The Shadow of the Gods

The Tainted are the literal manifestations of The Impacts of Cultural Memory: They are humans descended from one of the dead gods. For example, Berak and Glornir are both descended from the bear god, Berser.

Being one of the Tainted is both a blessing and a curse, as their heritage grants them extraordinary abilities, such as enhanced strength, speed, endurance, and, for some, access to magic. However, the same power isolates them from the rest of humanity, marking them as “other.” In the wake of the gods’ downfall, they are viewed with suspicion, disdain, or outright hatred. Their powers, derived from the gods whose conflicts nearly destroyed the world, are a reminder of the chaos and destruction that divine forces once wrought. As a result, the Tainted are scapegoated, enslaved, and hunted, their existence framed as a threat to societal stability. The danger inherent in being discovered leads to most hiding and suppressing their abilities when they can. The Bloodsworn, later revealed to be entirely comprised of Tainted people, band together for mutual support.

On an individual level, the Tainted symbolize the struggle for self-acceptance and the complexities of identity. Characters who are Tainted or interact with them must navigate a world that defines them by their blood rather than their choices.