Shadow's Blight
Often confused for the Undead or Vampires , those afflicted with Shadow's Blight show little signs of illness once they have survived the initial transmission. They stick to the shadows, often joining the Shadow Dancers , if they were not created by them.
Transmission & Vectors
Shadow's blight is contracted by prolonged exposure to a vast well of magical energy on par with the magical whirlpools of the world. It requires at least seven days to fully set.
Causes
Initial cause of shadow blight is continued exposure to vast amounts of magical energy. Transmission occurs when the magical energies penetrate the physical form, but do not completely deteriorate the body or mind. The illness is not contagious.
Symptoms
Shadow blight utterly destroys the ability to sense the four base elements of fire, air, water, and earth through sensory overload. On the flip side, this has opened them to the possitive and negative currents of 'Spirit' magic. In some cases they gain one or more shades.
Loss of pigmentation is the one constant physical symptom across all cases.
Other physical symptoms include Timelock , loss of reproductive functions, physical weakness, disability, limb deterioration, loss of senses, and death.
Mental symptoms include emotional instability, multiple personality disorder, slow or muddled thoughts, and loss of self.
Treatment
Currently there is no known treatment.
Prognosis
Once the condition has set in the resulting Shadow Dancer is capable of utilizing their magics, though unstable without the guidance of a shade or another afflicted mentoring them. They are capable of leading completely normal lives, though they may have complications from secondary side effects.
Affected Groups
Shadow blight can afflict anything caught within the pools, those in their prime and fit tend to survive more intact than the young or old. The rare few born to someone with Shadow Blight often retain the albinism and lack of magical ability for the four base elements.
History
The first known case of Shadow Blight befell a black dragon, Bahamut , who hid in one of the Aetheric Whirlpool to escape the Atlor's Judgement .
Cultural Reception
Shadow Blight is widely misunderstood and relatively unknown outside the Shadow Dancers . Commonly, the afflicted are thought to be Undead or Vampires , and thus feared.
Type
Magical
Children
Origin
Magical
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired & Congenital
Rarity
Extremely Rare
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