with magic or conversely be noticed as someone with considerable arcane power at their fingertips. The most severe cases causing physical or nigh otherworldly changes may cause the afflicted to be feared, shunned and in severe cases ostracised from society.

Cure and Treatment

The more severe the scarring, or the longer it has been present, the less likely it is that an individual can fully recover. Physical damage caused by magic like burns, lacerations and punctures can be treated as if they came from a mundane source, and will scar according to the factors affecting regular scars. Spellscars that manifest as sigils or markings on the body tend to be purely cosmetic and mostly are left as they are unless the afflicted is intensely uncomfortable with the change or finds that it negatively impacts their lifestyle, mostly due to how they are now viewed by others. In these cases if the scarring is minimal, regular treatment of restorative and regenerative magics may entirely remove the spellscarring, otherwise, the afflicted can only hide the ailment either by physical or illusory means.
In more extreme cases amputation or surgery may be preferred by the afflicted or deemed necessary if the condition is negatively impacting the regular functioning of the body. This has been seen in cases where an individual has gained extra appendages, eyes and/or mouths or if the scarring has caused a limb to be damaged beyond saving. A far less common method, but one that is recorded to be successful, is the use of the powerful Wish spell, but with so few individuals capable of affording that sort of care, let alone the minuscule amount of individuals capable of casting the spell in the first place this is rarely a considered option.

Individuals commonly targeted by mind-controlling or altering spells such as Dominate Person or Modify Memory may also suffer emotional trauma or physical damage to their brains. While this in itself is not exactly an example of spellscarring, it often manifests alongside it. In these cases, individuals are encouraged to seek out therapy and counselling as there is little restorative magic can do. Therapy may also be recommended to any individual with moderate to severe spellscarring if the afflicted needs assistance coming to terms with what has transpired.

"In severe cases it can be hard to convince the patient that they are still capable of living a normal life. Struggling against sudden judgement and disgust because of their disfigurement, or unable to follow their careers and hobbies because of their scarring, patients inflicted with this condition need emotional support just as much as medical or magical."

— Anonymous Siennian doctor

Characteristics

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Rarity

Rare

The Case of Marius Verithur

One of the most extensively documented cases of severe spellscarring was Marius Verithur, a Lisunese wood elf who held the position of Master Transmuter from PLACEHOLDER to PLACEHOLDER. As his specialisation was Transmutation magic, he frequently utilised spells that altered his physical form and pushed the boundaries of what such magic was capable of. This began to have an adverse effect upon him, and over his life, he gained several spellscars varying in severity. 
Marius prior to any scarring

by Moonbro

Given his magic meant he was often taking the shape of various beasts many of his spellscars appeared bestial in nature. Reportedly over the course of his tenure as Master Transmuter he grew 2 feet in height, reaching a total of 7'5" as well as generally increasing in muscle mass and general bulk. Though his scarring started as simply stretch marks across his body the severity of the condition only worsened. His nails thickened to resemble claws, he gained prominent tusks on his lower jaw and mismatched horns upon his head. 
After a particularly long stint of nigh-constant transformations as part of recon missions he was sent on, Marius reportedly returned to Maelennor with a cat-like tail as well as a third eye which originally caused him a large deal of stress and nausea before he adjusted to his altered vision. This third, magically formed eye was fully functioning though he was also found to have become partially colour-blind after gaining it.
The last recorded appearance of Marius

by Moonbro

Although spellscarring was fairly common among mages during 2E, when Marius was alive, the extent of his personal experience with the condition was unheard of. His appearance caused great discomfort among his people, and as his appearance was altered more and more Marius stopped attending the social functions expected of his station. Though he is recorded as refusing to use magic to appear more 'normal', he did have his uniform re-designed as a heavy coat that hid the majority of his body and he would wear a deep hood whenever he had to be out in public.