Mark of Divine Wrath
The Mark of Divine Wrath, the Mark of Death is a mostly unknown magical condition that occasionally forms on citizens of Brymstone. Those who contract the mark often turn up dead by mysterious means, usually found mutilated. The Mark is a commonly carved or drawn symbol on the walls of buildings. Some organizations have adopted it as a dark symbol to spread fear.
Transmission & Vectors
It is not considered transmittable, except by Sunkar the Marked, who is the only known person to contract the mark and survive longer than a week. Sunkar is said to have had the mark for 10 years. Some consider the mark to be a divine curse, given to those who trifle with the will of the gods. Others say it is caused by exposure to dark magic.
Treatment
There is no true cure for the Mark of Divine Wrath. However, someone dedicated and pure of heart can take on the burden of the mark for another. This can be achieved through a lengthy ritual. The new carrier of the mark will die by the same means as the previous carrier would have.
History
The mark did not begin appearing until the Satori, the event in which the gods left Viesora behind. For this reason, many believe the mark to be a divine curse.
It is thought that the Mark appears on those who have seen something the gods didn't intend for them to see...
Notes recovered from the Ansell Library:
The Mark of Divine Wrath
The mark's true origin eluded me for the longest time. But after years of research, I do believe I finally have it figured out. This symbol has appeared on the skin of arcane researchers for years. It is feared almost universally, as it means certain death for those who find themselves afflicted with it. It cannot be removed by the typical anti-curse magics possessed by the typical mage. Perhaps someone more in tune with the divine could crack the code, but not I. Nor my fellow researchers.
We have come to call it the Mark of Divine Wrath. The deaths of my colleagues were a near complete mystery until we took matters into our own hands. We waited for the mark to appear on one of our own. Sure enough, one of our field researchers returned with the mark after a trip to a ruin north of Aspengarde. He was sent in search of evidence on the Satori, the event in which the gods are said to have abandoned Viesora. That was when it all came together for me. All who find themselves with the mark were exposed to something with a divine connection.
When this unlucky field agent returned, he was locked in an observation chamber. Days went by before anything changed. But when it did, it was a horrifying sight. Creatures formed out of thin air. They were bony, skin stretched tightly across their impish bodies. They had long sharp talons, and they tore into the young researcher quickly. It was over in a flash, but they appeared fiendish to my eyes. We continued these tests as researchers returned with the mark. The results were always the same. Always divine, always these creatures, always a brutal death. Eventually, the tests grinded to a halt. Perhaps word of the mark got around and agents ceased research in the divine. Maybe people learned to hide the mark more effectively. Either way, we determined the mark's origin as a result of our experiments. We dubbed it the Mark of Divine Wrath. Theories suggest that when the mortals find something the gods don't want them to see, they are marked as targets for these horrid beasts. I agree with the theories. For my own sake, I won't be continuing research on this topic. Consider this case closed.
