Blight
CW: Articles regarding Darkspawn do contain written descriptions of graphic violence and body horror imagery. Some may find the content disturbing. Discretion is advised.
If someone comes into contact with the blood of a Darkspawn there is a risk that that person might become infected with Blight. This disease is extremely deadly and dangerous, expected time to live after infection can be as low as one week. But the result of the disease isn't death but something far worse.
Transmission & Vectors
The most typical method of infection is to come into contact with a darkspawn of any variety. Darkspawn skin is notoriously pus-ridden and necrotic in nature leaving the opportunity for infection. The blood of these creatures is a nearly black dark red and tends to have a thicker, stickier consistency than regular blood. This means that blood splatter tends to latch onto whichever surface it lands on. This includes open wounds and orifices.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Blight are rapid and deadly if not correctly treated within mere hours. The stages are as listed
- The first symptoms is flushed face and fever, but the diseased is relatively normal and functioning. The most common method of determining a probably case is whether or not the victim has a near constant smile on their face; which they will never acknowledge. Disadvantage on Con Saves
- 24 hours the victims skin has become significantly paler. Additionally, blood hemorrhaging in the eyes, nose, and genitalia begins. This victim will also begin to experience auditory hallucinations. They often describe hearing "whispers like claws on glass" and "their mother singing lullabies". The infected is subject to "poisoned" condition.
- 48 hours, erratic violent behaviour begins to develop. Victims will try to avoid their companions violently if necessary. There is a desire to "follow the song". Eyelids and lips thin giving a ghoulish appearance. If critical treatment is not applied by this point, the infected will not likely survive. Alignment shifts one degree to evil
- 120 hours, the skin becomes dark and open wounds begin to appear. Particularly around the mouth and eyes, skin may being to peel and teeth begin become very prominent. Speech becomes difficult and aggressive behaviour becomes extreme. Victims will attack former friends and loved ones if attempts to restrain them are made. Alignment shifts one degree to evil or one degree to neutral evil
- After 1 week, the infected is completely lost to the Blight. Recovery is impossible and it is best to destroy the victim. Victim becomes is lost, becomes a ghoul. Only a Wish spell can recover the individual
Darkspawn corruption by Pheberoni
Treatment
The swiftest treatment is the inspect the potential victim for any open wounds. If there is darkspawn blood on near the wound, cleaning of the wound and sterilization should be an immediate action. If the wound appears several covered in Darkspawn blood, amputation of the limb will likely be necessary. A Remove Curse spell is also an effective if less dramatic option as well.
After stage 3, treatment becomes much more difficult. The psychological effects of the disease and extreme desire for solitude makes restraining the victim critical. A Remove Curse spell, immediately followed with a Greater Restoration spell will stabilize the infected and prevent further development. However, the victim will become a broken soul. They will never completely recover their health, both physically and mentally. They will remain thin, and will mutter constantly to themselves. Muttering about songs, the mother, and the city of unlight.
After stage 4, it is better to put the victim down while they have a semblance of their soul remaining.
Hosts & Carriers
Darkspawn are the most common carriers of the disease. There were rumours long ago of other animals and beasts with blight-like symptoms however this was never confirmed or what records which may have proven this have been lost to time.
As of currently, all sapient races are susceptible to the Blight. Some races react slightly differently to the disease but the outcome is all the same. There are some rumours can the disease can be contracted by other beasts but this is unconfirmed.
Prevention
The best method of prevention is to avoid Darkspawn at all costs. Should that be not an option, there are methods of avoiding contamination. It is commonly understood that blood is the transmission vector, so covering exposed skin and membranous tissue is best; particularly the eyes and mouth. Avoid presence of darkspawn corpses as there have been reports of infection without directly touching the body. Destroy darkspawn or infected bodies quickly and with fire if possible.
Epidemiology
Due to darkspawns relatively low presence outside of the Lost Kingdom, outbreaks are not common. Only small and remote villages have reported infections. If the common-folk even know what Blight is, the surest way of dealing with it is by amputation or euthanasia.
During the Blight itself, the disease was rampant among survivors of darkspawn raids. However, societal upheaval and collapse meant little treatment could be made. One of the few graces of the disease is once a victim has reached the late stages, they almost always disappear never to be seen again.
History
The disease was first recorded during the dark age that was confusingly but aptly named "The Blight". The Blight was the apocalyptic wave of destruction brought about by the Darkspawn hordes. This horde ravaged much of the eastern and central regions on the continent. Survivors fleeing the first waves of assault who arrive, these survivors had often had sick family members with them. As the numbers of infected grew and the later stages of the disease turned loved ones into monsters; panic and chaos ensued. Just in time for the the darkspawn to arrive into the next town.
It took years for doctors, alchemists, and scholars to determine the effects of the disease. While the connection to the Darkspawn was fairly evident, the mystery lied in how it was so rapid and how the darkspawn always seemed to appear just as the chaos of the ghouls was at its worse. This lead many to theorize that the disease itself may have some magical or psionic connection to the darkspawn themselves. Though this is still hotly debated.
In the years after The Blight, the disease became almost a distant memory. Something to be studied by history students, or thesis to mull over. Now centuries have passed since those dark days and reports have been coming circulating of smiling and thin people who run away from home after a poor hunt in the countryside.
Cultural Reception
Damnit. I am so close. I have studied these "darkspawn" for years! Why now? Why now did that infernal disease decided to happen now? I can already feel my skin sliding off of me. It's taken all of my will to secure my notes and get passage out of the city. Unintelligible... They'll get what's coming to them. I can hear the song like a waking dream. I'm coming, Mother. I'll be with you soon.A page found near a sewer access. Presumed to be from the Journal of Praeceptor Alexius Guilnius
by Ayran Oberto
| Blight Condition | Effects |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Disadvantage on Ability Checks |
| Stage 2 | Target is Poisoned |
| Stage 3 | Alignment shifts one degree to Evil |
| Stage 4 | Alignment shifts one degree further to Evil or Neutral Evil |
| Stage 5 | Functional Death |
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