skinbinding

Skinbinding refers to a fictional concept, primarily found in fantasy literature and role-playing games, where an individual physically merges or binds their life force or essence with another living creature's skin. This process is often depicted as a dark or forbidden art, involving magical rituals and the sacrifice of the bound creature. The primary effect of skinbinding is typically the transference of the bound creature's physical attributes, such as enhanced strength, speed, senses, or even specific abilities like venom or camouflage, to the binder.

The nature of the bond can vary. In some interpretations, the skin of the bound creature is shed and then adhered to the binder's own body, creating a new, composite form. In others, the binder might gain the creature's abilities without a visible physical transformation, though often at a significant cost. This cost can include psychological changes, a gradual loss of self, or the need to constantly feed or maintain the bound creature's life force. The bound creature itself is often depicted as being severely weakened, driven to madness, or utterly consumed by the process.

Skinbinding is rarely presented as a beneficial or ethical practice, usually associated with villains or characters driven by desperation or a lust for power. The magical mechanics behind skinbinding are often left vague, relying on arcane energies, dark pacts, or forbidden knowledge. The concept explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the corrupting influence of forbidden power.