viveremuch | MARKS AND DEATHS

Upon arriving in town, each character will discover a brightly colored mark somewhere on their body. This mark is unique to each character, but grows and changes based on events in the game. The mark is also related to what happens when your character dies.

DETAILS OF THE MARK

(CW: brief discussion of injection, stinging insects)

Upon their arrival in Lamplight, after the black fog has faded, characters will find themselves with a glowing, stinging mark somewhere on their bodies. The mark appears to be bleeding, except that instead of blood, glowing fluid the color of the mark is leaking out of it. (Even characters who do not normally bleed experience this.) This fluid disappears entirely once the bleeding stops, leaving no stains. At that time, the spot is only a glowing spot, and the flesh around it swells slightly as though the character suffered a particularly strong bee sting there. (Characters who are allergic to bees will not have an allergic reaction.)

The swelling goes down within a few days, by which time the mark has taken shape into something small, but more distinctive than a mere spot. It appears to be some kind of tattoo, although it continues to glow faintly, brightening if a character concentrates on it. In addition, any other tattoos or similar marks that the character has that do not already glow now glow with the color of this mark. Particularly prominent scars may also have a faint, hazy glow.

The color of the mark, its shape/pattern, and its location are under player control. They cannot be removed; even going so far as to remove a limb the mark is attached to causes the mark to appear somewhere else on the body (though this time without the sting). Usually, it will be somewhere they can't cut off this time.

GROWTH OF THE MARK AND THE LAMPLIGHTER'S VISIT

A few days after arrival, once they've gotten a bit settled in, characters will be visited by the Lamplighter. This may be in a character's home, or it may be while they're out on the streets, but it will always be while the character is alone (or as alone as they ever get in certain cases). The figure of the Lamplighter remains indistinct and smoky, but his voice is clear enough. "Another one, hm?"

In response to his presence, the character will feel their mark tremble, and with a sensation something like water droplets rolling along the inside of their skin around the mark. When they next look, the mark has grown from about the size of a coin to around something more like palm-sized. The pattern of the mark is similar, but likely has grown in complexity.

Following this, the Lamplighter nods to himself as though satisfied, and teaches the character - in simple terms - how to summon an orb of light, similar to those in the lanterns, from their mark. This light is always the same color as the mark. The Lamplighter mutters "Don't worry. You'll live through it," in a tone that's probably supposed to be comforting. After this, he disappears.

Attempting to attack the Lamplighter will result in him leaving without teaching the character to summon lights, although their mark will still grow. Any attacks pass through him as though he were made of smoke instead of substance, and he doesn't ever touch the characters.

The mark may grow further, depending on events the character participates in and other circumstances. As it grows, it may develop new powers. Please see the table at the bottom of this post for more information about mark growth stages.

DEATH AND REVIVAL

Sometimes, characters die. Sometimes it's simple, sometimes it's graphic, but they always remember the very last moment -

Because in the very last moment, they will hear a tired sigh in the familiar voice of the Lamplighter. They feel a faint swinging sensation, and then everything fades away.

Then characters wake up somewhere in town, beneath a lantern the same color as their mark, which feels somehow very familiar. They will find that the strength and size of their mark has been reduced by one level. Characters can attempt to move the lantern they awakened under to somewhere else, but it will be gone the first time they look away from it for any length of time. If it isn't moved by the character, it will remain in the same place, and characters will always awaken from death in the same place.

Repeated deaths may have additional consequences for characters. If this applies to your character, a mod will post a screened reply in response to your tracking comment.

MARK LEVELS AND TRACKING

Please respond to this post with a comment with your character's name in the subject line and the following information in the body of the comment.

As marks gain levels, they enable characters to use minor powers. Further mark levels will be added in the future, as characters approach unlocking them.

Level 0: The mark exists. That's all you get.
Level 1: Ability to conjure orb of light from mark. Range: 3ft.
Level 2: Ability to send light further away from self (Range: 25ft)
............Ability to instinctively identify the mark magic of other PCs.
Level 3: Ability to use light orb to pass messages to a recipient.
............Messages can be audio or telepathic and are delivered by
............the orb passing through the receiving character. Homing.
............(Range: 1 mile for messages)
Level 4: ???

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