Pestis

The Cursed Innocence

  In her youth, Pestis was a frail and sickly child, perpetually afflicted by a myriad of ailments. Her existence was overshadowed by her constant suffering, each new illness compounding her misery. Desperate to end her torment, she became obsessed with discovering a cure for her seemingly endless maladies. Her search for relief drove her to the depths of forbidden magic and dark sciences, where she sought to uncover secrets that could free her from her cursed existence.   Pestis's relentless pursuit led her to the brink of madness as she explored the most dangerous and arcane realms of alchemy and sorcery. Her experiments culminated in the creation of what she believed to be an elixir of life. However, the concoction required a precise balance of ingredients and a careful crafting process. Undeterred by the risks, Pestis embarked on a perilous journey to gather the rare components needed for her potion.  

The Tragic Transformation

  During her quest, Pestis sought the heart of a dreadlord, a component essential for her elixir. Her journey brought her into contact with an undead horde. Though she managed to defeat them, she was not without cost. A zombie’s bite infected her with a new disease—one that threatened to be fatal if left untreated. In her desperation, Pestis rushed to complete her elixir, hoping it would save her from this new affliction.   Her frantic attempts led to a perfectly mixed potion, but it was never meant for someone already afflicted by the undead plague. Instead of curing her, the elixir exacerbated her existing conditions, intensifying her suffering. In a cruel twist of fate, the potion also granted her undying life, transforming her into an immortal abomination.  

The Divine Intervention

  The goddess Luthos, witnessing Pestis’s transformation into a monstrous being, intervened with divine power. However, Luthos’s attempt to destroy Pestis only resulted in Pestis absorbing some of Luthos's divine essence. This act of divine theft further amplified Pestis’s power, sealing her fate as a deity of disease and poison.   Unable to tolerate Pestis’s continued existence among the living, Luthos created the Everdying Swamp—a realm of eternal decay and corruption. Pestis was banished to this desolate domain, where her malevolent influence could be contained. The swamp’s perpetually rotting environment was designed to imprison Pestis and prevent her corruption from spreading beyond its confines.  

The Sickened Gatherers

  Pestis’s followers, known as the Sickened Gatherers, revere her as the embodiment of disease and poison. They are devoted to spreading illness and corruption, embracing the chaotic nature of their goddess. Their rituals involve potent toxins and diseases, reflecting their deity’s malevolent will. The Sickened Gatherers find their purpose in furthering Pestis’s influence and perpetuating the suffering she represents.   Pestis’s tale is one of tragic obsession, divine corruption, and eternal imprisonment. Her journey from a tormented mortal to an undying deity underscores her relentless pursuit of power and the cruel twist of fate that granted her immortality. Her story serves as a grim reminder of the cost of desperation and the dark path from suffering to divine abomination.