Mark of Fortune
Marks of Fortune are small, blue, bioluminescent mark that appears on younger humans from the area controlled by Ione and remain for the remainder of their lives. They are the basis for Fortunism, the state religion of Ione as well as the pool from which governing individuals are selected through the Trials of the Fortunate.
The marks appear in batches of approximately ten to fifteen individuals every year and has been doing so reliably for almost two thousand years.
Transmission & Vectors
The true vector of obtaining a Mark of Fortune is unknown, though most believe it to be a gift given directly by their patron god Cionecic.
Symptoms
The Mark of Fortune appears on the body as a small blue bioluminescent mark varying in appearance and location. The marks are approximately 3 in2 but larger markings have also been recorded. The location on the body also varies but it most commonly appears on the torso, arms, or hands. The mark cannot be removed from the body and will reappear in a new location if the bodypart containing the mark is removed.
Aside from the bioluminescence, Marks of Fortune do not manifest in any other physical or mental symptoms.
by SoftPawz
Affected Groups
Despite a number of different species existing within the area, especially during the beginning of the first era of The God Wars, only Humans have ever been known to possess a Mark of Fortune. Generally, younger humans that have lived through about a third of thier average life span, around 20 to 25 years, are the primary groups to receive the marks though a few exception have been known to exist.
Sex, body type, heritage and family history do not appear to influence the chance to receive a Mark of Fortune. Even humans not native to Ione have been known to be granted one after residing in the area for an extended period of time.
History
The first known instance of a Mark of Fortune appeared during an early point of The God Wars when Human refugees hid in Sanctum Forest for approximately a year. During their time in the forest a number of individuals obtained the marks and were subsequently appointed as the leadership of the group which eventually became The Fortenes.
Entranced by the marks and longing to know more, The Fortenes began to expand and experiment on what variables would result in the marks. After approximately 50 years after the first marks, The Fortenes discovered the rough area in which the Marks of Fortune would appear by sending out extrememly small expeditions with the dual purposes of scouting the old battlefields and trying to determine the farthest reaches from the forest that the marks would still appear. This area was determined to be holy and The Fortenes set their sights on controlling this area leading to a number of settlements being founded, primarily around the clearing of Sanctum Forest.
100 years after the first marks were discovered Cionecic, the goddess risiding in Sanctum Forest appeared to a man named Haeferic Voss in a vision and told him that controlling the area that The Fortenes had identified was a goal that should be pursued, but warned him to not make them a target of the other Gods in the area. This vision is what led to the creation of Ione and the institutionalization of Fortunism.
Cultural Reception
The Marks of Fortune permeate all aspects of Ionean culture and has done so since the incepetion of the religious order and the nation of Ione itself. The founding of Ione was done, and subsequently led, by those that had Marks of Fortune which set the groundwork for the Trials of the Fortunate and the governance structure that revolved around the individuals possessing these marks.
As the governance structure of Ione and the religious order behind Fortunism are one in the same, they share the same requirements that an individual must be marked before they can hold any official role within the government.
At it's core, an individual to receive a Mark of Fortune is considered to be have been blessed by Cionecic and chosen for a higher purpose than the average citizen.
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