The Cracking

The Cracking is a unique condition that affects a small percentage of aasimar as they age.
These aasimar do not die in the traditional sense, but rather become more and more spiritual and less and less embodied as time goes by. So far, every known case of The Cracking has been a person of extraordinary goodness and virtue, and the condition seems to be tied to the condition of the soul.

Causes

The Cracking seems to be acquired solely by the combination of being an aasimar and being an extraordinarily good person. It cannot be transmitted to others save by mentorship and example, and those who acquire it are typically glad to do so.

Symptoms

The Cracking manifests initially as small veins of light on the aasimar's skin. Over time, these become brighter and the skin cracks like stone. During this time, the aasimar's internal organs and eventually their muscles and skeletal system slowly fade into incorporeal luminescence. Eventually, the entire inside of the aasimar is transformed into this light. Their skin slowly hardens and become stone like, and eventually that too is replaced by the radiance, at which point the aasimar is wholly insubstantial and "ascends" shortly thereafter, leaving the mortal world.

Prognosis

Once the cracking begins, it progresses to the end. There is no "treatment" or "cure" for it, but it's also not painful and, until the very latest stages, not terribly impairing, though the constant glowing tends to end adventuring careers and get spouses to invest in sleep masks.

Cultural Reception

Only perhaps 1 aasimar in every thousand ever exhibits the symptoms of The Cracking, and it usually takes years or decades to consume them once it does manifest. Because of the peculiarities of the condition, having it is understandably treated with wonder, awe, and respect by most people.

Type

Divine

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Congenital

Rarity

Common