Mägen

Anatomy

Natural sorcerers born from the devotion of a mortal to a god, mägen are an exact physical duplicate of their mortal parent, with a handful of additional anatomical features representative of their divine one. The only consistent physical feature of mägen is their abnormal eyes, with some individuals having one or more additional eyes, eyes which move independently of each other, eyes which are removable, or which are living creatures in their own right.

In addition to their eyes, a mage always has additional unusual anatomy: animal traits (horns, antlers, wings, a tail, or a carapace) and/or elemental qualities (a body that is wholly, partially or temporarily made of water or smoke) are not uncommon. Mägen may also have other inhuman characteristics, such as an unusual body odour (eg: they may smell of pertrichor, blood, or old books), an extreme body temperature, exhibit premonition or other uncanny knowledge, or have an atypical number of shadows.

Ferrotoxicity and haemocyanin

See: ferrite poisoning

Inherited from their divine parent, all mägen have an allergic reaction to iron, the severity of which correlates with the individual’s recent use of magic. Should iron penetrate the skin and remain in the body for a prolonged period, the allergic response may be fatal. Iron within the body will limit the mage’s ability to use magic and injuries inflicted by iron are resistant to arcane medicine.

With such sensitivity to the presence of iron in their bodies, mägen blood is based on copper, with haemocyanin as the oxygen-carrying component instead of haemoglobin. All mägen are blood type C and they cannot give blood to, or receive transfusions from, non-mägen.

Reproduction

A mage is able to produce viable, non-mage, offspring with another member of their ancestral species. Mägen are rare enough that there are few historical cases of them producing offspring together, but those which have been documented do not share their parents’ divine traits, and appear to be natural members of their grandparents’ species. In both cases, the child possesses a natural affinity for magic, though it is unclear if this is an innate quality or a result of their home environment.

Mägen are unable to produce viable offspring with an immortal (ie: a mage cannot have a mage child). There is little research in this area, but the prevailing hypothesis is that a 1/4 mortal child does not carry enough mass to pass the threshold from Dream to Reality.

Species known to have mage offspring

• Esaanla
• Ialy
• Kana’ōnah
• Ludoy
• Tepetlactl
• Yutaaq

Perception and sensory capabilities

The visual range of a mage extends into the immaterial, and mägen are able to perceive the component elements that make up reality and the traces of magical workings undetectable to light-based vision. This, more than anything, contributes to a mage’s arcane prowess; they do not have to work to undo their perception of reality as a finite solid.

Civilisation and culture

Socially, attitudes to mägen vary, but are generally positive to neutral. Their rarity and unusual appearance makes them a figure of interest and some have been able to parlay this into a form of celebrity. It is common for mägen to be barred from holding political office and most countries have banned them from joining the armed forces.

Many countries view mägen as a blessing and their presence is considered lucky. In some, more rural, countries in Xohura and Qevrun, a mage may make a living from travelling between settlements and blessing babies, marriages, and livestock. However, this is largely dependent on the mage’s appearance: mägen with more unsettling features have always struggled to find a warm welcome, even in the most accepting of communities.

Mägen in the military

The Bjerian empire was one of very few countries to conscript mägen, and the last to end the practice.

Until the signing of the Jungsund Accord in the aftermath of the Mage War, all mägen born within the empire and its colonies were adopted by the reigning empré and enrolled into a specialist military division called the Kingsmägen. Under Bjerian law, a Kingsmage was not a citizen but a diplomatic and military asset.

Although the Bjerian empré continues to formally adopt mage citizens and they are still raised in the imperial household and granted them the title of Prince/Princess/Prinzen and the honourable address of His/Her/Their Luminance, under the terms of the Accord they are no longer permitted to serve in the armed forces. The battalions have been disbanded and the former Kingsmägen granted full legal citizenship.