Astral Plague
A disease from beyond the stars. Rumored to be similar in origin to the apocalypse that drove Leaghrim from her home. It’s a rare but dangerous affliction that is poorly understood by many alchemists. An outbreak usually starts when a particle from a meteorite crashes through the atmosphere, misses the wings, and collides with the lower terrum. From this meteorite, particles of the disease then spread out in search of their first hosts. Once these tendrils (usually 1-6 from known documentation) find hosts, they completely corrupt the host’s natural Aether- often during the target’s sleep. These first hosts become Plaguebringers. From there, these plaguebringers spread to find more victims to infect.
In order for the disease to be transferred, a victim must be brought to dying. From there, plaguebringers or other infected need to spend 10 minutes corrupting their Aether. Once it is done, there will be nothing left of the former victim, and they will be just another spawn of the astral sickness.
Astral Plague turns the host into a mindless vessel for the corrupted Aether that now pilots them. Its only concerns are spreading and surviving. At early stages of infection, the host only goes through minor physical changes- often growing claws or other weapons to help facilitate dying transmission. At later stages however, the bodies of subjects often go through drastic physical warping and more beastlike transformations
Astral Plague: (Main Strain)
DC 28 Fortitude. Initial infection time: 10 minutes. After this infection, further progression takes 1 week. An infected person cannot reduce their stage, only increase it, contrary to typical Affliction rules. On this weekly interval, the victim rolls Fortitude. On a failure, their stage advances to the next phase.
Stage 1, the victim has been transformed into a lesser plaguefiend and uses its monster stats. Their hands become vicious claws that deal 1d6+3 slashing damage.
Stage 2, the victim’s body has been warped into a hulking greater plaguefiend and uses its monster stats. Their body has been reconstructed to better bring foes to a susceptible Dying state. Their claws have been upgraded to a whopping 1d12+5 bludgeoning or 1d8+5 slashing damage.
Stage 3, if the victim rolls a result of 1 on a 1d10, they further mutate into a terrible Plaguewarden. This rare mutation transforms the victim into a vessel for the Astral Plague’s mysterious intelligence. This transformation tends to be a bit personalized, however there is a generic template for insignificant Plaguewardens. For those with more will behind them- they often require a custom stat block. Plaguewardens are varied opponents, and the plague may sometimes pull from the host’s former intelligence for its transformation.
Astral Plague: (Initial Impact / Plaguebringer)
DC 32 Fortitude. Initial Infection time: 20 minutes. After this infection, further progression takes 1 week. An infected person cannot reduce their stage, only increase it, contrary to typical Affliction rules. On this weekly interval, the victim rolls Fortitude. On a failure, their stage advances to the next phase.
Stage 1, the victim has been transformed into a plaguebringer and uses its monster stats. Their hands become vicious claws that deal 1d8+4 slashing damage.
Stage 2, If the victim survives long enough, they mutate straight into a Plaguewarden. Unlike normal infected, they do not require the typical 1d10 roll.
Stage 3, The victim rolls 1d10. On a result of 1, they evolve into an Astral Maelstrom, and use its stats.
In order for the disease to be transferred, a victim must be brought to dying. From there, plaguebringers or other infected need to spend 10 minutes corrupting their Aether. Once it is done, there will be nothing left of the former victim, and they will be just another spawn of the astral sickness.
Astral Plague turns the host into a mindless vessel for the corrupted Aether that now pilots them. Its only concerns are spreading and surviving. At early stages of infection, the host only goes through minor physical changes- often growing claws or other weapons to help facilitate dying transmission. At later stages however, the bodies of subjects often go through drastic physical warping and more beastlike transformations
Astral Plague: (Main Strain)
DC 28 Fortitude. Initial infection time: 10 minutes. After this infection, further progression takes 1 week. An infected person cannot reduce their stage, only increase it, contrary to typical Affliction rules. On this weekly interval, the victim rolls Fortitude. On a failure, their stage advances to the next phase.
Stage 1, the victim has been transformed into a lesser plaguefiend and uses its monster stats. Their hands become vicious claws that deal 1d6+3 slashing damage.
Stage 2, the victim’s body has been warped into a hulking greater plaguefiend and uses its monster stats. Their body has been reconstructed to better bring foes to a susceptible Dying state. Their claws have been upgraded to a whopping 1d12+5 bludgeoning or 1d8+5 slashing damage.
Stage 3, if the victim rolls a result of 1 on a 1d10, they further mutate into a terrible Plaguewarden. This rare mutation transforms the victim into a vessel for the Astral Plague’s mysterious intelligence. This transformation tends to be a bit personalized, however there is a generic template for insignificant Plaguewardens. For those with more will behind them- they often require a custom stat block. Plaguewardens are varied opponents, and the plague may sometimes pull from the host’s former intelligence for its transformation.
Astral Plague: (Initial Impact / Plaguebringer)
DC 32 Fortitude. Initial Infection time: 20 minutes. After this infection, further progression takes 1 week. An infected person cannot reduce their stage, only increase it, contrary to typical Affliction rules. On this weekly interval, the victim rolls Fortitude. On a failure, their stage advances to the next phase.
Stage 1, the victim has been transformed into a plaguebringer and uses its monster stats. Their hands become vicious claws that deal 1d8+4 slashing damage.
Stage 2, If the victim survives long enough, they mutate straight into a Plaguewarden. Unlike normal infected, they do not require the typical 1d10 roll.
Stage 3, The victim rolls 1d10. On a result of 1, they evolve into an Astral Maelstrom, and use its stats.
Type
Supernatural
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments