Future's Bane

When you dost catch a glimpse of the morrow, it is ever accompanied by a levy. The divining and prophesying arts exact their toll, not without cost. They weigh upon your mental and physical well-being, and at times, the visions glimpsed exceed the capacity of a mortal mind to endure.

— Namaka Palaea

Future's Bane is a condition often encountered by diviners and other people using magic to get a glimpse into the future. From time to time, they get to witness great or horrifying events. Sometimes witnessing these events by itself is enough to cause Future's Bane to take hold, but more often than not, the realisation that no matter what they do, they don't seem to be able change what's coming, eventually breaks even the strongest minds.

Symptoms

The moment the condition takes hold in an individual, their eyes turn solid purple. For most people, this does not affect their ability to see, but some report of starting to see double, or even losing their eyesight all together.
The most notable change aside from their eyes is their enhanced emotions. Many affected individuals struggle with controlling their emotions, and get overwhelmed by joy, sadness, love, or aggression. It's not uncommon to see them go from manic laughter to a bloody rage within seconds.
Other symptoms seem to affect only some species. When some Gnomes and Elves lose their sight, they gain the ability to perceive their surroundings with magic instead. Many of these individuals describe it as watching oneself from above. While this form of perception is very limited on range, it often allows the individuals to perceive magic and invisible creatures as well. Some even learned to hone this ability, increasing their range of perception or even allowing them to project it further away from their body.
On the other hand, there are reports of Orcs and Goblins developing the ability to channel their emotions into surrounding individuals, causing them to feel intense surges of hate, joy, sadness, love or any other powerful emotion. Allegedly, some even could read the emotions of different people around them. Getting a glimpse into the minds of other individuals

Treatment

It was across decades that I labored to coexist with this affliction. More decades still were spent in the pursuit of acceptance and eventual mastery. Now, 'tis one of mine most potent faculties, yet, even in the present, it extracts its toll.

— Namaka Palaea

There is no real treatment available. For some this condition is only temporary, often passing when the events they initially witnessed took place. Others have to learn to live with this for the rest of their lives.
Through meditation and various other techniques many regain the ability to control their emotions in day to day life, even if they have to avoid intense emotional situations when possible.

Work in Progress

This article is still heavily WIP and can change at any moment

External Copyright

This article is covered by external copyright, and therefor not publicly visible.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired