Immortals

2007 by CL

For every action, there is an equal and opposing reaction. Just so is the life of the Immortal, for they are equal in many ways with their counterparts, the dragons. Unlike them, however, the Immortals are not naturally present. While dragons have always been and must always be, the Immortals are born only during the eclipse of the twin suns, the strange result of normal human birth.

There is an unknown connection with the ancient dragons: their numbers. For every one dragon, there is one Immortal, a balance which began with the fall of Vestarí, foul Keeper of the four winds. As Nisharïl, Keeper of law and justice, reclaimed control, he and the remaining Keepers gathered together their strength and created the Nature Of Two, a natural law which provided that for every race there would be another that could oppose it. Because the dragons existed, a form of them must be made accessible by the weaker races in case the great beasts were ever to fall under the will of chaos.

On Being Immortal

Appearing as human as their parents, it is difficult to discern an Immortal from any passing mortal. Only with trueseeing or happenstance can one truly be found. Through the eyes of a dragon, they appear as a being both melded with the earth and laced with eternity, the fire of their souls unwavering, much like the dragons themselves. To those without the sight, discovery is far more difficult, dependent entirely on the Immortal to reveal himself through their actions.

Because of the varied appearances of the races throughout the regions of Siphraíl, occasionally an Immortal is found simply because they ventured out, their odd features setting them apart before any action is made. In countries that boast heavy trade, these differences would not be enough, since peoples from across the entire known world would be seen at regular intervals in their taverns and streets. No matter the appearance, however, this sparse race often is discovered through sheer dumb luck. After all, not many can wield the powers that are inherent in their race, and certainly not with the unconscious ease they seem to exude.

Generally speaking, those who are born Immortal are not known to be such until puberty, at which time the hormonal changes within cause involuntary, and often catastrophic, reactions. Examples include accidentally turning a romantic rival into a pile of ashes, or a large pond to form in a plain when all that was desired was reprieve from a humid summer’s day. This initial burst of elemental channeling is a terrible strain on the untrained body, causing symptoms as minor as fainting or migraine, or as severe as a stroke, seizure, or coma. With time varying from days to weeks the symptoms fade, their body’s natural ability to heal itself awakening. Only with practice and the wisdom granted by time will an Immortal gain the power to control such forces without the unpleasant side effects.

The Power That Is

It is known that the Immortals are capable of great feats of elemental magic, and that many of the race are prone to specialize in one aspect, relinquishing their mastery of any other while still retaining some minor capability of control. What is not known is how they are able to do so, as they certainly are not Arcane in nature. The reality is that these men and women are conduits able to control what flows through them, when, and at what strength. The greatest mystery, however, is that they are channeling the elements themselves, be it of earth, air, fire, or water. Their power comes from nature itself, a strength that even the Keepers that created them do not understand.

There are limits, however to what they are capable of producing. An Immortal may lift hills from flatlands, but could not, for example, lift a forest from a desert. Simply put, something cannot come from nothing. The gift is control, not creation. So, in effect, one could move a forest, but could not cause one sapling to sprout without a seed.

Another side effect of birth is the ability of truesight. When utilized, the nature of those before them prevails over their earthly form, making a truly benevolent woman appear beautiful despite being physically deformed, or a vain and selfish person appear hideous and withered. Also, this reveals those who are hidden or invisible, giving the Immortal an edge in combat or detecting subterfuge. Another benefit is that it is capable of being used even in the dark of night, granting the user normal daytime vision no matter what the environs. Truesight is just that, the ability to see the true nature of all things.

Another part of this ability is the sensing of magic and magical beings. A fae, for example, would appear to the Immortal as a fae rather than as their humanoid counterpart, despite the separation of mystical realms. Also, magical items will glow, the color and brilliance dependent on the amount and type of power contained. Keep in mind, however, that the nature of the object is revealed only in the sense that it is magical, and perhaps that it is powerful or weak. A well-trained or seasoned Immortal might even be able to tell what kind of magic was used (Arcane, Elemental, Fae, or Clerical), and, very rarely, trace the magic back to the caster.