Scadia (Disease)
Transmission & Vectors
Originally, Scadia was caused by an experimental injection (created by the scientist of the same name.) Now, it is transmittable through blood and saliva, and other bodily fluids. In fully transformed Skalings, the virus can also be transmitted via poison generated and stored in their claws/talons.
If not treated immediately, Scadia rapidly takes a hold of it's host. Within 24 hours, someone who has contracted it has the potential to spread it to others.
Symptoms
In Humans & Hydriast:
The manifestation of this condition among humans hasn't changed since it was originally administered. The first symptom after infection is unstable temper. Anger, irritation, and fear become more and more prominent over the course of a few hours. After 24 hours, physical changes rapidly appear. Eyes turn bloodshot, and become entirely red within a few more hours. The carrier will become shaky, with temperature spikes of up to 105 degrees. After 48 hours of untreated infection, the carrier's rage will become insatiable. Rough, uneven smatterings of scale-like growths will appear on their skin, which gets more leathery and rough over time. The changes slow down from here, but within a week or two, the carrier will be unrecognizable as someone who was once human. Skeletal and muscular structure morphs, teeth elongate and sharper, hands become thick, with talon-like nails... etc.
In Faeries:
Inexplicably, the transformation of fae is far more grotesque than that of humans. It is theorized that because Scadia is the only Earthly condition the Fae are susceptible to, it affects them much more severely. Against a Skaling opponent, Fae are basically glass canons.
As soon as they are infected, Fae lose the ability to do all magick. Aggression becomes immediately problematic, and if not treated as soon as possible, an infected Fae will quickly lose their sense of self and turn on their familaes. Once their sense of self is lost, it is nearly impossible to cure them.
Their physical changes are different from humans and hydriast. Their petite, lithe frames are not as severely altered over the course of the transformation. However, their facial features, movements, temperment, and biology become very reptilian and savage. Their eyes turn white with black, snake-like pupils. Their teeth sharpen into jagged fangs, and they also develope talon-like claws.
In Dragons:
It is beyond rare for a Dragon to acquire Scadia. However, since it is genetically close to their own DNA, it is possible for them to contract it. An infected Dragon loses their Ethereal dignity, their sense of self, and their self control. They are entirely savage. A fully infected Dragon is known as a Wolfdragon. In the case of infection, they can double in size, and grow bodily mutations such as extra teeth, a second layer of scales, etc. Wolfdragons are the only creatures know to hunt and kill other Dragons.
History
When the First Dragon appeared on Earth as a warning, Scadia was an elemental part of the group that took the great beast down. This group was comprised of soldiers and scientists; chemists and engineers. They all had a common objective: to take this bitch apart and study it.
As one of the scientists, Scadia was exceptionally interested in the unique and otherworldly genetic makeup of the Dragon. Its regeneration was more rapid that any other organism's; its immune system, impenetrable. Using DNA directly from the corpse of the First Dragon, she began tinkering with a concoction that was intended to bestow the Dragon's unique biologic capabilities upon humans. She thought this would make them invincible.
She was right. For a very, very brief time after her test subjects were given the concoction, they were certainly invincible. But within 24 hours of administration, they began to take a horrifying turn.
First, their tempers became excessively unstable. They began reacting with apparent fear and anger to things which others around them could not see. Their eyes were grotesquely bloodshot-- before they became a pure, bloody red.
Their skin roughened rapidly, and what appeared to be scales started emerging from their flesh only 48 hours later. But these were not Dragon's scales. Instead of the sleek, uniform formation of the great beast's scales, the ones appearing on the test subjects were uneven lengths and thickness, jagged and askew. They were a dull, dark yellow color, with splotches of grey. Within four days of administration, these subjects were enraged, and unidentifiable as humans.
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