Char Hand

"A hand blackened by magic's kiss is a hand that has danced with both fire and folly."

— Lady Jeraline, High Priestess

Char Hand is a grim affliction named for the aftermath of the Hand Magic system of casting spells. It was a testament to the toll of wielding magic with reckless abandon. It is a hand twisted and blackened, as if scorched by the very fires of creation, a stark reminder of the price paid for delving too deep into the arcane mysteries of the world. Each crack and fissure tells a story of ambition and folly, a tale of power sought and consequences faced. Char Hand is a mark of sacrifice, a symbol of those who dared to grasp the threads of magic, only to find themselves consumed by its fiery embrace.

Transmission & Vectors

Char Hand is not transmitted between individuals like a contagious disease and cannot go from one person to another person. Instead, it is a condition that develops over time in magic-users who practice Hand Magic. When a wizard, sorcerer, or other magic-user regularly drains magic from items or creatures using their hands to fuel spells, the gradual damage to their hand accumulates, eventually resulting in this condition. This process is more about the repeated strain and magical damage caused by the practice of Hand Magic rather than a direct transmission from one person to another.

Causes

Char Hand develops as a result of the repeated strain and magical damage caused by the practice of Hand Magic. When a magic-user drains magic from items or creatures to fuel spells, the magical energy flows through their hand, gradually wearing it down. This process is likened to holding one's hand over a flame for an extended period, with each use of Hand Magic adding to the damage. Over time, the hand becomes dried, cracked, and blackened, resembling charred flesh. The more frequently and intensely the Hand Magic is used, the faster Char Hand develops, making it a common affliction among those who rely heavily on this system of magic.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Char Hand start with a feeling of warmth and tightness in the hand after using Hand Magic. Over time, the hand begins to dry out, losing its natural moisture and becoming increasingly rough and cracked. As the condition progresses, the skin darkens and takes on a charred appearance, resembling burnt flesh. This transformation is accompanied by pain and discomfort, especially when using the affected hand or attempting to cast spells with Hand Magic. In severe cases, the hand may become so damaged that it affects the magic-user's ability to use their hand for everyday tasks.

Treatment

There are no known treatments for Char Hand. Any magical attempt to heal the condition has been found to worsen it, accelerating the pain and deterioration of the hand.

Prognosis

Once the condition develops, it is irreversible and tends to worsen with time with continued use of Hand Magic. The affected hand becomes increasingly damaged, leading to severe pain and loss of function. In advanced stages, Char Hand can render the hand completely unusable, impacting the magic-user's ability to cast spells and perform daily tasks. The lack of effective treatment means that those afflicted with this condition must learn to live with this ailment, facing its challenges and limitations for the rest of their lives.

Sequela

The long term effects, of Char Hand are significant. As the condition progresses, the affected hand becomes increasingly damaged, potentially leading to permanent disability. Magic-users with this condition may experience chronic pain, stiffness, and limited mobility in the affected hand, making it difficult to perform tasks that require fine motor skills. In severe cases, the hand may become completely unusable, severely impacting the individual's quality of life and ability to practice Hand Magic. Additionally, the psychological impact of living with a disfigured and disabled hand can be profound, leading to feelings of isolation, depression, frustration, anger, and potentially hatred of those with functional hands and jealousy of other magic-users that can cast spells without using Hand Magic.

Affected Groups

Char Hand only affects magic-users who practice Hand Magic, a form of magic that involves draining the magic from magical items or magical creatures using their hands to fuel spells. This group mainly includes wizards, sorcerers, and other magic-users who rely on Hand Magic as part of their magical repertoire. 
Char Hand does not affect magic-users who cast spells using other methods. Those who practice magic through incantations, gestures, or other means that do not involve draining magic with their hands are not at risk of developing this condition.

Hosts & Carriers

There are no hosts or carriers of this ailment and it only develops in individuals who practice Hand Magic and is a result of the repeated strain and damage caused by this form of magic. Once a magic-user develops Char Hand, they are the sole carrier of the condition, and it does not spread to others through contact or proximity.

