Siren imprintation

A form of biological bonding that a siren from 'The Realm' may employ upon a preferred target. Typically done when smitten by a victim during the course of feeding or mating, a siren who imprints upon a host becomes eternally bound to them, and will only ever-after return to them and them alone for future feeding or mating attempts. While the natural order of things minimizes the actual contact given between the siren and her host, those that remain ashore become subservient and adopt a 'master and pet'-style relationship, unable to resist the nature of their bond or deny the one they have imprinted upon. This shows up on the host upon some part of their body, in the shape of a birthmark-like discoloration that often looks like a feather or small wing. The siren may hide or reveal this blemish at will via a minor magical incantation. If a siren dies following an imprintation, the visual acknowledgement of her bond upon the host remains in place; if it had been hidden, it will become revealed at the time of the siren's demise.

The imprint of a siren to her host is only half of the complete process, however; a specific situation must result from the nature of this bonding to complete the imprint, otherwise the siren is left hollow and longing for that which she cannot achieve on her own, leading to the concept of siren songs having sad or depressing overtones. The siren is unwilling to divulge the secret of this process-completing act, however, due to racial sanctity that renders them mute on the topic, but it is said to be a fairly simple and straightforward premise that is, nonetheless, extremely-rarely achieved.

If a siren attempts to imprint upon a second target while her bond is still in effect from a previous host, she becomes an Oathbreaker.

Siren imprintation can be removed through an act that is not altogether dissimilar to that which can cause the bond to become finalized, with the difference being in the nature of how it is applied. This, too, is outside the ability of the siren to expound upon, for similar reasons. If an Oathbreaker has her original imprintation removed in this way, the offending feather will also lose its color and return to normal, as well. If a siren attempts to willingly defy the bond between her and her host, such as attempts to deny given requests or become resentful under emotional distress, the visual indicator on the host will develop a faint tingling sensation, but nothing else will come of it.