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Description

Biogaunt Symbiotes are grown like fruit from a Castus Parasirum, a tree-like growth found across Sordehal. With thick, black bark, the Castus Parasirum almost always possess the face of a humanoid man or woman twisted in a expression of agony.
All Castus Parasirum were once living people who, due to age, insanity, or despair, lose control of their biogaunt and find themselves consumed by it.
Anyone seeking to become a biomancer for whatever reason must seek out a Castus Parasirum and offer their arm to the tree to be chosen by a biogaunt symbiote growing high in the branches.
Should one accept the potential biomancer, it will lower itself down on a vine to the offered hand where it attaches itself, wrapping its six segmented legs around the wrist and opening a toothy maw on its abdomen to chew into the skin and muscle, allowing for it to integrate itself into the host’s nervous system.
The joining is an incredibly painful process for both symbiote and host as their DNA is rewritten. The symbiot changes its appearance to match the personality and aesthetic of the host as well as producing a control gem from its back that allows for the interpretation of thought and genetic data through pulses of light across the biomancer’s skin and eyes.
Though the majority of joinings result in the death of both the host and symbiote, should both survive, the host’s body will be healed of any injuries, afflictions, and genetic anomalies. The host is also granted an extended life span free of disease and enhanced strength and endurance at the cost of a highly increased metabolism. (and baggy sleeves)
No one knows why some are able to survive the joining as there is no apparent logic to who lives and who dies. Perfectly healthy adults often perish while the Sea Ranger Beryl survived as a sickly toddler. The commonly held belief is that survivors are determined by their “will to live.”
Once a joining is complete and the biomancer’s DNA has settled into it’s peak configuration, that individual gains the ability to manipulate the cells of their own body through thought as well as the DNA of any living organism they physically touch with bare skin.
The use of biomancy is limited only by the mental capacity of the biomancer and the available organic matter. Biomancers cannot create organic matter, only repurpose it, forcing them to sacrifice mass and energy from their own bodies to alter others. Biomancer must almost always eat after extended use of their powers.
Over time, different cultures developed different specializations for their biomancy as the “magic” art evolved.
Hyaran biomancers are able to produce materials in their fingers that create a spark when they snap, igniting gaseous fuel produced from their body to spout flames and explosions.
Drona biomancers are able manipulate quicksilver after integrating it into their blood.
Kelgroz biomancers can affect plants they are not in contact with by reaching through the soil with their feet.
Sarmiran biomancers of the Pearl Consortium are able to copy various aspects of sea life including camouflaged skin and electric projection.
Biomancers of the ancient Mol’anath cult discovered a means to break the primordial lockouts set into all biogaunts in ancient prehistory. This knowledge has been believed lost since the Mol’anath were defeated over 600 years ago.
The primordial lockouts are a series or rules built into all biogaunts, supposedly by the gods, back during the civilization of the Progenitors, that prevent the gross misuse of their power.
The lockouts prevent the permanent alteration of DNA, allowing for changes to revert to their natural state over time as the organism’s genes reassert themselves.
Also prevented is the creation of full organisms from base materials, known as “genesis,” and the alteration of microorganisms into virulent plagues.
Due to the primordial lockouts, the pockets of survivors left after the Ancient Cataclysm were forced to use their biomancy slowly, over many generations, to alter themselves enough to thrive in the new, hostile lands left behind until they diverged into the various races of Sordehal.

Description

Biogaunt Symbiotes are grown like fruit from a Castus Parasirum, a tree-like growth found across Sordehal. With thick, black bark, the Castus Parasirum almost always possess the face of a humanoid man or woman twisted in a expression of agony.
All Castus Parasirum were once living people who, due to age, insanity, or despair, lose control of their biogaunt and find themselves consumed by it.
Anyone seeking to become a biomancer for whatever reason must seek out a Castus Parasirum and offer their arm to the tree to be chosen by a biogaunt symbiote growing high in the branches.
Should one accept the potential biomancer, it will lower itself down on a vine to the offered hand where it attaches itself, wrapping its six segmented legs around the wrist and opening a toothy maw on its abdomen to chew into the skin and muscle, allowing for it to integrate itself into the host’s nervous system.
The joining is an incredibly painful process for both symbiote and host as their DNA is rewritten. The symbiot changes its appearance to match the personality and aesthetic of the host as well as producing a control gem from its back that allows for the interpretation of thought and genetic data through pulses of light across the biomancer’s skin and eyes.
Though the majority of joinings result in the death of both the host and symbiote, should both survive, the host’s body will be healed of any injuries, afflictions, and genetic anomalies. The host is also granted an extended life span free of disease and enhanced strength and endurance at the cost of a highly increased metabolism. (and baggy sleeves)
No one knows why some are able to survive the joining as there is no apparent logic to who lives and who dies. Perfectly healthy adults often perish while the Sea Ranger Beryl survived as a sickly toddler. The commonly held belief is that survivors are determined by their “will to live.”
Once a joining is complete and the biomancer’s DNA has settled into it’s peak configuration, that individual gains the ability to manipulate the cells of their own body through thought as well as the DNA of any living organism they physically touch with bare skin.
The use of biomancy is limited only by the mental capacity of the biomancer and the available organic matter. Biomancers cannot create organic matter, only repurpose it, forcing them to sacrifice mass and energy from their own bodies to alter others. Biomancer must almost always eat after extended use of their powers.
Over time, different cultures developed different specializations for their biomancy as the “magic” art evolved.
Hyaran biomancers are able to produce materials in their fingers that create a spark when they snap, igniting gaseous fuel produced from their body to spout flames and explosions.
Drona biomancers are able manipulate quicksilver after integrating it into their blood.
Kelgroz biomancers can affect plants they are not in contact with by reaching through the soil with their feet.
Sarmiran biomancers of the Pearl Consortium are able to copy various aspects of sea life including camouflaged skin and electric projection.
Biomancers of the ancient Mol’anath cult discovered a means to break the primordial lockouts set into all biogaunts in ancient prehistory. This knowledge has been believed lost since the Mol’anath were defeated over 600 years ago.
The primordial lockouts are a series or rules built into all biogaunts, supposedly by the gods, back during the civilization of the Progenitors, that prevent the gross misuse of their power.
The lockouts prevent the permanent alteration of DNA, allowing for changes to revert to their natural state over time as the organism’s genes reassert themselves.
Also prevented is the creation of full organisms from base materials, known as “genesis,” and the alteration of microorganisms into virulent plagues.
Due to the primordial lockouts, the pockets of survivors left after the Ancient Cataclysm were forced to use their biomancy slowly, over many generations, to alter themselves enough to thrive in the new, hostile lands left behind until they diverged into the various races of Sordehal.