godmarked

A godmarked, also known as an aasimar or nephilim, is a mortal who carries a divine spark within their soul or blood. Often presented as the children of mortals and angels or other celestial creatures, this is rarely the actual case. Evidence suggests that godmarked can occur in any sapient species, even those who do not have a traditional view of a heavenly afterlife. Godmarked resemble their parent species with one or more features which reveal their celestial heritage. Despite their divine origins, godmarked are often viewed with fear or awe by society at large which believes them to be divine agents of the gods. They are often contrasted with sinborn, who arise from superficially similar circumstances.

Origin

The popular perception is that godmarked are the offspring of a mortal and a celestial being, most often an angel. However, angels are more like automatons created to serve their pantheons, and thus typically would be incapable of procreating at all. The most common origin of a godmarked, then, is the child of someone who has been in some way infused with divine power. For instance, the divinely-chosen champion of a god may have one or more godmarked children, as might someone who has traveled to an afterlife and spent more than a few moments there.
Alternately, a godmarked may be born when the circumstances of their conception are exceptional. A child conceived and carried completely to term in an incredibly holy location may absorb the divine energies that consecrate the place, for example. Additionally, if a pregnant person or unhatched egg are subject to powerful divine energies, it may transform them. The most common event is when a person carrying a child is treated with powerful restorative magic like those to heal deadly wounds, cure virulent diseases, or remove powerful curses.
None of these circumstances guarantees a child will be a godmarked, however. The rarity of these events, combined with the unlikelihood of them creating a godmarked, explains their rarity.

Physical Description

Godmarked are always distinguished by some feature that marks them as divinely touched. This can be rather generic (such as golden skin, a halo of light around their head, or glowing eyes) or specific to a deity or pantheon (such as skin crackling with electricity from a lightning god or facial markings resembling a god's holy symbol). Otherwise, they resemble a fairly ordinary member of their species. The features typically inspire awe, reverence, or devotion in viewers. Even those who are not particularly devout or spiritual will gain a sense of wonder from the godmarked.
Aside from their physical appearance, godmarked sometimes possess divine powers. These powers typically give insight into where their divine spark originated. A godmarked who can heal with a touch might have been blessed by a god of healing, while one who can compel a person to speak the truth may have been touched by a god of laws.

Societal Perception

Godmarked often have a complicated relationship with the societies in which they live. On one hand, they are often trusted inherently and find people going out of their way to be generous, helpful, and friendly to them. This means a godmarked rarely faces hardship in their lives, as they can often find someone to help them out. Even strangers find themselves inclined to help out.
However, this kindness often has a distance and impersonality about it. A godmarked rarely find themselves with close friends. They are seen as otherworldy and more than mortal, something apart from the societies in which they live. People tend to view them with awe, desire, or jealousy. This often raises walls between them and others, much as those in high positions of power or with great fame find themselves. Those who try to get close to a godmarked can seem to be inauthentic or looking to take advantage of them rather than out of any true sense of affection.
Thus godmarked find themselves in a position of contradiction. Respected, but not loved; welcome, but not wanted; a part of their communities, but always kept at arm's length.