Shadowburne
Shadowburne is a magical disease, which originates from a morally repugnant spellcaster with far too little humanity for your own good. It's rather rare and doesn't spread too easily since it can be cured in the early stages for pretty low prices.
Shadowburne is known to be like a burn from the void, trying to claim you to become its carrier and spread its blight unto others. While not typically seen, it lives within the minds of culture nonetheless due to previous attacks using this illness as a weapon.
Shadowburne is known to be like a burn from the void, trying to claim you to become its carrier and spread its blight unto others. While not typically seen, it lives within the minds of culture nonetheless due to previous attacks using this illness as a weapon.
Transmission & Vectors
Shadowburne is transmitted through different means depending on its status in the patient. Shadowburne, without a host, is transmitted via ritual and genetic modifications. One might even lace food with the disease if they were vengeful enough to do so.
The Singed Stage is non-contagious, as it has not taken enough of the body over yet. It may not even be apparent yet that the person has been infected.
First and Second Degree spreads through blood and other liquids produced from the body. It also has a very, very small chance to spread through magical spells cast by the host.
Third Degree, in addition to the previous methods, begins to spread through contact. Magic cast by the host has a higher chance of infecting others.
Fourth Degree, in combination with previous methods, now spreads through the air and through the breathing of the host. The contact risk has become much, much more severe.
Symptoms
Shadowburne has different symptoms depending on the stage.
Singed Stage The Host will have a fever once they first catch it and develop "freckles" on a certain patch of their skin but otherwise will show no signs of the illness due to this being a pre-symptomatic stage. First Degree The Host develops black sclera and starts to feel uncomfortable or even itchy under the sun's gaze. The cluster of "freckles" begin to fuse together. They may start to see spots in their vision. Second Degree The Host's "freckle" turns black and void-like, but does not spread across the skin. It begins to be painful to stand in sunlight long enough, and the Host will begin to experience minor auditory hallucinations (Such as whispers, laughter, or distant conversations) Third Degree The Host's shadow patch spreads across their body, their fingers become claws if a shadow patch is on their fingers/hand. Their shadow (natural shadow) may appear as if it is on fire, or as if it is dripping upwards. Hallucinations become more frequent and less minor, as well as experiencing physical hallucinations. The Host may also become minorly paranoid. Fourth Degree The Host has become majorly covered (at least three-fourths of their body) with the shadow, if not entirely so. Major hallucinations of all types are experienced, as well as gaining a deep paranoia and aggression towards non-infected individuals. Horns may develop if the Host didn't have them beforehand. If left untreated, the Host will lose all cognitive thought.
Singed Stage The Host will have a fever once they first catch it and develop "freckles" on a certain patch of their skin but otherwise will show no signs of the illness due to this being a pre-symptomatic stage. First Degree The Host develops black sclera and starts to feel uncomfortable or even itchy under the sun's gaze. The cluster of "freckles" begin to fuse together. They may start to see spots in their vision. Second Degree The Host's "freckle" turns black and void-like, but does not spread across the skin. It begins to be painful to stand in sunlight long enough, and the Host will begin to experience minor auditory hallucinations (Such as whispers, laughter, or distant conversations) Third Degree The Host's shadow patch spreads across their body, their fingers become claws if a shadow patch is on their fingers/hand. Their shadow (natural shadow) may appear as if it is on fire, or as if it is dripping upwards. Hallucinations become more frequent and less minor, as well as experiencing physical hallucinations. The Host may also become minorly paranoid. Fourth Degree The Host has become majorly covered (at least three-fourths of their body) with the shadow, if not entirely so. Major hallucinations of all types are experienced, as well as gaining a deep paranoia and aggression towards non-infected individuals. Horns may develop if the Host didn't have them beforehand. If left untreated, the Host will lose all cognitive thought.
Treatment
A cleansing ritual must be done by a cleric, usually of those devoted to the Matriarch. While it is easy to cure if found during the Singed Stage, costing only 5 GP and taking a mere 5 minutes, it gets somewhat harder as stages go on. (And thus, more costly.)
