Harbingers

GENERAL INFO
The most blatant difference between the City and our world is the existence of harbingers.

A harbinger is a human born with a single mutation that makes them different from those around them: they are blessed (and cursed) with a supernatural ability, but at a price. This ability can be as benign as being able to accurately predict the weather, to as dangerous as breathing fire. Similarly, the price they pay (also known as their restitution) can be as trivial as humming a short tune, to as severe as losing years off their lives. There is no way around paying this price; for most harbingers, it is an instinct inherent at birth, one that automatically takes priority after the use of their ability. For the rest, their prices have already been paid in full.

Usually, there is a balance between the power and restitution; the more dangerous and flexible the power, the harsher the restitution. A supernaturally talented juggler might only have to go up and down a staircase twice to pay their price, while someone who can make plants grow with a single touch might have to swallow three fistfuls of mud to pay theirs. A harbinger doesn't have to hate their restitution; in fact, the ones who enjoy it are the luckiest ones.

Note that most harbingers are immune to their own powers.

There are two types of harbingers:

TYPE 1: The ones who have paid a single, permanent price at birth, but are affected by it for the rest of their lives. For example, Shade has the capability to manipulate shadows, but has an acute sensitivity to light - a 60 watt light blub can seem like a small search light to her.

TYPE 2: The ones who must pay a small price after each use of their ability. These small prices can gradually accumulate to have a devastating long-term effect, or can just be something simple and harmless (if not slightly annoying). For example, each time Lumine uses her power, she feels the compulsion to gather a bit of the debris from what she has destroyed and carries it with her for a while after the fact.

Neither category is classified as more dangerous than the other. Type 2 harbingers, however, are far more common than Type 1.

The only physical difference between a harbinger and a normal human is the color and intensity of their eyes. Harbingers are generally born with abnormally hued, strangely bright irises. Those born with eyes closest to normal are considered luckier than the rest, since they have an easier time concealing their abnormality and blending into society.


IN SOCIETY
Harbingers are, essentially, mutated humans, and are treated as such. They are outnumbered 1:500 in the City and are mostly discriminated against, particularly in the Centrifuge. In the Radius, they are recognized for being possibly advantageous, but are still treated with fear and hesitation. Many harbingers make an effort to fit in among the normal population; others join the gangs in the Radius, which are far more receptive of their abilities.

Recently, more effort has been put into understanding them. The Centrifuge in particular is extremely invested in harbinger research, particularly in the concept of restitutions and the unpredictable nature of the mutation that gives them their supernatural abilities. In addition, many harbinger births occur in completely normal families, while many harbinger couples have powerless children. Nothing concrete has been proven as of yet.


THE INDEX
The moment someone is discovered to be a harbinger (usually at birth by the color of their eyes, or at a young age after several incidents), by law they are immediately registered into the Index. The Index is a database that compiles the records of all harbingers known to reside in the City, and includes details on his/her ability, restitution, and contact information. The Index is regularly updated with new information.

It is entirely possible for a harbinger to not be discovered by their parents and peers, and even be unaware of it themselves, but the chances are very slim (must speak to a mod about).