A mysterious and inescapable omen, the Mark of Death manifests on any living creature exactly one week to the second before their fated death. It appears on a visible part of the body, most commonly the face, neck, or forearms, as a faint, glowing sigil that slowly darkens over time. No magic has ever prevented, hidden, or delayed the mark’s appearance. Constructs and undead are immune, untouched by the fate it foretells.
They have categorized the mark into four distinct levels, each signifying the nature and severity of the coming death:
Level One — The Gentle Passing
A calm, natural, and peaceful death. Those marked at this level often die in their sleep, or of simple age and frailty.
Example: An elderly person passing quietly after a long, fulfilled life.
Level Two — The Worn Flame
A death anticipated, yet mournful. These marks appear on those who have fought long battles with illness or decline.
Example: A patient succumbing to a long struggle with cancer.
Level Three — The Sudden Stillness
An unexpected but not horrific death. Those marked at this level may die from sudden sickness or misfortune.
Example: A traveler stricken with a rare disease or caught in an unforeseen accident.
Level Four — The Violent End
A mark of chaos and pain. These deaths come without warning and with violence.
Example: A soldier slain in battle, a victim of betrayal, or one who ends their own life.
As an action, you may touch the Mark of Death on a willing creature a number of times per long rest equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once).
When you do so, you are pulled into a brief vision of their final moments. The vision is silent — no voices, no cries, no sound at all — and shows only the marked individual and the environment where their death will occur. Any other creatures present at the time of their death appear as shadows or blurs, obscured by the veil of fate.
The vision lasts for up to one minute or until you willingly end it. When it concludes, you gain a lingering sense of unease, as though the mark has gazed back at you.
Comments