Divine Burn
Of all forms of magic practiced on Deus, divine magic is the least understood and often the most alluring. While natural magic is severely limited, capacity to perform spoken spells and enchantments is partially dependent on natural talent, alchemy consists either of total obedience to a preexisting recipe or a thankless search for an unknown new option, and runewriting requires years of study often with minimal results at first, divine magic can be granted to anyone and its powers—seemingly limitless—can be fully grasped at the moment of its gifting.
Of course, it is also by far the most dangerous.
In theory, a god can grant a channel of their magic to any mortal of their choosing, but in practice, unless the god is willing to lose their vassal so soon, they will pick an individual with a strong pool of innate magic or high tolerance or exposure to magical energies, as well as someone they can trust to know their limits and restrain themselves to them. Such criterion limit the possibility that a conduit for a god's power will attempt to channel more divine magic than they can withstand, as such attempts can cause a condition known as Divine Burn.
Of course, it is also by far the most dangerous.
In theory, a god can grant a channel of their magic to any mortal of their choosing, but in practice, unless the god is willing to lose their vassal so soon, they will pick an individual with a strong pool of innate magic or high tolerance or exposure to magical energies, as well as someone they can trust to know their limits and restrain themselves to them. Such criterion limit the possibility that a conduit for a god's power will attempt to channel more divine magic than they can withstand, as such attempts can cause a condition known as Divine Burn.
Causes
Divine Burn is caused by overexposure to divine magic. Typically, this exposure comes from within in a divine spellcaster, as they channel their god's power in too intense a flow or for too long a duration. However, burns can also be caused from outside exposure, as can happen when one is struck by a raw missile of divine energy, or when someone with low magic tolerance stands too near a massive work of divine power.
Symptoms
Divine Burn at its mildest form consists of warm, glowing marks where divine energy has eaten away at the afflicted's flesh. External burns resemble mundane burn marks, and more intense burns have a web of what appear to be glowing cracks in the burn. Internal burns are for the most part invisible, though as they grow larger and more intense, patterns like cracks appear in the afflicted's flesh, and the glow of the burn shines through. Such burns carry a searing pain with them which fades with time, but can only be fully remedied with treatment. At this stage, it is possible to fully treat symptoms of the burn with a short-term treatment plan, and more mild cases can fade away entirely if acted upon quickly enough.
With more severe burn, the marks spread, and the flesh at their centers begins to appear transluscent. At this point, the burns are permanent and the pain chronic, even in the unlikely case that no other symptoms occur. Burns are hot to the touch, and partially siphon any attempts at casting divine magic into themselves, worsening them. A web of glowing cracks may extend well beyond the edges of the burn. Besides its permanency and unstable state, there are no new symptoms at this stage, just worsenings of those from the mildest stage, and with proper and continual treatment the afflicted can live a normal life.
The third stage of Divine Burn is the final stage wherein it is treatable to a sufficient extent to allow the afflicted to resume nomal life. Here cracks spread through most of the afflicted's body, and even internal burns become visible externally as the flesh over them becomes transparent. The afflicted's eyes, if the cracks reach that far, turn pure white, as does their hair, and motes of light drift away from the cracks as they move. Their voice takes on an echoing quality, small vegetative life can ignite at their touch, and any intense physical effort can rupture their flesh. At this stage, their personality is likely to show noticeable shifts, with hubris and self-obsession being common. If their connection to divine energy is not severed, it will be funneled into the burn, and any attempt at actually casting divine magic will rapidly accelerate them into stage five. Even mundane magic, even cast externally, can push the afflicted into stage four. At this stage, the healing process from mundane injuries is accelerated to a dangerous degree, and cancers magical in nature are likely to occur. After healing, feathers will grow over the site of the burn.
At the fourth stage, the afflicted has no chance of proper recovery. Their body is fully covered in cracks and their flesh is transparent, revealing the glow below as well as their muscles and bones. They are painfully hot to the touch at onset and remain warm even with treatment, in addition to carrying all other symptoms, intensified, from previous stages—their echoing voice now takes on a booming quality. Almost any movement comes with the risk of skin rupturing and rapidly growing into a cancerous lump. If the afflicted survives long enough to partially heal, their skin will become covered in feathers. Despite their state, the afflicted will have severe delusions of power, often claiming to be a nascent god. Any further exposure to magic comes at a risk of accelerating to stage five.
Stage five is simple. The overload of divine energy consumes the afflicted from within, incinerating them instantly and fully. All that remains is a white scorch mark from the point where they met any surfaces.
With more severe burn, the marks spread, and the flesh at their centers begins to appear transluscent. At this point, the burns are permanent and the pain chronic, even in the unlikely case that no other symptoms occur. Burns are hot to the touch, and partially siphon any attempts at casting divine magic into themselves, worsening them. A web of glowing cracks may extend well beyond the edges of the burn. Besides its permanency and unstable state, there are no new symptoms at this stage, just worsenings of those from the mildest stage, and with proper and continual treatment the afflicted can live a normal life.
