Major Taint

There are those who suffer what is known as a 'major taint' - it is believed by many that their soul is highly contaminated with nether. Such individuals are unable to channel thaumaturgy (and indeed find themselves susceptible to thaumaturgic Light, such as that wielded by the Knights Templar) and will find the touch of iron to be unbearable. Upon death, their nether-tainted soul will not depart, but will take the form of a wraith and continue to exist in the mortal realm, and may even be able to return to the body it came from, should the body be restored to a suitable state. Naturally, this major taint will allow the individual to more easily channel nether, should they choose to practice such things, and they may even have some inherent abilities related to such nether-manipulation that they may perform instinctively, without any training.

Those known to suffer a major taint are often mistrusted, shunned, or hunted, and thus many seek to keep their condition a secret. However, the effects of such a strong taint on the mortal body can manifest themselves in ways that may be difficult to conceal.