===== Sigils in Forgotten Gods =====
Sigils are the written, carved, painted, or inscribed language of the divine. They are not mere symbols — they are anchors of belief, each tied to a specific god or divine force. A sigil is both a message and a presence: it can be read, but it can also act.

==== Core Principles ====
  * **God-Specific Language:** Each divinity maintains its own set of glyphs, prayer-signs, runes, or marks. Even related gods rarely share the same full lexicon.  
  * **Living Symbols:** A sigil is more than ink or carving; it is a standing agreement between the maker and the divine. Its potency depends on the strength of that connection.  
  * **Context Matters:** Where and how the sigil is placed shapes its power. A sigil of protection carved into a doorframe may act differently than the same mark scrawled in blood on a body.  
  * **Seed of the Divine:** A functional sigil requires a divine seed — pigment mixed with relic dust, carving with a consecrated blade, or inscription made during a sacred event.

==== Functions of Sigils ====
Sigils can:  
  * Mark a location or object for divine attention.  
  * Empower a surface with a minor, domain-specific effect.  
  * Ward or invite specific supernatural influences.  
  * Convey messages to followers or servants of the god, sometimes without human-readable form.  

Sigils cannot:  
  * Replace full rituals for large-scale or lasting effects.  
  * Function indefinitely without being refreshed.  
  * Cross divine boundaries — a sigil from one god cannot carry another’s authority without corruption.

==== Creating a Sigil ====
Treat sigil-making as a simplified ritual:  
  * **Divine Seed** *(mandatory)*  
  * **Symbolic Resonance** — materials or tools tied to the god’s imagery or domain.  
  * **Placement Context** — location and medium must align with the intended effect.  
  * **Personal Cost** *(optional but potent)* — sacrifice increases duration or potency.

==== Duration & Decay ====
  * Without renewal, sigils fade physically and spiritually over time.  
  * Weathering, deliberate defacement, or desecration can end their power prematurely.  
  * Some sigils resist erasure, leaving faint traces that continue to whisper their meaning.

==== Example Sigils ====
  * **The Crooked Eye:** Marks an area as “seen” by the god; trespassers find themselves watched by unseen presences.  
  * **Spiral of Ash:** Burned into a wall, creates a one-night ward against a god’s enemies.  
  * **The Threaded Mouth:** Stitched into cloth, muffles speech within a small area when activated with a prayer.