The third stage of Divine Burn is the final stage wherein it is treatable to a sufficient extent to allow the afflicted to resume nomal life. Here cracks spread through most of the afflicted's body, and even internal burns become visible externally as the flesh over them becomes transparent. The afflicted's eyes, if the cracks reach that far, turn pure white, as does their hair, and motes of light drift away from the cracks as they move. Their voice takes on an echoing quality, small vegetative life can ignite at their touch, and any intense physical effort can rupture their flesh. At this stage, their personality is likely to show noticeable shifts, with hubris and self-obsession being common. If their connection to divine energy is not severed, it will be funneled into the burn, and any attempt at actually casting divine magic will rapidly accelerate them into stage five. Even mundane magic, even cast externally, can push the afflicted into stage four. At this stage, the healing process from mundane injuries is accelerated to a dangerous degree, and cancers magical in nature are likely to occur. After healing, feathers will grow over the site of the burn.
At the fourth stage, the afflicted has no chance of proper recovery. Their body is fully covered in cracks and their flesh is transparent, revealing the glow below as well as their muscles and bones. They are painfully hot to the touch at onset and remain warm even with treatment, in addition to carrying all other symptoms, intensified, from previous stages—their echoing voice now takes on a booming quality. Almost any movement comes with the risk of skin rupturing and rapidly growing into a cancerous lump. If the afflicted survives long enough to partially heal, their skin will become covered in feathers. Despite their state, the afflicted will have severe delusions of power, often claiming to be a nascent god. Any further exposure to magic comes at a risk of accelerating to stage five.
Stage five is simple. The overload of divine energy consumes the afflicted from within, incinerating them instantly and fully. All that remains is a white scorch mark from the point where they met any surfaces.
Treatment
In all cases of Divine Burn, the first step in treatment is emergency drain of magical energy. A siphoning spell or a magic-absorbing material such as Iepstone must be applied as quickly as possible to cut power and prevent the burn from worsening. After such emergency measures have been applied, treatment is dependent on the severity of the burn.
The mildest cases of Divine Burn can be treated with nothing more than the same measures used for magical overexposure—continual application of a magic-draining elixir or device and a forced plan of restraint from both internal and external exposure to magic. In the case of Divine Burn, exposure to divine magic is the primary concern, and light exposure to other forms of magic is not harmful, though all magic should be limited. With these measures alone, the burn can partially or fully fade, and the pain will eventually go away permanently—though painkillers are usually prescribed in the early stages of treatment, as Divine Burn causes an intense, focused pain.
More severe burns have the same treatments, but at the second stage there is no safe point at which the treatment can be ended. Exposure to magic can be increased after the pain and warmth fade enough to allow the afflicted to end their hospitalization, but divine magic cannot be used again without the risk of worsening the burn. Treatment after the strongest symptoms have faded is much the same as for mundane chronic pain, though often with the addition of magic-draining elixirs if future exposure to divine energy is expected.
Third-stage treatment is primarily about prevention of future stages. The afflicted's connection to divine magic must be severed as quickly as possible, and they must constantly be treated with magic-draining elixirs and painkillers for the rest of their life to prevent the burn from worsening. Even minor injuries should be treated in a hospital, by purely mundane means, to ensure that the flesh does not grow beyond its normal state in response to a wound, and cancer screenings should be undertaken periodically.
At the fourth stage, the afflicted must be permanently hospitalized and constantly monitored. The most strenuous action they can safely take is short walks with the support of an aide, and magical exposure must be entirely absent save for magic-draining elixirs, which should be continually used alongside whatever painkillers are necessary for the afflicted to act in whatever way they still can. Even with this treatment, death is likely imminent.
The mildest cases of Divine Burn can be treated with nothing more than the same measures used for magical overexposure—continual application of a magic-draining elixir or device and a forced plan of restraint from both internal and external exposure to magic. In the case of Divine Burn, exposure to divine magic is the primary concern, and light exposure to other forms of magic is not harmful, though all magic should be limited. With these measures alone, the burn can partially or fully fade, and the pain will eventually go away permanently—though painkillers are usually prescribed in the early stages of treatment, as Divine Burn causes an intense, focused pain.
More severe burns have the same treatments, but at the second stage there is no safe point at which the treatment can be ended. Exposure to magic can be increased after the pain and warmth fade enough to allow the afflicted to end their hospitalization, but divine magic cannot be used again without the risk of worsening the burn. Treatment after the strongest symptoms have faded is much the same as for mundane chronic pain, though often with the addition of magic-draining elixirs if future exposure to divine energy is expected.
Third-stage treatment is primarily about prevention of future stages. The afflicted's connection to divine magic must be severed as quickly as possible, and they must constantly be treated with magic-draining elixirs and painkillers for the rest of their life to prevent the burn from worsening. Even minor injuries should be treated in a hospital, by purely mundane means, to ensure that the flesh does not grow beyond its normal state in response to a wound, and cancer screenings should be undertaken periodically.
At the fourth stage, the afflicted must be permanently hospitalized and constantly monitored. The most strenuous action they can safely take is short walks with the support of an aide, and magical exposure must be entirely absent save for magic-draining elixirs, which should be continually used alongside whatever painkillers are necessary for the afflicted to act in whatever way they still can. Even with this treatment, death is likely imminent.
Prevention
The best way to prevent Divine Burn, as a divine spellcaster, is careful measuring of the flow of power from one's god. If power is cut off at the first feeling of pain, the burns will never form enough to cause any lingering problems. Magic-draining elixirs can also be used after casting intense spells to quickly reduce divine energies and prevent burn from accumulating.
Type
Divine
Origin
Divine
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Extremely Rare
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