KNOW YOUR MAGE'S MARKS: Six Signs of A Magic-User

"It's not that the chromanity of Elysium does not know difference or diversity. It's that these particular marks denote individuals who can know, interact, or, dare I say, change the world as the blessed Diva Astra (may their celestial race continue to bless this blue-green sanctuary). It is the mark of the Ibic. Those changelings should be dealt with as one does weevils, lest the wheat goes to spoil when its spun to gold, or leaks milk as the cow, or made to sing then scream when put to the scythe. The Ibic are unmakers of nature and should be given no mercy. So look for the marks." Unknown Gorgon Hunter, Year XX88

1. VIRGIN BIRTH

It is known that those who wield magic are born in a natural way. They have no navel. They arise, fully formed, often from the viscous swamps that dot the land. Or they emerge from deep caves in a daze. Or are given up by one of the 13 seas of this world.

//DELPHI// Resist Cold: Magic-users often arise from the birthing vats deep in the earth. They bleed a blue blood which allows a natural resistance to cold, but they shy away from heat sources reflexively.

2. BLIND BUT CAN SEE

Mother cats are the familiars of magic-users because they stole their kittens' eye and now use them as their own. The poor mothers can't help but obey them because they only see the eyes of their children. The good thing is that these eyes do not allow the Ibic to read scrit and so they cannot learn our secrets easily, but they do have their own spies

//DELPHI// Detect Magic (2:6): Magic-users cannot have a conversation if they cannot identify the speakers of ICON. How can they be expected to assemble an astral chariot if they cannot identify the correct parts? An assistant cannot be useful to a master if they don't know which tool to bring when its called for.

3. GOLD INLAY

Their skin is a pallor not even seen in the dead. Nor a color seen within the multihues of chromanity- it is inlaid with beautiful gold markings- very valuable, or so say those who would "mine" such gold.

//DELPHI// Increased Somatic Casting Time: If magic-users stand still, they can cast using a faster and wider range of gestures by connecting the gold channels along their body, creating temporary sigils. At the expense of fever. If the MU character declares a spell, they can give up HP equal to the level of the spell to roll a separate d6+1 during initiative; they then cast on this initiative order.

4. STUDDED WITH OBOLS

Mages do not fear death for their passage to the beyond has already been paid for by whatever dark master has spawned them. These ferrymen's coins are found on the back of the neck and along their spines. Sometimes it is on their temple and by the ribs where dark things can suckle. It is said these are far less valuable than the inlay and so not worth the cost of extraction.

//DELPHI// Universal Umbilicus Port: If a length of umbilicus can be found, this can allow a magic-user to interface with the many tools of PROMETHEUS and activate the dormant shrines of the Diva Astra.

5. THIRD GUM

Mages also have a second set of jaws in their mouth. This is why we sing boisterous songs and laugh loudly at jokes, because it allows our mouths to stretch wide. The Ibic use this mouth to steal memories from you, so never let them kiss you.

//DELPHI// Universal Cranial Bus: If a length of gold, silver, and copper is braided in the proper way as magic-user can transfer spells from one mage to another. The has two pronged ends of platinum and is connected to the hard palate of the transmitter and receiver. Often used at death to prevent loss of accumulated knowledge, especially when systems are under attack. Can be used in a hostile manner. The larger the spell, the trickier the transfer.

art: Emma Hopkins

6. SPEAK IN TONGUES

Magics also cannot sing, but instead whistle as a bird, shriek as a cat, and growl as a wolf and often all at once in a cacophony of noise and sounds. The animals understand them often and a few are even able to call iron warriors from ages past out of the ground to do their bidding. Horrible! And this is why we always shepherd in pairs, so that each may observe the other's clean governance and guard against infiltration.

//DELPHI// Find Familiar (2:6): If a magic-user needs surveillance over a system or biome, they may employ servitor creatures in that biome to provide information. This allows one to expand governance over many systems from sanctuary locations or divide attention while keeping track of daily occurrences of anomalies. However, the altered state is temporary for the servitor, but can be reapplied. Supplication to CIRUS might be required for larger servitor networks.