Mark of the Hunted

Whether through overzealous hunting, kinslaying, or betrayal of those to whom one had sworn loyalty, the Cunnende Moðer and her followers took notice and saw fit to punish the individual with the Mark of the Hunted. Those marked with this curse are doomed to transform into a feral wolf

Treatment

Curing the curse requires a caster to use the spell Greater Restoration on the Marked once per day for 4 consecutive days. Each casting of the spell reverses the progression of the curse by 1 stage. However, the spell has no effect if the Marked is completely transformed at the end of week 5. Missing a casting requires the whole process to begin again. After 5 weeks, the curse can only be ended by a Wish spell or divine intervention by the Cunnende Moðer.

Prognosis

Any person with the Mark of the Hunted will slowly transform into a dire wolf and become feral. The curse is invoked by the goddess called the Cunnende Moðer or one of her devote followers when the Marked has committed an act of betrayal, kinslaying, or overzealous hunting. The transformation progresses in stages over the course of several weeks.

• 1 Week: Cursed individual grows fangs and their presence cause animals to run away from them. Any cleric or paladin devoted to the Cunnende Moðer can see that the Cursed is marked.

• 2 weeks: The Marked's hair grows all over their body and their posture becomes hunched, they feel as though they are being watched.

• 3 weeks: The Cursed individual's legs become digitigrade and grows a tail, animals that are aware of the Cursed become hostile to them.

• 4 weeks: The Marked's posture becomes wolf-like and their base speed increases to 40 feet, though they are recognizably humanoid, predator animals within a 1 mile radius will actively hunt them.

• 5 weeks: The Cursed fully transforms into a Dire Wolf. Alignment become Chaotic Evil, and the character is now under the control of the GM.

Cultural Reception

Those who have been cursed with the Mark of the Hunted are ostracized from society because they have angered a god, and they are feared, for a Marked's presence attracts fierce predators. Clerics and Paladins of the Cunnende Moðer will hunt any Marked individual to the death for transgressing the tenets of their goddess. Curing the curse is viewed as blasphemous to the devoted and punishable by death. If the Cunnende Moðer notices that the curse has been broken, she will send visions to her clerics identifying the former Marked and the curse-breaker(s. The clerics will inform the paladins, who will in turn inform whatever law enforcement groups are present in the region, and the Mother's Hunt will be called on all individuals involved in the breaking of the curse.

Type

Divine

Origin

Divine

Rarity

Unique