The Rot
A mysterious illness that struck the Empire of the Ancients over two thousand years ago. At first, the true source was unknown, but after scientists and mages alike studied the disease, it was found that it was magical in nature, and caused by an imbalance of magical energies in the world.
Transmission & Vectors
The Rot is not spread from person to person, but rather manifests almost randomly in clusters, and anyone who happens to be in that specific area when death magic convalesces will be affected by it.
Causes
The world seeks balance. When mages began to excessive amounts of life magic to enhance the lives of the people of the world, they didn't understand how magic would violently seek balance. Energies of death and rot swept across the lands, and attempts to use life magic to cure those affected only caused magic to swing even further towards death in retaliation.
Symptoms
In early stages, it appears as fatigue and a general feeling of malaise. As the rot progresses, a victim will become so exhausted that even movement becomes near impossible. Their skin will start to age, wrinkle and sag; Hair will grey and fall out, almost as though they were aging rapidly. This can all happen over the course of a few days, or as long as a few months, depending on the strength of the cell of death magic the victim encountered.
Treatment
Dozens, if not hundreds, of different cures were attempted, but the only true cure was to infuse the victim with large amounts of life magic to counteract the rot. This only served to further upset the balance of the world, but this wasn't discovered until much later.
Prognosis
Typically fatal. Sometimes if an equilibrium of magic was found before the victim was killed entirely, they would survive, but this was rare.
Type
Magical
Origin
Magical
Rarity
Common
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