Rift Corruption

Characters in the world of Duskfall may be exposed to the corruptive taint of the Rift itself such as contact with the Rift itself, unstable Rift Stones, Riftspawn, or other Rift creatures. These hazards cause a new condition called Rift Corruption, or simply Corruption for short, which inflicts debilitating symptoms and can lead to a monstrous transformation. Rift corruption is measured in six levels. An effect can give a creature one or more Corruption Levels, as specified in the effect’s description. If an already-corrupted creature suffers another effect that causes further corruption, its current Corruption Level increases by the amount specified in the effect’s description.   This section details the progression of Corruption, the effects of each level and the remedies. Unless specified otherwise all saving throws regarding Rift Corruption have a saving throw equal to 10 + the creature’s current Corruption Level.

Rift Corruption Symptoms

A corrupted creature suffers the symptoms from its current level as well as all lower levels. Any symptoms from a Corruption Level cease when a creature reduces its Corruption Level below that level.

Level	Effects
1	Disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and Hit Points regained from expending hit dice is reduced by half your current Corruption Level per hit dice expended (rounded up).
2	When you take a long rest, make a Constitution saving throw or only gain the effects of a Short Rest.
3	Character and all non-Rift creatures near them suffer a penalty to Constitution saving throws equal to the character’s current Corruption Level; the Emanation is equal to 5 times the character’s current corruption level in feet.1
4	After each Long Rest, and upon gaining this Corruption Level, roll 1d6 to determine an ability score: 1 = STR, 2 = DEX, 3 = CON, 4 = INT, 5 = WIS, 6 = CHA. That ability score is temporarily reduced by 1d4.2
5	At the start of each Short or Long Rest roll 1d20. On an 11+, a Breachpoint opens within 60 feet during the rest (GM’s discretion where and when). The total CR budget of emerging creatures equals the character’s level plus the modifier based on the 1d20 result: 11 or 12 = +0, 13 or 14 = +1, 15 or 16 = +2, 17 or 18 = +3, 19 or 20 = +4.
6	Riftspawn Transformation! The character undergoes the horrific transformation into a Riftspawn. At the end of the character’s turn make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Once failed, the character succumbs to the corruption and becomes a Riftspawn under the GM’s control.3

¹Creatures can only be effected by one aura at a time. Whichever aura has the larger penalty is the only one applied.
²Effect ends when you finish a Long Rest and determine a new ability.
³Players are encouraged to use this opportunity to give their characters an epic send off before the corruption claims them.  

Death and Dying While Corrupted

Creatures that die with levels of Corruption automatically rise as Riftspawn 24 hours later unless precautions are taken to prevent it.   When a creature with any Corruption Levels dies, it rises as a Riftspawn Skeleton or Riftspawn Zombie 24 hours later. A creature with six or more hit dice rises as a Riftspawn Wight instead.   When a creature with any Corruption Level dies, it can be prevented from rising as a Riftspawn by being revived or by the Gentle Repose spell. A creature restored to life with a Revivify or Raise Dead spell reduces the creature’s Corruption Level by 1. All Corruption Levels are removed when a creature is restored to life by a Resurrection or True Resurrection spell.   Any fully Corrupted creature who was transformed into a Riftspawn is not restored to its original form if it is raised or resurrected in this way. Instead it is restored to its transformed state.

Recovery

There are both natural and Magical methods to recovery and reducing a creature’s Corruption Level. While many may rely on the Natural method it can take time and require a safe place to rest. Meanwhile magical recovery can be quick but costly. Below are details on the two methods and the mechanics on how each function.   Natural Recovery. At the end of the first Long Rest of the day a creature with Rift Corruption makes a Constitution saving throw. If the creature succeeds on this saving throw three days in a row, its Corruption Level is immediately reduced by 1. It then gains 1 level of Exhaustion.   Magical Recovery. Certain magics can reduce or completely remove Corruption Levels.

• The Purge Rift Corruption spell can remove Corruption, but it leaves affected creatures Exhausted.
• The Heal spell removes all Corruption Levels from an affected creature.

Riftspawn Transformation

A character who reaches Corruption Level 6 or higher undergoes a horrific transformation into a Riftspawn controlled by the GM. Once triggered, the character immediately undergoes the mechanical transformation but has a brief moment where they maintain control of their character. At the end of each of the character’s turns they make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Until they fail the saving throw they retain control of their character, but once they fail they fall to the corruption of the Rift and fully become a Riftspawn. It is thereafter permanent. This period of time when the character is making Wisdom saving throws is to provide and encourage both players and GMs to narrate a suitably gory description of the transformation as well as give the player time to give the character an epic send off such as making the ultimate sacrifice.   The character’s game statistics are entirely replaced and updated using the details for making a Riftspawn later in this chapter. All Corruption Levels are removed, though the GM may grant additional traits to the new form as they see fit.   The GM determines what remains of the original creature’s personality and memories, if anything. Regardless, the creature is invariably driven by the insatiable hunger and primal urges of all Riftspawn and falls under the GM’s control.

Reversing the Transformation

The means of reversing a Riftspawn Transformation are completely unknown to the vast majority of the world. A transformation is widely regarded as irrevocably permanent.   To higher ranking spellcasters, scholars, and elite nobility however; it is known that magic can be used to reverse the transformation. A Wish spell or similar magic can restore a single Riftspawn creature to its previous form. This is a tightly kept secret due to the rarity of spellcasters who can perform the spell, the cost of expending such magics, and the uncertainty of potential other side effects from the magic. Additionally, it is considered by the elite that if the common folk knew their loved ones could be brought back with magic, but without understanding the risks and limitations behind that magic, it could lead to civil unrest. It is considered a stressful use of the Wish spell, and thus there is a 33% chance that the caster will be unable to cast the Wish spell again if they use the spell in this manner.   The transformation is otherwise irreversible by any means short of divine intervention. Nevertheless, at the GM’s discretion, it may be possible to temporarily alleviate a transformed creature’s insatiable hunger and primal urges. However, an intelligent monster who receives long-term treatment of any sort may eventually conspire to corrupt or subtly influence its caretakers.