Vampirism Condition in Etharai | World Anvil

Vampirism

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Vampirism is a rarer condition that can be caused by overuse of Thyic.

Transmission & Vectors

As a negative energy disease, vampirism is transmittable. This transmission occurs upon energy drainage, though is not always guaranteed to happen; there is about a 60% chance that a person whose energy has been drained by someone with vampirism will get the disease. This chance can increase to up to 85% depending on the amount of magic that the victim has already expended.

Causes

Vampirism is caused by overuse of Thyic, similar to conditions such as Thyic collapse or arcane deterioration. However, it is a bit more extreme than Thyic collapse, and much different from arcane deterioration. The puzzle that has stumped arcanopathologists for decades is what causes one to develop Vampirism instead of the much more common Thyic collapse. Some believe that this has something to do with the presence of Auras surrounding the affected, though no pattern to this has been found. Others insist that it is something within the biology of those contracted by the disease, though this has yet to be proven.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of vampirism is the sudden onset of a desire to drain the magical energy of others, and the need to do this in order to survive. Those affected by the disease will begin to rapidly thin, a process only reversed when they drain others' magic. If an affected person goes too long without doing so, their body will shrivel up and they will die.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for vampirism. Its effects can be somewhat slowed by placing a patient within a high-magic room, but ultimately the only known way to deal with the condition is to lock the patient alone in a room to prevent them from instinctually harming others as they lose their grip on reality and die. This is often an incredibly lonely death, and doctors will do their best to provide some company to the patient as they go, interacting with them through a sturdy glass wall and a speaker system and allowing their family to say their goodbyes.
Type
Physiological
Origin
Magical
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Extremely Rare


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Comments

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Dec 28, 2023 12:12 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Ohh, the treatment for it is so sad. :( But they do need to prevent others being harmed.

Emy x   Etrea | Vazdimet
Jan 2, 2024 00:09 by spleen

Whoops, it looks like I never responded to your comment! Yeah, vampirism is a pretty sad condition to have to deal with, on all sides.

Have a wonderful day!
Jan 1, 2024 23:54 by Melissa

I'm always interested in seeing the great variety of ways that writers depict and explain vampirism in their worlds. I like how you tied vampirism into overuse of magic. This is a unique take! Being attacked and infected by a vampire in Etharai sounds terrible in every aspect.  

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Jan 2, 2024 00:06 by spleen

thank you! it was an idea I had when i was thinking about my magic system - specifically the costs of using magic. I'm glad you liked it!

Have a wonderful day!
Jan 8, 2024 18:54 by Barb

I like the variation on vampirism here. As a frequent mage in games, knowing this was a possible condition from over extending myself would make me think more carefully about decisions I'd make. I like having stakes like this in games.

Jan 8, 2024 21:20 by spleen

thanks! ive always liked taking pre-existing concepts and making them my own.

Have a wonderful day!
Mar 11, 2024 22:59 by Aster Blackwell

What a horrible way to die! I'd rather be executed than waste away slowly in a prison cell, unable to even touch the people I love.