Wyldness

Legend

Tales of creatures acting suspiciously or watching from afar have been collectively attributed to Wylds, phenomena where a man and a beast share a soul. Their thoughts and constitutions melded as one—pain and sensation mirrored and enacted by each. The cause of Wyld’s birth isn’t understood, but it is clearly not infectious. One popular story, especially among Lizardkin and Fauns, is that they emerge when a child is met in its crib by the beast they will come to share a spirit with. These unions are subtly alluded to by the presence of a mirrored, glowing birthmark*: found on the face or chest, it stands as a sort of signature of each Wyld’s bond.
*This mark is unique to each Wyld, glowing brightly and cannot be covered lest it burns a hole in one's clothing to expose itself to the world.
This mark can also be seen through Raw Magic spell, "Perceive Magic"

While more innocuous than other afflictions, Wylds are not free of suspicion. Their ability to be in two places at once has obvious benefits to spymasters and criminals—two professions they are frequent patrons of. Like all afflictions, they’re held in contempt by the Sanctum for moral crimes that led to their damnation. In this case, their inherent trickery is used to frame them as compulsive liars that should never be trusted. Finding employment outside of illicit or covert markets is often tricky, which continues to reinforce the temple’s dogma against them. 

In some cultures, this couldn’t be further from the case. Indigenous tribes usually hold Wylds in high reverence for their “innate connection to [the] natural forces”. These communities employ them as shamans, truth-seers, and leaders of older ways. The customs herein have often been cited to be the real reason the Sanctum shuns their ilk—something of course the temple’s faithful vehemently deny. 

Description

A Wyld is a union of two bodies, man and beast, with a soul shared between. Animals capable of this union are small—often classed as Critters in official Monstrology records—or domestic pets*. In sporadic cases,** greater Wylds have been reported—but few have been substantiated. These bonds last for life and are unalterable in all ways besides death; however, the animal part of a Wyld will live well beyond their natural lifespan in the same health as their humanoid counterpart. They can enjoy the physical advantages that come with either of their bodies – including the practice of magic – though only the humanoid body can actually cast spells.
*Any tamable critter can be a Wyld; Cats, dogs, fowl, ferrets, rabbits, and hedgehogs are also included.
**Staff Members may be Wylds of any known creature for events.

All nutrients, knowledge, feelings, instincts, and sensations are shared between the bodies. This can work to the advantage of reconnaissance* or combat**, but carries the significant risk of injury. Any loss made upon one body will be mirrored in equal measure upon the other—including death**. This can make Wylds of more volant animals, like birds, particularly susceptible to loss due to the nature of their fragile half-form. Still, injuries heal, and any remedy made to one body will automatically affect the other in kind. Moreover, it is incredibly easy for a Wyld to be identified. Not only do their glowing marks reveal themselves to the world, but their feelings and instincts are interconnected; if one feels, it also translates to the other. (e.g., if a Dog Wyld gets scared by a noise, their human counterpart also will suddenly feel scared.)
*A Wyld’s bodies are spiritually tethered despite being able to function independently. They cannot exceed a distance of a hundred (100) feet from each other, or else the bond will snap and both shall perish.
**The animal component of a Wyld is PTK/PTC, like its humanoid counterpart. Players are expected to adequately roleplay mirrored injuries (e.g., a Wyld bird being shot with an arrow would feel like being skewered with a spear).

Through the collaboration of body and mind, Wylds are known to exhibit different behaviors. They often take on specific quirks accustomed to their beastly halves: whether it be compulsive hoarding, stalking, or blind loyalty—they vary as much as the animals they are bound to*. The question of how much influence the beast component has is a topic of debate among philosophers; on one hand, Wylds can lead pretty ordinary lives, while on the other, they’ve been known to “snap” under intense pressure. Instinct, perhaps, is overwhelming the sense of self. Until their origins are correctly understood, it’s unlikely this debate will find closure.

*Though they share mind and body, Animal Wylds can't understand human speech and Human Wylds can't understand Animal sounds.