Milliget (AKA: Fey-touched, The Accursed, Faebloods) (+)
The Magik of Faerie is a powerful, chaotic force that permeates Bedouar, remaking the Mortal Realm in its own image where it bleeds through. The laws of nature are bent and broken as the magik rewrites reality itself, altering the landscape as well as flora and fauna. This effect makes no exception for sentient creatures such as Bediz (Human).
Milliget is a catch-all term for a mortal creature, which either from prolonged exposure to Faerie or magical techniques, has taken on aspects or features of a denizen of Faerie. Although there are several different ways that a mortal creature can become Fey-touched and the specifics of the so-called "condition" vary greatly, in practice all such corruption is generally described under the umbrella term with little interest in the details. On a technical level, Milliget describes any flora or fauna altered in this way, although in common understanding it refers only to corrupted humans.
Milliget refers to significant influences of this nature. Mere sensitivity and ability to manipulate glamour or magik does not rise to this level. For more information on this lesser condition see Boermezh
Transmission & Vectors
The milliget condition, despite the claims to the contrary by the Southern Church, cannot be transmitted directly from a Fae or milliget to a mortal being, but instead relies on direct and significant exposure to Faerie itself and Fae Magik, either over a prolonged period of time or in an immensely concentrated and powerful burst. Most commonly, the condition is acquired through the eating and drinking of Faerie food, direct exposure to high levels of Fae Magik or repeated sexual relations with a denizen of Faerie. It is very rare for this change to occur quickly, instead taking a significant amount of time to reach a level of exposure that qualifies as this condition. However, due to the unique nature of Faerie-time, a "significant amount of time" may be a relative term.
Causes
There are several ways that a mortal creature can become milliget. The most common (and widely believed by many to be the only) cause revolves around Changelings.
While the Sidhe and the Re Vihan do not age, they can still be killed. With an exceptionally low birthrate, other steps must be taken to strengthen the
bloodlines and replace lost numbers. This is often completed with healthy mortal babies which are stolen away and replaced by sickly Re Vihan or artificial constructs, each hidden with powerful glamour. The true child is spirited away to Faerie, where it joins one of the Faerie Courts. Over time, the child becomes feytouched, gaining the attributes of their hosts. With enough time, the feytouched becomes a true Fae, a member of the Sidhe or Re Vihan, indistinguishable from any other. Its human Truename is often sacrificed and a new one is taken, although this is not always the case.
Infants are not the only targets of Fae abductions. Skilled persons, such as midwives, musicians or even those possessing great beauty are often targeted, their skills and appearance jealously coveted by the Fae. Likewise, in rarer circumstances a Sidhe will reward a loyal mortal lover with the gift of becoming Fae themselves. Aside from the circumstances of their abduction or willing acquiescence, these persons follow the same course of the milliget condition as the abducted infants.
Wanderers who stumble into Faerie and vanish often become milliget by consuming Faerie food or drink. These individuals are often targeted by the
Sidhe Courts once their existence is known, but it is not unheard of for unaligned milliget to exist outside of the Sidhe Courts or Re Vihan Troupes. These unaligned persons sometimes fall to the Faewyldes or are killed, but some survive, eliciting a mixture of fear and curiosity from Fae and Bediz alike.
Precautions are often taken by the Fae to prevent invited guests from becoming fey-touched, such as by providing special food and drink when a Sidhe Lord invites a Bediz counterpart to a great feast. As willful corruption would be seen as an unforgivable and unthinkable breach of Hospitality, the Fae are very serious in this matter. This does not always work out well for the guests, as it often involves rituals or ere-hud designed to dissipate the magikal surplus. Travelers may find themselves displaced from their times, sometimes rapidly aging and turning to dust upon touching the ground. Steps are taken to allow this to be avoided, but the task is often difficult and may take centuries for a brief window to open. These figures in limbo are considered a type of passive Slaugh.
The last and rarest method of becoming milliget are the occultists, mad mages who attempt to recreate Fae magik, either on themselves or others, utilizing dark, twisted and unnatural techniques and spells, often resulting in the creation of Daemons or Isfont. The Sidhe, Re Vihan and even Formorians see these creatures as abominations and organize hunts to kill them without mercy. In exceptionally rare circumstances however, these efforts are successful in creating milliget, intentionally or not.
