The Blight

Intelligent, social (not eusocial or hive-minded) parasite.
near impossible to detect from the outside as no standard symptoms appear, very slight memory loss for certain events and a reduction in reckless behaviour being the only discernible traits.
toxins within parasite create immunity to Resurrection type abilities (including true Resurrection and reincarnation) as it corrupts the body and severs it from the spirit upon death.
the parasite physically resembles a humanoid silhouette, each limb tapers off into a thin point. they are black, opaque and oily in appearance with the consistence of gelatin (hence nickname)
they feed on the free will of their host and will very subtly take control of their decisions, often to a decision that the host may have made regardless, normally small insignificant decisions, however larger decision may be made in times where the host body is in danger and the parasite will steer them away from it.
when the parasite has control of the host, all memories of the action are forgotten by the host. generally there will be a brief moment of confusion, but more akin to entering a room and forgetting why you went in there.
in dire cases, a parasite may leave a damaged host for a better one, but generally this is only if the host is mortally wounded or imprisoned alone.
The parasite can use all the main 5 senses available to the host and has an eidetic memory, so will recall things even if the host does not.
Upon reproduction, a parasite will wait for a potential host to be as near as possible before sending a smaller copy of itself outwards into the new host. Generally they will allow the host to become close enough on its own (hugging, intercourse etc) but if this is not occouring fast enough for the "birthing" period then the parent parasite will take full control and force the host closer, sometimes violently. the new host will obviously resist initially, but once the offspring parasite has phased into the new host then they will take control and remove their new host from the situation as if nothing had happened.
The movement of the parasite outside the body is slow and awkward. they phase in one direction until given a fleshy substance to inhabit and grab onto, normally nestling underneath or between the lungs. this means they must be "aimed" by the parent. if they do not hit their target or the target moves out of the way then they will continue to drift on their own and quickly die. this is why close contact is desired and injection offspring at a range is only done in the most desperate situations. a parent will never, however, release offspring when their is no potential host, so if none are available then the parasite will simply continue to grow to massive proportions, eventually taking the host over and becoming its own creature; the Tabula Rasa. this is not the desire of the parasite.
Origin unknown, possibly linked to "blight whale" encountered near the northern crossed mountains

--- A cure and vaccination was created, manufactured and distributed to the people of riddlington and Grey Visan in the fourth month of 4078. There have been no recorded outbreaks since. ---

Transmission & Vectors

Close contact. Gestation period before breeding - 6 months

Causes

Unknown

Symptoms

Outwardly undetectable unless threatened. Host is unaware of infection as blight will remain dormant until mature.

Treatment

A treatment was synthesised by Baltherian Paenitet using the Rose of Chantea. This is currently the only known cure.

Affected Groups

All creatures of higher intelligence with fleshy internal organs. humans, dwarves, centaurs, dragons.
Hard bodied or unintelligent cretures are not affected. dryads, golems, cows, elementals.

Prevention

Ring of blight protection, created by Baltherian Paenitet.

History

Possible sauce: the "blight whale" in the mountains west of RIddlington, otherwise unknown.