Describing the detailed skin patterns of omruns as “foreskeletons” is a misnomer that stretches back to some of the earliest histories kept by the melodians. One such tale, The Skeleton Tribe, claims the term comes from a no longer extant group of people whose foreskels were long lines in an off-white color. It is no surprise this tribe would equate these markings with skeletons.
It is common in many regions for foreskels to be referred to as whorls. This more recent name for the natural designs coincides with the spread of a few large civilizations, such as the Elorians, whose foreskels are curved or wavy. Eschewing use of the more traditional term for whorls is thought by some scholars to be a form of exclusionary tactic. Again going back to the Elorians, they often conflict with the Sheofites whose foreskels are angular lines or triangles.
There is a long history of bias when it comes to the foreskel. With overarching elements being regional it is a naturally-occurring labeling of outsiders. Noting colors, or angles versus whorls, is often the first thing observed about a stranger. With foreskels covering so much of the body it can be very difficult to conceal in foreign lands and has been pointed to by many scholars as a reason why immigration is not common.
Foreskel patterns are unique to an individual, but they have similarities within bloodlines. Experts can frequently identify family connections between people after examining the patterns on their bare backs. Such experts, known as lineage readers or sometimes as skin cartographers, can generally identify a close family connection from patterns on part of an arm or the neck. This is a well-established method for proving paternity without the use of sensitivity.
Any history of the foreskel would be incomplete without some mention of those born without the markings: the unpatterned. There is debate about the earliest references to people without foreskels, but most scholars place it between 6,000 and 8,000 gyres ago. These early unpatterned, then known as blanks, were thought to be cursed or perhaps banished from the sight of the Initiator. Later legends claimed that unpatterned were immune to magic, though this has been proven false. Many unpatterned do find the use of magic distasteful, and there has never been a verified instance of an unpatterned becoming a magus. Whether that is due to the social stigma or to an actual inability is presently unknown.
Lastly, it should be noted that some claims have been made about unique foreskels; people born with markings that match neither parent or even the region. These stories have existed for hundreds of gyres but remain in the realm of fiction. Every attempt to verify these stories has resulted in the unique foreskel being proven a fake. All foreskels are variations of the same patterns that have existed since the first omruns.
Kristofor Loren Carlson 