The term 'misborn' was used by the Sorceresses of Rossak in a derogatory manner to describe their physically or mentally impaired children, whom they abandoned in the jungles of Rossak shortly after birth. Because of the Sorceresses' focus on genetic perfection, boys, and any girls born to their group who did not possess their telekinetic powers, were deemed failures. But children born with prominent genetic defects - not an uncommon event on Rossak - were regarded with particular scorn, and were taken out into the wild jungles and left there to die.