The "curse" of the du Toit family, including [[Oriann du Toit]]. The male line of the du Toit family has near infinite magical potential. They gather magic from their surroundings, storing it in an organ that no other human has.
The organ in question is a system of nerve-like tissue spread throughout the body. The energy is evenly distributed over the tissue. But if it is allowed to gather for more than 18 years, it will instead start to flow towards a single point, usually near the head. This causes a tumor, and, if their arcane energy is never used, the organ will swell up, and rupture at 25. Usually killing the individual immediately.
In the early 1600s, the du Toit family was an infamous family of mages. Thanks to their aristocratic wealth, they were able to procure materials and knowledge from all over the known world.
The family's golden age came to an end when the head of the family started trying to create the perfect magical storage device. Conventionally crystals, potions, and servants were used for storing energy. But none of these were able to store enough magic to enable the most powerful magics known to the family.
Zovier du Toit got so desperate in trying to find a source of magic powerful enough for his spells, that he turned to his own children as test subjects. His experiments killed all but the youngest child, leaving the young man with a near infinite magical potential.
He killed his father and escaped the family mansion for the city. Where he managed to make a living and build a family. The young man died at 25 of an unexplained cancer, a disease inherited by every man born into the family.
