Sigil of Failed Endeavours

This mark causes the bearer to suffer failure in almost everything they turn their hand to. This sigil is used by clerics when a dwarf goes against the teachings of their creator when the crimes of that dwarf can't be fully proven to the civil authorities. The fact that the magic works is taken as proof enough by the clerics that they have acted in accordance with their deity's will.

Effect

This ritual causes a mark resembling a crossed out anvil to appear on the shoulder of the one targeted. This sigil brings with it the force of a deity's displeasure and the bearer will suffer from great misfortune in all that they do. Flaws will appear in items they craft, promising seams will run out almost immediately, and trade deals will always turn out to be to the bearer's disadvantage. Should the bearer be foolish enough to engage in combat when only lives of their opponent and their own life at a risk then they will find their blows and parries to be a little slow, with every one of their opponent's hits biting deep.

Side/Secondary Effects

The mark will be passed on to the bearer's descendents and then onto their descendents, cursing an entire line to near endless failure. While considered harsh by many, it is meant to act as a deterent by showing how not just one person is affected by straying from the teachings.
It is possible for the sigil to be lifted from a descendent, freeing that branch of the family from the effects of the mark. This requires the current bearer to live a life in perfect accord with the teachings, or to perform a great service for the dwarven people with no thought of reward beyond doing their duty.

This was written for Spooktober 2022 for the Misfortune prompt. Other Spooktober articles can be found in the Tremanac Spooktober 2022 page.

A mysterious mark

The subject of this ritual is not told about the sigil, and they don't even have to be in the vicinity when it is cast. They will simply find the mark on their shoulder one day. Those serving in the temples in the dwarven halls will not divulge what the mark is, but there is a general awareness in the halls that those with the sigil suffer from bad luck.