Symptoms
The changes of the milliget manifest in countless ways. Many of the changes are physical, with the affected creature taking on the features of the Sidhe, Re Vihan or Formorian they were "claimed" by. These can include pointed ears, horns, hooves, unnatural colouring to the eyes, hair or skin, sharpened teeth or hardened, rock-like callouses appearing on their skin, among many other possibilities or combinations. Early changes are subtle, but become more pronounced as the condition progresses. It is common for milliget to gain a minor persistent glamour as well.
Additionally, there are non-physical changes as well, such as a loss of appetite, listlessness or an allergy to iron. It is very rare for a milliget, especially one in Faerie, to put up serious resistance once the condition has begun to manifest, with most simple accepting it without much struggle. Those who do break free garner great interest from the Sidhe Courts. Milliget also gain a great awareness of and the ability to utilize Faerie Magik and glamour.
Treatment
As far as the mortals of Bedouar know, or the Sidhe care to find out, there is no way to reverse the condition, although its progression can be slowed or halted by removing the milliget from the afflicting circumstances. Exposure to faerie or the active use of glamour will exacerbate the condition, while exposure to iron will dissipate it. Direct contact with iron can be felt as heat and dulls the milliget's senses. The stronger the Magik, the more dramatic the result until equilibrium is reached. This will eventually become a full cold iron allergy.Like most addictions, the subject will often resist attempts at a "cure", eventually returning to Faerie, where they are never heard from again.
Most popular treatments to "cure" a milliget are inevitably fatal, such as exposing them to the elements, drownings or burnings. There is no proven record of any of these treatments of being successful in the rare event the victim manages to survive them.
The only exception to this trend comes from the Southern Church, which claims to have a method with some success at removing the condition. Dark rumors swirl around these so-called "Ironbloods", and the cure may be far worse than the original affliction by many accounts.
Prognosis
Becoming Fey-touched results overwhelmingly with the afflicted disappearing into Faerie, becoming a true Fae. Once affected, most do not wish to return to their mortal lives. Some exceptions do exist, where someone breaks free of the pull of Faerie and escapes, resisting the urge to return. These are quite rare individuals, made rarer by the often-fatal reception they are given from superstitious mortals.
Those taken by the Southern Church to the island fortress of Kastel If become Ironbloods, should they survive the procedure.
Sequela
The rare Fey-touched that escape Faerie retain their fae characteristics, and occasionally retain the personality changes, such as aloofness and loss of appetite. Depending on their "claimant", they may retain other aspects, such as the ability to use Fae Magik, resistance to the elements or forgoing the need for sleep. These secondary effects vary greatly, as does their effectiveness.
Affected Groups
Contrary to popular belief, any mortal creature, not just humans, can become fey-touched. Oxen, geese and dogs are popular targets for theft. However, these are rarely seen again by mortals and thus do not receive much attention.
Those targeted by the Fae are often skilled, beautiful or both, selected to improve the culture or society of the group doing the taking. Infants are similarly selected for how well they will strengthen the bloodline. Wanderers are not targeted and are random, but are often drunks, poets or the melancholic.
Prevention
More focus is placed on prevention than on treatment, by preventing Fae abduction. Nicknames are a popular method of obfuscating the Truename of a person, making it difficult for the Fae to ensare and capture them. Carrying Iron, clover or other special items is also a common technique to dissuade potential abductors. Specific Fae can be dissuaded by manipulating their ere-hud.
Epidemiology
Despite claims to the contrary, the fey-touched condition does not spread between individuals, nor does it affect a large population. It is targeted to specific individuals or, more rarely small groups. Monumentally rare exceptions do exist, but these are the stuff of legends.
History
There is no record of the condition before the Tearing of the Great Veil, but the condition has become more prevalent since then, especially in times of Bleed.
Cultural Reception
The reception to the Fey-touched is overwhelmingly negative and often fatal, as they are ostracized, treated with great fear and paranoia, leading to very few who break free remaining in the mortal realm (or the mortal coil). The preaching of the Southern Church of the fey-touched as accursed abominations in league with the Devil and infested with corrupting sin does not help alleviate these superstitions.
More recently however, the benefits of Fae-touched for strategic gain has been realized by those in power, and they are occasionally recruited for their talents and abilities. More easy to work with than the almost alien Sidhe or temperamental Re Vihan, they have become valued commodities to the right patron. Fey-touched are a popular target of The Slave Trade and are sold as slaves or servants into harems, mercenary companies, or to the Southern Church.
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