Myrskaiwezi (Myrs or Kaiwezi for short)

Change came as a storm. It lasted three days and when it ended everyone knew nothing could ever be the same, but no one was prepared for how much it really would. No one knew that the storm brought with it the end of an era, but then again no one expected the king today and his son to take over. That was the least of the changes that came from the storm. The largest was how it changed the very people. The change started being seen immediately in some cases in others it still hides and lingers. The storm arrived on the last night of the Festival of Addeftendi. The lanterns lit up the night hanging from roofs and floating through the air and the King was giving his concluding speech before the true festivities began. As the story goes lightning struck without warning, once the rain was added to the mix there was no escape, lightning struck again and all who were gathered were struck. Many died that night including King Adam, he was replaced by his son King Frederick, but of course, no one knew that for the storm raged another two days and three nights. When the storm eventually cleared news of the Tragedy of Belvemont Square spread quickly. 100 of the thousands gathered had died. Half of those who remained were in comas for the rest of the storm and the other half barely survived. All who did, survive that is, were forever changed. The magic users gathered in the crowd were robbed of their magic and abilities, they were the half that barely survived the ones who didn't slip into comas. Rumor has it that the ones who fell into comas died when the storm ended. With those rumors, the death toll of the one night in the storm reached 5,100 dead and only 5,000 alive. Everyone thought that was the end, but they were very wrong.
The next change started in the days of the storm but did not become apparent until many days after the storm ended. It came like an illness. It spared no one, hundreds of thousands of men and women and girls and boys were laid up in bed for days, weak, pale, and a little broken. The infected who had magic lost it and those that didn't either died or changed in ways beyond everyone's imagination. Hair colors, eye colors, body shapes, physical ability, everything was altered, but more than that, their very chemical and biological makeup was changed. These changes were noticed when they first appeared in dramatic fashion. Deaths were reported everywhere only a few from the disease, most from the changes that occurred in the children and adults infected. Deaths were a frequent occurrence in those days after a few days of nearly countless deaths reported people stopped listening until the poster child of the disease appeared. They wove a tale of a girl who killed mercilessly, a weapon, a walking destroyer, a massacre in the form of a girl. From there it was the arrests that became more frequently heard of. Children, adults, and elders were all carted off and forgotten, feared for what the storm had done to them. They were rounded up and sent away and almost all trace of them soon disappeared.
There were a few wise souls who saw the changes, saw the risk of imprisonment, the possibility that they'd simply be taken and forgotten, and they hid the changes as best they could. They hid in plain sight and shoved everything down as deep as they could. No one even realized that the most dangerous threats still lived among them. No one noticed that there were those who didn't carry the warning signs. The ones who didn't fall ill...the ones who didn't seem to change, but did. If anything they changed the most and yet no one knew at all. It was a well-kept secret. The changes lurked deep inside of them, growing, and affecting more and more each passing day, but no one ever knew. They were untouched by pain and death and they were never rounded up and carted away. No one knew they existed. No one knew to be looking for those with a new darkness in their very souls. No one knew to be looking for people who didn't seem changed but were. Even if they had, they never would have known where to start or how to find them...

Transmission & Vectors

Transmitted through THE Storm. Contraction of the disease began and ended with the storm. There are three types but none are contagious. There are four stages to the disease and everyone is affected differently. Not everyone goes through all four stages. Only those who could wield magic before the storm reached/entered stage four.

Causes

THE Storm was the cause. Lightning within the storm had a major impact but beyond that, it was mostly just exposure to the storm in any way.

Symptoms

Varies based on stage. Stage four characterized by symptoms of a normal disease, exhaustion, nausea, coughing, sneezing, trouble breathing, in some there was worse symptoms. Degrees of severity varied on how powerful their magic, race, and type of magic. Stage 3 showed no symptoms outwardly all symptoms were inward and well hidden, pretty much invisible. Stage 2 went through at least 3 days regular illness (flu-like symptoms) afterward and even during physical symptoms were very obvious, coloration cells were deeply impacted causing changes to eye color, hair color, and in some extreme cases skin color. Other physical alterations only occurred in extremely severe cases. All other symptoms were internal. Stage 1, symptoms that of being struck by lightning as well as internal changes.

Treatment

There is none...

Prognosis

As aforementioned four possible stages each with their own outcomes. High fatality rate, extreme risk of death especially in stage 1 and 2. Otherwise primarily only internal alterations to genetics and such.

Show spoiler

Four levels of alteration known as the different stages. Stage 1 was all those struck by lightning at the festival and gained magic ultimately surviving. Notable characters affected Magnus, Queen Bella. Stage 2 was all those affected within the next few days who fell ill and gained magic. Their looks were altered, hair color and eye color. Each was given at least one enhancement, usually physical, and one magic ability. They were almost all killed or arrested later. Notable characters affected Nadja, Avilon, James. Stage 3 those who were altered in secret, the late bloomers if you will. No outward change only internal changes. Magic lays dormant for years, many more enhancements to each person. Notable characters affected Calum, Alessandra. Stage 4 also considered stage 0 magic users who lost their magic. Notable characters affected Frederick, Kailah, and Lian.

Sequela

Higher risk of contracting all other magical diseases after being infected by this disease regardless of which stage you end up in. Chronic headaches and other bodily aches are possible. Stage 4 comes with many complications and risks, the fatality rate is not high but lasting effects are. This includes anything and everything from minor pains to paralysis and major pains as well.

Affected Groups

Anyone and Everyone, all magic users were targeted within Amaryllis, but beyond that there was no clear connection between any of the affected.

Hosts & Carriers

No carriers.

Prevention

There was no way to prevent it...

Epidemiology

It does not travel from person to person, the only method of transmission was THE Storm.

History

Night of the Festival of Addeftendi, became the beginning of an era and time was reckoned from this point onward especially in the country Amaryllis.

Cultural Reception

Reactions vary based on the stage that you ended. Stage 1 is feared and ostracized mostly, many were killed or imprisoned after being infected and the effects were seen. Stage 2 received a very similar reaction, fear and panic were very high. Stage 3 was the only safe one because no one knew they existed and were deemed safe and cured. Stage 4 received mixed reactions some were revered others ostracized.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique