Mutants and Mutation

It is a well known fact, that magic corrupts. It is also known that while the Gods are powerful, the Devils are also powerful indeed. So it is, that every year, mutants are found. Mutants and mutation are the greatest threat to the world, at least so the faiths of the world tell, and the greatest threat the dark powers of hell pose. They strip away the self into some fathomless thing of unspeakable horror. They could be anywhere, mutants hiding bleeding, puss filled eyes or tentacles under baggy shirts and breeches, a well mannered neighbor could conceal a horrible nightmare thing in their cellar. The fear that this mutation can spread to others causes many to fear mutants, and either out them from society, or far worse. The reasons mutation can happen are many, and varied.

Causes of Mutation

• Birth: Perhaps the most tragic of all causes, but it is believed the natural flow of magic through the world, the baleful light of the Black Moon, and other factors can cause a infant to be born a mutant. Those that are born with obvious signs of mutation are born not with small mutations, but with horrifying creatures, evil made manifest. They may be born with the legs of a chicken, or tentacles, fur, bestial, conjoined twins tied together in a seeping mass of flesh. These cases represent the most tragic, for while many parents know that the only right thing is to end the creatures suffering, but many more parents can't bring their heart to kill something that while mutated, is still their child. Such a grim fate has led to many potions, remedies, and tinctures to be made in an effort to "ward the womb" or prevent the chance for mutation. it should be noted that some children only develop noticeable mutation signs later in life, with the first few years the parents living in ignorant bliss over their beautiful child. Such is the terrible tragedy of this world.
• Environment: Places tainted with the energies of Hell, places of great arcane strength, and other such environmental factors can lead to mutation. These are also tragic in the sense that many victims are good people, turned into mutants against their will.
• Magic: As stated above, due to arcane magic being corrupted by Hell, magic can corrupt and mutate its users to horrible degrees, thus adding to why many fear magic users as much as mutants.
• Forbidden Knowledge: Many faiths of the world teach that the spirt can be corrupted by forbidden knowledge. If this is true or not matters little, as there are very real tomes and grimoires out in the world that invite corruption and insanity to those who simply open their pages and read. Most revolve around the Hells and demons.
• Plague: Some (not all) plagues can directly lead to victims being mutated. Commonly these plagues are those believed to be created by the Arch-Devil of plagues, and are known to be horrifying and painful indeed.
• Possession: Being possessed by demons and spirits of the dead can bring about mutation. It should be noted that demonic possession brings about mutation far more frequently then possession by ghosts and spirits, though latter cases causing mutation has been known to occur at a far smaller degree.
• Service to Hell: The most dreadful way someone can gain mutation of all, is also the most easiest. Many who worship the demonic gods of hell are granted mutations that though revolting to the sane, grant them unique powers and abilities to better show their connection and favor to the gods, as well as their combat skills.

The Fate of the Mutant

There is only one fate for mutation in the world, death. Most nations have laws that if parents find out their child is a mutant, they are to give them up to the authorities for cleansing. It is well known that this means death, and so few parents can bring themselves to do it. As such, the practice of "gifting" came into being, where parents left their child in the woods to be "gifted" back to the gods of the world. This way, their hands are unsullied by actually killing their child, making the pain only slightly more bearable, and can lie to themselves that their child is with god. Many other parents, especially those with mutations that are slightly easier to hide than others, will hide their children, not being able to bear the idea of their child being killed. It is entirely understandable, but in the end, the Gods know that the fate of the mutant is the only right one they shall walk. In places where the Church of the Flame holds sway, the Witch Hunters are tasked with tracking down and killing mutants, be they child or adult, and shall hunt them with the same fervor as rouge spellcasters and demons. However, with many more families hiding their mutant family members rather than give them up, it is a hard and grim task indeed.

Treatment

There are few options for those born with mutations, for to seek help is to find one swiftly put upon a burning pyre. There are some surgeons, however, that do secret operations on mutants. These doctors know that their patients will pay a premium in gold to help them, and so it is a lucrative business. Even if the said patient is too far corrupted, the surgeon can easily make money by turning in the mutant to the local authorities. Some mutations are easier to treat then others, for example a tentacle growing on someone's back can simply be chopped off and patched over with surgery. or an extra finger be sliced off and steps taken to hide the stump. However, surgery is no easy thing in this world, and brings about all manor of different risk factors, not to mention calling into question the skill of said surgeon. Some patients even after being "cured" of the offending mutation experience nightmares and horrifying visions, and others fall into a coma, never to awaken.

The Perception of the Mutant

It is a grim life the mutant lives, for most if not the whole world view them with suspicion and fear. It is the one thing to rival even the mistrust people feel to the spellcasters of the world, and due to this many must hide their mutation from others. Those that are discovered can expect a quick death, and so many are pushed to live outside of society. Many join bands of brigands, or join evil cults worshipping eldritch or demonic gods that grant them some meaning of protection. Others form bands of mutant communities that hide out in the forests away from prying eyes. However though many are good people at heart, these factors rarely lead to one keeping a stable mind, and most mutants will eventually go insane from the isolation or turn themselves over to willingly becoming pawns of dark and terrible gods.

Evil, or Mistreated?
Though most of the world believes that to be a mutant is to be in some way, evil, it would be unfair to say that every mutant is actually evil. While yes, many are pushed into such a life as joining hellish cults and the like, many more simply hide in the forests and live as hermits, just trying to live as normal a life as possible. However the tragedy is that while many are not inherently evil, even the most open-minded of scholars on the subject of mutation believe that if not evil, becoming or being born a mutant represents "a dangerous, inevitable fall into damnation".