Prevention

While there are several ways to slow and minimize the effects of Char Hand, there is no proven method to protect oneself completely from harm other than to simply not use the Hand Magic system.
Both the Parl Malm and the Xarba had been used early on as a way to mitigate the damage done by the Hand Magic system, but were never successful at completely preventing it. Quite often they would amplify the little magic that was drained, but also amplify the danger of any failed attempts.
Other historic protective precautions had included using Hand Magic only when absolutely necessary, learning and strictly abiding to proper casting techniques, and maintaining regular hand care and moisturizing.

Epidemiology

The epidemiology of Char Hand is characterized by its predominance among magic-users who practice Hand Magic. While the exact incidence rate may vary depending on factors such as region, cultural practices, beginning age, and general health, Char Hand is considered a relatively common condition among those who regularly use Hand Magic and nonexistent in those who do not use that system of magic.

Cultural Reception

During the time in which Hand Magic was used, the people viewed both magic and the Char Hand condition with great fear and distrust. Those who had this condition were often ostracized and seen as dangerous individuals due to their association with a harmful form of magic. At best, these magic-users were shunned and run out of town, and at worst, they were hunted down and burned at the stake.

"The charred hand is a mark of folly, a testament to the foolishness of those who play with forces beyond their understanding."

— High Inquisitor Talvora, Witch Hunter of the Order of the Purifiers

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• All Humanoid

"Beware the charred hand, for it wields both power and pain."

— Zeldrin the Wise, Archmage of Kelanjoria

Notable Afflicted People:

Weldrinar Shadetree: Weldrinar was an elven sorcerer of great renown, known for his mastery of Hand Magic. Despite warnings from his family, Weldrinar delved ever deeper into the forbidden arts, using his blackened hand to weave spells of unparalleled power. His fate remains a mystery, but some whisper that he became a vessel for dark forces, consumed by his own ambition. 
Grimp Stonecracker: Grimp was a rare dwarven warrior/Lithomancer who earned fame as a Gigandodare, having slain a giant in single combat. However, his glory was short-lived, as he later turned to Hand Magic in a desperate bid to reclaim his lost youth. The price he paid was his hand, which slowly blackened and withered, a grim reminder of his folly.
Nelissa Lightwood: Nelissa was a human witch who sought to defy death itself, using Hand Magic to prolong her life beyond its natural span. Her efforts were in vain, and she was left with a charred hand and a cursed existence, forever haunted by the specter of her own mortality. Eventually she was captured and burned at the stake for magic use.
Thorn Blackspike: Thorn was a half-orc shaman who sought to protect his tribe from a great evil using Hand Magic. Despite his noble intentions, his hand was consumed by dark energies, turning against him and leading to his exile from the tribe he sought to save.

"The Char Hand is a scar of arrogance, a brand of those who sought to control the uncontrollable and paid a critical price."

— Brother Thalleus, Keeper of the Old Lore

Unsubstantiated Rumors:

Cursed Touch: Some believe that those afflicted with Char Hand have a cursed touch, capable of bringing misfortune and harm to others just by casually touching them.
Dark Pact: Whispers abound of a secret cabal of warlocks who intentionally seek to obtain the Char Hand condition, believing it to be a sign of favor from dark entities. They are rumored to willingly embrace the pain and deformity of the condition in exchange for forbidden knowledge and unearthly powers.
Divine Punishment: It is whispered that Char Hand is a punishment from the gods for using magic in such a forbidden and sacrilegious manner.
Sorcerous Rituals: There are tales of clandestine rituals where sorcerers willingly inflict Char Hand upon themselves or others as a rite of passage into the darker mysteries of the arcane. These rituals are said to unlock hidden potentials and grant access to forbidden realms of power.
Magical Transmutation: Some believe that Char Hand is not a curse or ailment, but a sign of magical transmutation, where the hand is slowly transforming into a powerful magical tool.

"To see the Char Hand is to witness the true cost of magic, a withered, blackened husk that was once a hand, now a reminder of the recklessness of ambition."

— Master Quinnon, Sage of the Seven Stars