The Taint was the corruptive power associated with the Shadowlands and Fu Leng, a manifestation of Jigoku's hold on the mortal realm. Only blessed materials like jade showed any signs of preventing the physical and mental corruption inherent in the Shadowlands and its creatures. [1]
Symptoms of the Taint[]
The Taint eventually consumed anyone it touched. Their skin turned pale, their hair turned lank and greasy, and their veins slowly turned black as if filled with a foul ichor. At the same time, a Tainted individual became short-tempered, erratic, and eventually dangerous to all those around them. The Taint could even cause the dead to rise as zombies if it was powerful enough. [2] There were organized groups in Rokugan who tracked and chased down those tainted individuals, such as the Jade Magistrates [3] and the Kuni Witch Hunters. [4]
Protection from the Taint[]
Those who wore Jade were protected from the taint, as the precious material absorbed the corruption instead. This eventually destroyed the jade, which made it one of the most valuable substances in Rokugan. [2] Jade Petal Tea was a special beverage that could slow the corruption's effects. [5]
Taint in Other Realms[]
The realms of Chikushō-dō, Yomi, and Tengoku were beyond Jigoku's reach. The Taint's manifestation was different for each realm: [6]
- Tōshigoku: beings affected by Jigoku in the Realm of Slaughter slowly grew more monstrous and animalistic, losing all instinct and thought except for violence.
- Gaki-dō: tainted beings of the Realm of the Hungry Dead became increasingly angry and slowly cought fire, until they were completely enveloped by bright flames. Such entities ultimately became powerful demons driven only to feed everything to their twisted flames.
- Meido: in the Realm of Waiting, those affected slowly had their thoughts replaced by an increasing sense of foreboding. Eventually they became convinced that they were actually in a realm of punishment and that mazoku were tricking them by making it look like Meido.
- Sakkaku: animal tricksters were more likely to succumb to Jigoku's sway than those who follow Chikushō-dō. Such beings slowly loose their self-restraint, gradually reverting to nonsentient beasts governed only by instinct, following each random thought or notion.
- Yume-dō: dreams become nightmares when exposed to Jigoku's twisted touch, and beings of Yume-dō swiftly transformed into monstrous abominations.
References
 |
This Shadowlands related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here. |