quiescent
Being "quiescent" is more of a social affliction than a physical one since technically a "normal" person without any handicaps. Whenever a hereditary supernatural ability skips a generation, the child is referred to a squib, especially if the condition is expected and wished for.
In Swynfaredia they are sometimes called "Gwags". A fairly rude term in Draconic meaning "empty". Because Swynfaredia takes sorcery more seriously than any other culture, the Gwag is slowly spreading elsewhere though in some places "squib" is used instead.
by me with Hero Forge
Causes
Some say it's simply a manner of blood thinning, but there a wide variety of superstitions regarding traits of the parents, the nature of a child's conceptions, and the actions of a pregnant mother believed to influence whether a child's magical ability breeds true or fizzles out.
Many of these superstitions are vague and contradictory.
History
It was only after the founding of the kingdom of Swynfaredia was the term "gwag" widely used. That was the first time in recorded history where a culture went out of it's way to try to encourage the births of sorcerers and sorcerers so when expected sorcerous births were not forthcoming, they needed a term for it.
Cultural Reception
Being quiescent is viewed as a bad thing by societies that value magical power such as Kingdom of Swynfaredia and to a lesser extant Kahdisteria. Elsewhere quiescents are just considered normal people When squib is used, it is usually as an insult but it can also be fact that no one likes to admit, similar to the label "bastard."
"Gwab" or "quiescent" can also be figurative. A person with weak sorcerous ability is technically a sorcerer but they may be called a "gwab" as a pejorative if they are weak sorcerer.
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