During First-to-Second Degree it costs 15 GP to cure and will take 20 minutes for the ritual to finish. Those cured will be left with a flu-like illness and must recover for 3-to-5 days. They will also experience pain similar to first-or-second-degree burns during recovery, depending on which stage they were in.
During Third Degree, it costs 30 GP to cure, and the ritual will take 45 minutes to complete. Cured individuals will be left with an illness similar to pneumonia, as well as pain similar to third-degree burns on their shadow patches. Recovery lasts for 1.5-to-2 weeks.
Fourth Degree depends a bit. If it is before they've been completely taken over by the shadow, it costs 60 GP and the ritual lasts 1.5 hours. They will experience an illness similar to pneumonia and must recover for 3 weeks.
However, if the Host has lost their cognitive thought and has been taken over by the shadow, there is a chance they may die during the ritual. It costs 100 GP to perform and lasts 3 hours. If it works, they must recover for 5-to-6 weeks in a haze-like state.
Prognosis
If left untreated, the Host will eventually develop into Fourth Degree and lose their cognitive thought. Once they reach this, they will shamble around and attempt to infect others and/or kill people. The affliction will keep the body moving, even after the host eventually dies from lack of food or water. Shadowburne also seems to keep the body from decaying at a normal rate.
Sequela
Someone cured of Shadowburne will have varying sequelae depending on when they were cured. All physical changes, no matter their stage, will be permanent. Those will be the only consequences on patients healed during the Singed Stage or First Degree.
Those cured during Second Degree will continue to have minor auditory hallucinations their entire lives. When cured during Third Degree, they will experience minor auditory or physical hallucinations, as well as having a sensitivity to sunlight.
Survivors of Fourth Degree Shadowburne will continue to experience minor, semi-frequent hallucinations and will be easier to possess as well as more susceptible to curses or spells that alter the mind. They may also gain a shadow that moves independently of themselves or a touch that may curse whatever or whoever is touched.
Affected Groups
Those who are originally cursed with the disease are typically of higher power, in an attempt to get revenge, or somebody who might not be missed or treated, as it's easier to get the disease to spread. However, really anybody who's royally pissed off an immoral spellcaster or cult member could find themselves a target of a ritual.
Prevention
Shadowburne is impossible to prevent, as it is only caused by people intentionally infecting others. Many don't need to worry about it, but once it manages to spread to multiple people in a settlement the best prevention is a quarantine or to be wary of others. Clean all items others touch, and frequently check in with your local clerics.
Epidemiology
Any major outbreak must, basically, be the result of an attack. Otherwise, Shadowburne outbreaks are limited to singular towns. In fact, most of the time they tend to be limited to 1-to-3 hosts!
History
Shadowburne was originated briefly before the Prototip era ended, created by a mage known as Moony Jack. Many quite honestly doubt that this was their real name, and instead a name given to strip them of dignity in wake of their awful deeds. It's said the spell they made was specifically crafted to kill an entire noble court, all to land themselves in power. This was a rather large outbreak, as the entire settlement became infected and it slowly spread across the land. It took the disease threatening Moony Jack themselves to have the curing ritual be made.
The second most major outbreak of Shadowburne was caused by a group of Purists (worshippers of the Purifier) who released what was basically a terroristic attack in various major cities. Various Purists went around intentionally hiding the fact they were infected, while some people were stupid and unaware of the fact they could infect others.
A famous, currently living, individual who survived Shadowburne is a fairyfolk named Peter Barker Pan. Peter is a famous young adventurer, who's kept a tight hold on his past. His shadow is famously sentient, and is often even treated as an entirely different person by Peter!
Cultural Reception
While most view these survivors with sympathy, a good portion of those within places like Merrebridge and Silverhollow are wary of victims, lest they be still contagious and cause an epidemic. It's a sort of superficial fear, bred by a mix of cultural fear due to previous attacks, and a general distrust of those who stand out.
Type
Magical
Origin
Magical
Rarity
Rare
Affected Species