Vitalization

From Mizahar Lore

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Vitalization

Gnosis
Life is the Greatest Adventure
Granted by	Kihala
Positive marks	Granting Life, Restoring Life
Negative marks	None
Pos. mark appearance	A circle of Interlocking Lines
Neg. mark appearance	N/A
Mark location	Top of hand
First mark	After a profound display for the concept of life
Champion	None as of yet.

Vitalization is the gnosis of Kihala, the Goddess of Life. Those marked by Kihala are known as Marassa. Marassa serve as midwifes and commonly bless pregnant women as they are givers of life. They also engage in seeking out those who have died in a manner opposite to what fate has decreed. Those who have died before their time due to murder or accident are targets for the Marassa. Those individuals are seen as having died before their time and the Marassa work to remedy that by bringing said individuals back to life. Marassa are always the epitome of health and vitality and seek to spread that to others. The Marassa are not a formal religion. Instead they are individual marked persons who work to enact Kihala's will. As a result, they are highly respected in numerous cities and work alongside followers of Rak'keli amd Caiyha to encourage health and life.

Marking Process

Acquiring a mark from Kihala is not an easy thing. Simply having a respect for life is not enough. One must actively work toward encouraging life and helping it flourish. This is why healers and those who practice medicine are prime candidates for being marked. It doesn't matter if it is humans or animals, those who engage in the practice of healing and preservation of life are more likely than not to be marked. Kihala will never mark those who take action that opposes life. Those who follow gods such as Rhysol, Krysus and Uldr will never be marked while those who follow the will of Rak'keli, Caiyha and occasionally, Dira may be marked. The relationship between Dira and Kihala is a respectful one that acknowledges the need for both life and death in the natural cycle. Neither Goddess however will mark the followers of the other with anything beyond two marks. Being marked by both Goddesses is rare. Most mortals are unable to mentally and spiritually navigate the fine line that exists between life and death. Those small few who do, embrace and promote life while also accepting and respecting the need for all life to eventually end. They are in constant struggle against those who would seek to end life as well as though who seek to unnaturally prolong their own. This conflict, both outwardly as well as inwardly, takes a huge toll on these individuals which is why both Goddesses will only mark the same person if there is a great need and/or the person is exceptionally in-tune with the two sides of the cycle.

Mark and Mechanics

A single marked Marassa is a beacon of life. They are able to grant life to depictions of life such as paintings, sculptures and statues crafted with at least a Competent skill. These depictions of life acquire full living properties based on the organism they depict. For example, a painting of a flower, granted life by a Masarra, will become fully alive. Simply by touching the painting and invoking the gnosis, the Masarra can gift life to the depiction. Another example, a wood carving of a fish may be given life as well. Of course, in these instances, some accommodations must be made as far as a pot and soil for the plant or a bowl of water for the fish. A single marked Masarra can grant life to a depiction of life no larger than a small dog or cat, flower or small bush. They may give life to up to 3 depictions and must revitalize these depictions once ever 10 days by touching them and invoking the mark. These depictions are mundane in that they are not supernatural or otherwise separate from the natural world. If they are not maintained through revitalization, they will revert to their unliving forms. If they are damaged or killed through non-natural means, they will revert to their unliving forms. Uniquely, if a depiction is killed for the sake of aiding the life of others, they will be treated as being a once living entity. In other words, if a painting of a tomato plant is given life, it can provide tomatoes as if it were a fully living plant. If the carving of a rabbit is given life then killed in order to feed someone, it produces meat as if it were a real rabbit. Depictions of life will only live and act as if they were a fully living creature.

If a depiction of life is killed or otherwise dies from wounds, old age or lack of revitalization, they return to their otherwise unliving state. A painting of a flower that dies becomes a painting again although it may exhibit signs of damage or destruction.

Single marked Masarra can also restore life to creatures that have died by means other than natural. Any deceased creature equal to or smaller than a small dog, cat, flower or small bush can be restored to life as long as they have died due to unnatural causes. Death by old age or natural causes cannot be reversed. Otherwise, any being that fits within the size restrictions and who is not considered sentient, may be restored to life as long as they have not been dead for more than 10 days. These resurrected creatures are oblivious to the fact that they died and remember nothing of the moment of death. They return to life as if they never died.

A second marked Masarra may grant life to a depiction as large and complex as a large dog, pig, goat or small tree or large bush/flower. They may only do this for up to 3 depictions for up to 10 days until they must revitalize. Natural death is still a factor and a depiction may only last as long as the entity which they represent would. These Masarra are also able to restore life to similar living beings as those of the depictions. These restored individuals must be deceased no longer than 10 days although they will not remember their deaths or dying. They continue on as if they never had died.

Priests of Kihala are the beacons of life and vitality. They can grant life to depictions of life on a much greater scale. Depictions of life that can be given life are limited to the size and complexity of a full grown horse, medium sized tree or large bush. The priest(ess) of Kihala only need to revitalize their depictions once every 20 days and they are as alive as the source of their depictions. Priest(ess) may also restore life to a sentient being that has been dead for no more than 10 days. This is a full resurrection and the being that is raised from death has no memory of their death and will continue their lives as if they never died. Their must be a significant amount of remains in order to do this however. When the mark is enacted, the remains literally restitch flesh, bone and organs; fully regenerating the deceased and removing any signs of wounds or physical damage.

The Champion of Kihala can grant depictions of life, up to 3 at any one time, full and stable life without the need for revitalization. These depictions are considered to be living in every sense of the word. While non-sentient life of any size and complexity can be given true life, the Champion may grant a single depiction full life. Only one living depiction can exist at any one time in this manner but it is in all ways, alive. The Champion may also restore life to any sentient being that has been dead for no more than a year as long as there is a significant amount of remains.

Mark Progression

Marked [Cursed] - 1 Gnosis Mark
	Those marked by Kihala have the ability to grant life to works of art created with a Competent skill level. They are also able to restore life to deceased creatures who have died of unnatural causes, restrictions apply.
Favored [Despised] - 2 Gnosis Marks
	Favored Masarra are able to grant life to larger more complex works and are able to restore life to equivalent beings who were once alive.
Priest/Priestess [Adversary] - 3 Gnosis Marks
	Priests/Priestesses of Kihala can grant life to even larger depictions of life for a longer period of time and can restore life to deceased sentient beings.
Champion [Nemesis] - 4 Gnosis Marks
	The Champion of Kihala can grant life to any mundane depiction of life and can restore life to someone who has died of unnatural causes who has been dead for less than a year.