Protecanthropy
The Shifting Specters
Protecanthropy is a congenital disorder that causes the afflicted to be born with less magic than is necessary to compose the human form. This has two major effects, firstly it causes all who are afflicted to be weakened physically, to the point of mortal danger in the wrong case senario. The second effect is far more positive, it allows for the drawing in of far more magic than the average person, manifesting as the ability to shapeshift. Protecanthropy manifests randomly within humans at about a 2% rate, manifesting before one is born.
Causes
Protecanthropy has no dicernable cause, rather simply appearing in about 2% of the population world-wide. It is a mutation originating millions of years ago, when species which would become humans held less magic within their physical forms, allowing for the intake of surrounding magics, creating an extremely effective camoflauge.
Symptoms
This manifests as physical weakness, along with a certain de-saturation effect that can leave affliced gaunt and pale. However, if they can learn to master the art of weaving magic, and specifically gain a intimate understanding of the magics which compose their forms, they can master this condition by drawing more magic into their bodies. This creates a very interesting positive, that they gain the ability to change the magical compisition of their own bodies, aka shapeshifting.
Treatment
Once a child with Protecanthropy is born, it is highly suggested that they find a mentor for learning to weave magic as soon as possible. It is especially good if that mentor is afflicted themselves, as people who have mastered their condition are some of the few capable of describing what it is like to utalize it. It is also possible to permanently bind magic to ones own form, effectively curing the desease and prefenting any long term conciquenses, but removing any gained advantages of possessing this condition.
Prognosis
While overall, this desease is non-fatal, the effects of weakness can cause complications during childbirth, as about 20% of afflicted die during birth. And even once you are in the world, injury comes very easely, and thus many dont make it to adulthood, as even a 15 foot fall could prove fatal in the wrong conditions for an afflicted as a child. Overall, those diagnosed have a roughly 50% chance of making it to adulthood and the conquring of their affliction.
Sequela
Protecanthropy, while not inherently fatal, does result in decreased life span, and can also result in many different types of deseases related to the weakening of the body, like Arthritis.
Affected Groups
Only those who we know as humans can be born with this desease, neither the aquatic nor avian folk are capable of contracting Protecanthropy.
History
This condition has existed as long as humans as a species have, and are always regarded with a mixture of hatred, dis-trust, admiration, and even worship. Due to the Calidonian views on Protecanthropes, they often come to be outlaws and theives, and thus many were amoung those in the illusionist rebellion.
Cultural Reception
Some cultures, like certain tribes in Yakala, worship or otherwise admire those "blessed" with this condition as destined to be strong weavers, who will leave prominent marks upon the world around them. Meanwhile, others scorn and reject those afflicted with this desease, as they seem them as chosen born tricksters, masters of disguise and trickery.
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