# Ealdor Breath

By [Helixa TCG](https://paragraph.com/@helixa-tcg) · 2023-10-20

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_"Insooth, the mind and the corpus are inseparably entwined. Therein lies the profound flaw of the ealdor breath; for in the exchange of life's essence, so too are the recollections of the flesh bequeathed."_

_~ The Blaspheme Morah._

In the annals of arcane knowledge resides a taboo practice. A sinister piece of magery, it grants its caster the ability to exchange life forces between one being and another. Among the myriad spells known to sorcerers, it is discussed in hushed tones with caution. Its reputation, more feared than even the dark practices of necromancy, stems not just from its inherent danger, but from the weight of its moral implications.

The dire repercussions of the ealdor breath are noted with grim reservation. When a being is subjected to such extreme transformation, the aftermath is seldom without consequence. The profound alterations to the physical form invariably strain the mind, often pushing it to the brink, with madness lurking in its shadow. Beyond the physical, the scars of past traumas, deeply embedded within the flesh, rise to the fore, manifesting as unyielding pains and unsettling ticks.

While there exist scant tales of the spell achieving its purpose without driving its subjects to the edge of sanity, they are few and far between. Even in those rare successes, an unsettling change can usually be palpable. Those once familiar find themselves estranged, their loved ones sensing an eerie difference in their personality.

Some mages, seduced by the illusion of everlasting life, descend to unspeakable depths, seeking out the young to pilfer their vital essence. These are called "Switchers". Within city walls a Switcher's reign of terror is often short-lived. After their second or third transference, their waning grasp on caution, blurred by the encroaching madness, betrays them.

Yet there are those who have evaded justice's clutches. These ancient creatures find refuge in distant hamlets, casting shadows of dread upon the local villagers. In these secluded reaches, tales of their wickedness tend to seep into local lore. Huddled by dim campfires, stories like "The Switcher and the Cooper" come to life, sending shivers down the spines of listeners, eliciting squeals of fearful delight from children.

The Benemor Empire has placed this spell among the gravest of prohibitions. None dare weave its threads unless bearing the explicit sanction of the Emperor himself or they face a painful, public execution.

Despite the spectre of mortality that now shadows him, Emperor Benim Cad, recoiled from the suggestion of the use of the ealdor breath as a possible remedy. His trepidation lay not merely in the potential loss of his keen intellect but in a more profound fear: that the ensuing madness might consume him, turning his legacy to ashes, and drowning his empire in a cataclysm of blood and flame of his own making.

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*Originally published on [Helixa TCG](https://paragraph.com/@helixa-tcg/ealdor-breath)*