Kystercite Toxemia

Kystercite Toxemia is a medical condition on biologicals which occurred due to contact with or exposure to Kystercite, which can lead to death.  

Kystercite Exposure

Exposure to Kystercite is dangerous to all biological lifeforms, including but especially humanoids. A being may be infected by contact with Kystercite crystals, for instances while handling crystals or walking through areas with high Kystercite concentration unprotected, as well as from breathing fumes produced by crystals or fine Kystercite particles present in the air.  

Symptoms and effects

  The effect of Kystercite on living things is still not yet fully understood. Common symptoms of Kystercite poisoning includes breathing difficulties, suppressed immune system and Kystercite crystal growth on the skin, carapace or scales. Long-term low-intensity exposure to Kystercite causes illness in all biological lifeforms. Victims of this form of exposure suffers gradual decline over many months or years before finally dying due to organ failure. Low dosage exposure have victims reporting feelings of exhaustion and fatigue, developing symptoms of malnutrition and atrophy. Those fortunate enough with arcane gifts through any means such as genetics would often feel no adverse effects until they have expended their energy. From their spells and devices going awry when expending their energy to, at extreme points of exertion, finding that their powers would not return and slowly experiencing the same symptons of fatigue, atrophy, and then death.   Exposure to any high-intensity of Kystercite will almost guarantee death within a matter of minutes by Kystercite poisoning. For example if a human comes into direct contact with high amounts of Kystercite, the green matter will start to fuse with their skin within about 20 seconds. An intense tingling pinching sensation will be felt. If this is not treated, a full infection will soon manifest. The body will soon begin to crystallize, and the victim will die from total system failure.   Once a solid crystal the Kystercite turns to a "dormant" state which it conserves its energy until it infects another host.   Breathing in Kystercite particles can be just as deadly. The crystal will become embedded in the lungs, which will slowly crystallize. This however, is both the least noticeable and hardest to treat. As the crystals are inside the being, extraction of it can be very invasive and even harder.   It is noted that once thy Kystercite takes root, varying from minutes of exposure due to how high its energy content may be or weeks in the case of low-level exposure, the Kystercite would use energy it used to feed to defend itself in the form of creation of barriers both arcane and in extreme cases physical.   It is yet unknown what happens if the infection reaches a creatures brain as often the beings would die before it would happen but it is clear that the crystal is capable of simple means of self preservation once infecting a host. This leads its original name as a misnomer as it is less an poisoning due to the crystal but more like a parasitic infection.    

Mutations

  Kystercite Toxemia does not always kill its victims. Often, the affected being will instead mutate. Short-term exposure to very high concentration of Kystercite can transform a human into a monstrous creature known as a Malt.   More common are incidents of biloogical creatures adapting to Kystercite and becoming Mutants or Malts. Sometimes these mutations are subtle and gradual (but very quick in evolutionary terms). Kystercite mutations or Malts are characterized by the growth of Kystercite crystals on their body, enhanced strength or senses, extra appendages, resistance and eventual immunity to Kystercite , and even the ability to regenerate their cells in the presence of Kystercite. Not all mutations are present but it is not impossible for a Malt to gain all mutations it would be based on the type of infection and duration of exposure to Kystercite.   Malts are generally shunned and treated as outcasts by the rest of society. Some retreated into inhospitable areas, where Malts can survive in the presence of high concentration of Kystercite. Many joined Malt organizations, of which the cult of the Golden Quack is the most well known. A merchant named G'eed is the only known person to escape the cult alive.   On rare occasions some who managed to remove the parasitic infection experience the Anima/Aether/Arcane altering effects of the crystal even when all traces of it have been extracted. These Sorcerers with wild magic often are at the mercy of their erratic power swinging them from greatness to terror. Many have been turned into beings of study by the Stahnbrad Committee for State Security, few were turned into their special "envoys" while the Orbis Republic have a few under the care of the Templar Order or as part of the mages and artificers working with the Drath-Sirius group.