Jacobin's Bane

Jacobin’s Bane is not something new in the realm of Aethius, though it has remained underground for centuries. Locked away, able to be contained hopefully for good. It was until a man was stumbling through old curses and magics that the curse had slithered out, and afflicted the man itself. The curse will always find its way to people who are notorious for greed, gluttony, or selfishness, but sometimes it will latch onto people from other sources, such as from curses or old magic.

Origin of Trait

Jacobin’s Bane originates far and away, to one of the many old Pirate Lords of Belinard. The man was simply known as Jacobin, or Captain Jacobin. He was a ruthless pirate, plundering and feasting at every other step; drinking and pulling anything of value from city after city. He had gone so far, killed so many, and was a man of gargantuan proportion and stature; both literally and metaphorically. However, the curse came from one of the many Ihtic practicers on the islands. He had cursed the golden treasures of the island, treasures meant to be buried with the chieftains in the afterlife. It was forbidden to take from these tombs, but when Jacobin and his sailors came around, he showed no mercy. Slaughtering the entire village, it wasn’t long until he found the entrance to this tomb, a cave on the island. He stole everything he could fit, his men taking away what their arms could carry, and following that night, they all found out their irreversible mistake. Jacobin and his men were cursed from that day forth, hence the name, “Jacobin’s Bane”. But, they would find that they were not the only men cursed. That action released the curse, the Ihtic magic into the world. It would spread and lurk, haunting and tracking men like Jacobin, and latching onto them as well.

Acquisition

Jacobin’s Bane can only be acquired by being a plethora of negative traits, or through Ihtic magic from extremely powerful Ihtic shamans. Jacobin’s Bane cannot be spread directly like Vallahism or Lycanthropy, but it may affect a group of people at a time if they are all sharing the same goals and personalities, such as Jacobin and his crew.

Physical Changes

Simply known as ‘Jacobins’, those under Jacobin’s Bane will not witness any physical changes, at least not during daytime or in the short term. Firstly, a Jacobin will notice that their aging comes to a complete halt. From the day they are cursed, they are immortal in the sense that they will no longer grow old. They cannot get any other curses, blessings, diseases, they cannot even be poisoned, the most potent of venoms will flow harmlessly through them. During daytime, when they are struck, they bleed normally and can be killed.

A Jacobin becomes restless and hungry as part of their curse. Typically given to the greedy or gluttonous, they will find that they feel like they are on the brink of starvation, constantly desiring sustenance, but only to find that food turn to ash in their mouth, unable to ever truly eat. They will vomit anything they do get down, and as such, do not actually require food anymore. A Jacobin cannot sleep, no matter how tired they might constantly feel, and finally, a Jacobin cannot physically feel. Their skin is numb, their nerves are all but shot as they can only register pressure. They can’t feel a stab in their chest, a warm fire, or anything of the sort. Their desire is endless, and all they usually want is to be rid of this ungodly change.

At night however, is when the Jacobin’s true form is revealed. Only directly in the moonlight, under a clear night sky will the curse take its form. As the moonlight touches their skin, their skin will retract and dry, their flesh will dissipate away into nothingness, their organs will all but shrink away and fall out of the now skeletal corpse that is the Jacobin. They become a skeleton, an unholy creature of night. During this change, only blunt weapons will damage the skeletal figure, or holy weapons. They will revert when the moonlight no longer touches their skin, the change being incredibly rapid in form.

During daytime, their soul appears normal, but in the moonlight, even their very soul shrinks and shrivels, looking like a darkened and dried raisin.

Mental Changes

A Jacobin will not find any notable mental changes, aside from the previously mentioned constant feeling of starvation, sleep, and their desires amplified tenfold. This will typically make someone afflicted far more rash and thoughtless on their actions, acting on nothing but their own desires.

Effects

Jacobin’s Bane means to severely punish those who are without virtue, and as such, are at the result of these numerous desires. While they can never fulfill them, they are constantly pushing at the mind of the afflicted. This curse will not kill the afflicted, at least not directly. It is meant to be an endless torture of the mind and soul. The cures for the curse are all but buried away with the curse itself, centuries old and likely gone from the minds of many. A Jacobin cannot kill themselves. Any self-inflicted wounds will either do nothing, or simply regenerate.

Mechanics

• At night, the cursed forms into a skeleton of themselves. They can only be damaged by blunt or holy weapons.
• Cannot physically feel, sleep, or eat. They only physically feel pressure, no pain.
  • They can still be effected by outside sources (spells, injuries, etc) and be rendered forcibly unconscious.
• Have a constant desire to do the above, their overall wants are increased tenfold.
• Doesn’t age, they remain the exact same age from the day they are cursed.
• Cannot have any other curses, blessings, or diseases. They cannot be poisoned.
• They retain their normal physical strength and speed as a skeleton, no muscle doesn’t mean no strength.
• They cannot kill nor harm themselves. Any self-inflicted wounds will either do nothing or simply regenerate.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier