The Blight

Voidborn corruption

I don't understand. I was out there, in a safe area, and then some of the spirits just... attacked me ! I got out of harms way pretty quick, and only got a few bruises. They seemed in pain, but maybe I just imagined things in my escape. I know they're supposed to protect the place, but I got here before no problem !

Private Rylan, Duranian soldier

Cosmic disease

While some consider that it appeared at around 987, it is reconsidered that this cruel curse has appeared in 1035. It recently hit the Great Forest and looks like an attempt from demons to destroy it from the inside out. Its effect not only affects the spirits but also extends to the flora, turning the landscape into a nightmarish version of its former self, spreading rapidly and destroying the forest.

Unlike other afflictions hitting forest spirits, this one was specifically engineered to deal with the spirits of the Great Forest by turning them into aggressive parodies of themselves. For now, no cure has been found, and only colossal amounts of healing magic can save the victims. This worries even the gods themselves, as they know what would happen if the forest is to fall, let alone be twisted.

Symptoms

The symptoms are insidious, and by the time someone realizes that they are infected, it is often too late.

STAGE 1

There are five stages of infection, and the first one changes the behavior of the victim to want to isolate itself far from other non-contaminated spirits. At this point, the victim will be more irritable, but rarely violent. While this can be as simple as spirits isolating themselves a lot more, it can be harder to spot, like Wardens wanting to battle the hostile infected to the point of obsession.

STAGE 2

After being away from larger clusters of spirits, stage 2 of the infection will begin. The victim will slowly become insane and start hearing voices. They will also become extremely hostile to any life-form they encounter and will try to destroy the cores of any spirit they encounter.

STAGE 3

Stage 3 can be considered as the death of the previous being, as the victim's body will change and mutate to a dark and withered version of itself, which will cause great pain to the victim. The first symptom is their spiritual conduits turning from cyan to purple.

STAGE 4

Stage 4 is considered to be the final step of the disease, as the body is now completely changed. Unlike previous stages where the affected individual acted on fear and instinct, this one has a personality of its own, albeit a twisted one. They also seem to regrow a semblance of the hierarchy they had before.

STAGE 5

Stage 5 is a hot topic, as it is rare and no one really knows what causes it. It might not even be a stage, and rather the sources of the affliction. Sometimes, in the underground are strange amalgamations. Patchwork, beating hearts made from several spirits' bodies, spreading the infection wherever they are. Stronger forms are found nearby and infected ferociously defend them. A massive one, found during an investigation by a Warden, has been destroyed and is believed to be the source of the disease.

Affected Groups

Only forest spirits and the local flora is affected by it. This as lead some to believe that maybe even Silva would be affected by it. If that's the case, then it is orders of magnitude worse than what they expected, as there is no way of telling what would happen, only that it would be catastrophic.

History

The first recognised cases of this disease have been spotted in 1035 as several spirits were missing, and could not be reached. Several Wardens were dispatched to investigate, and when they got there, they saw the previous Wardens torn to shreds, their cores inert. When they spotted the spirits, they were turned into warped and feral beasts, savagely attacking their former comrades. As the investigation progressed, it seems that a strange man created it, and also that no spirit was immune to it.

Despite its rather short list of potential victims, it is by far one of the most dangerous disease, as it weakens the forest, and therefore, Lazarrus's prison. Because of the Sicarite Creed, as well as the gods's censurship, few are aware of this and just mistake it for some spirits becoming angered at humans actions.

Infection stages

STAGE 1

Isolation and anger

STAGE 2

Madness and hostility

STAGE 3

Body transformation

STAGE 4

Full body transformation obeys to a higher being

STAGE 5 ?

Amalgamation propagating the curse

Type

Divine