The Gray Rot

The Gray Rot is by far the deadliest contagion in the history of Yrdde. Emanating from some unknown location far to the north of the Imperial Frontier, it claimed the lives of scouting teams, wandering adventurer parties, and lost trade caravans before spreading south. When it struck the mining community of Ironcliff, the Empire finally reacted in force. Through immense effort and cost the Empire has managed to prevent the spread of this unknown illness into other occupied lands, but many scholars and healers believe it's only a matter of time before an infected individual slips through the blockades.    

History

In Ironcliff, the sprawling mining colony carved into the mountainsides of the northern frontier reports were made of a strange illness spreading through the lower levels of the mines, men struck with a chilling cold, their eyes becoming clouded, their behavior erratic. Overseers dismissed these whispers as fatigue or superstition, the ramblings of men toiling too long in the darkness.   But the rumors persisted. Whispers turned into screams as miners succumbed to the mysterious affliction. Those who died, however, didn't stay dead. They rose again, their bodies twisted, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light, attacking their fellow workers with a ferocious strength.   The news reached Aetheris, carried by panicked reports and frantic pleas for help. A contingent of Arbiters, accompanied by a team of healers and researchers from the College of Imperial Arcana, was dispatched to investigate. The team took a cautious approach once they arrived, a choice that saved them and possibly the entirety of Yrdde. The leadership of Ironcliff communicated with them over radio, claiming that the entire thing was a miscommunication, offered to send a team of healers from the city to provide further evidence.   Upon arriving in Ironcliff, the Arbiters found not simply a medical crisis, but a nightmare unfolding. The lower levels of the mine swarmed with the reanimated corpses of miners. The overseers, desperate to contain the outbreak, had sealed off the lower shafts, but the creatures, undeterred, were finding ways to break through, tunneling through the rock bare-handed with complete disregard for their own bodies.   The initial containment effort eventually succeeded, at a terrible cost. The entire lower level of the Ironcliff mine was collapsed, burying the reanimated workers and sacrificing countless tons of precious ores in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of the blight. As the last rocks began to settle, however, the Overseers and surviving townsfolk turned traitor and attacked without warning.   The Arbiter team fell back to their airship, suffering heavy casualties. Whatever had consumed the miners had spread throughout the city, but these new victims bore no visible injury or sign of infection. They could talk, reason, and act like any normal sentient being, and their memories seemed fully intact.   The containment team, safe within their sealed airship, considered their options. The infected couldn't board the ship without sending a coded signal, so they could hold their position until reinforcements could arrive. The surviving Arbiters were about to radio for assistance when their fallen comrades, left dead in the city below, approached the vessel and attempted to board it.   The remaining Arbiters fired the vessel's weaponry point-blank into the port, then took to the air and meticulously shelled the city itself, firing at any moving object until the entire island lay silent. No living being has entered the city since, and a permanent blockade has surrounded the entire territory, preventing anything from getting in or out.   It is said, however, that a few radios in Ironcliff still function, and someone is sending out cries for help. These requests shift from day to day, changing words, phrasing, and identities, as if whatever is still living within the city is testing the men standing guard just beyond its border.    

Imperial Report: The Gray Rot - Analysis and Recommendations   To: His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Lucius Thorne
From: Dr. Aemilia Volkov, Imperial Medical Society   Subject: Analysis of Contagion   My Emperor,   I submit this report with a heavy heart, for the subject matter chills even those of us accustomed to the ills that plague flesh and bone. The “Gray Rot,” as it’s known to the public, represents a threat unlike any other.   Based upon our investigations, observations of the afflicted, and analysis of tissue samples recovered from containment zones, here is what we currently understand (or suspect) about this blight:   Transmission: It spreads through physical contact with bodily fluids – a bite, a scratch, even a lingering touch from one who’s succumbed to the final stage of the infection. The rate of transmission is alarmingly swift. Once introduced into the bloodstream, it quickly overcomes the body's natural defenses.   The affliction's progression follows three distinct phases: a rapid decrease of the body's core temperature, followed by a gradual degradation of mental function, and culminating in a complete loss of self and the ████████████ of the body. (Details included in accompanying files)   The Rot appears resistant to conventional treatments. Alchemical remedies and healing spells of varying potency have been largely ineffective. While some temporary alleviation of symptoms can be achieved, they do not address the underlying cause of the corruption. If the infection does spread through physical interaction, it may be possible to halt the spread through the rapid removal of infected flesh, but this hypothesis has yet to be tested.   Areas of Concern:   My Emperor, the true nature of the Gray Rot, its origins and purpose, remain shrouded in a disquieting ambiguity. There are whispers, of course, rumors that link the affliction to ancient curses, rogue magitech experiments, or even divine retribution for humanity's arrogance in seeking to control the Aetherial Flow. But we, as servants of reason and logic, must rely upon demonstrable evidence.   However, there are troubling similarities between the documented symptoms and behaviors of the afflicted, and those described in certain Chimera texts, specifically accounts of an entity ███████████ █████ █████████ shadow and consuming hunger who is said to have possessed the ability to absorb the souls of its victims. There is no physical evidence to support these stories, however I do find it unsettling how close the ████████████ matches what we understand so far.   Recommendations:   This theory, though disturbing, demands further investigation. I implore you, Your Imperial Majesty, to grant us the resources and access to any relevant historical records that might shed light on this connection.   Furthermore, I recommend a complete quarantine of any territory or community where even the faintest whisper of the Rot emerges. While containment is vital, so too is gathering knowledge. Dedicated research facilities must be established, equipped with technology capable of monitoring aetherial fluctuations and dissecting the effects of the affliction.   I await your guidance, Your Majesty, and remain dedicated to serving your will and the preservation of our Empire.   With unwavering loyalty,   Dr. Aemilia Volkov
Imperial Medical Society