Beast Consumption
Beast Consumption is a dangerous strain of Aether Decay that comes from eating beast flesh.
Transmission & Vectors
The condition is transmitted through eating beast flesh. These creatures were brought into existence through potent curses, so consuming these types of magic in turn afflicts the infected. The disease is not contagious through other means.
Causes
This condition's onset is gradual. The direct cause of Beast Consumption specifically comes from the curse used to manifest the Beast's body transferring to the individual. Therefore, this is the most widespread strain of Aether Decay in Poraile. Especially common in the Beastwilds, where sources of contagion are more prevalent.
Symptoms
This condition can give both physical and mental symptoms to a sufferer. It is vital to catch the signs of Beast Consumption early, otherwise the patient may seriously harm themselves or the people they know.
Psychological Symptoms
These psychological indicators are the earliest warning signs of Beast Consumption. Most imitate other forms of addiction, but some are exclusive to this condition.- Increased apathy
- Increased aggression
- Intense cravings for beast flesh
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Reckless or antisocial behaviour
- Manic episodes, followed by intense depression
- Loss of appetite for other foods
- Increased aether use / contact
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms of Beast Consumption primarily derive from dependency. This physical addiction will manifest after prolonged exposure and several psychological indicators.- Malnutrition from lack of sustenance
- Lower body temperature
- Loss of taste for other foods
- "Jitters", shaking or body tremors
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Low blood pressure
- Cold sweat
- Volatile / uncontrollable aether use
Treatment
Common treatment for Beast Consumption was to expose the patient to holy or sacred objects. This could include prolonged hours in churches or monasteries, holding holy relics or being bathed in holy water. These only serve to comfort the subject and their families rather than actually combating the condition, despite various reports of "the warmth of the Lord" bringing loved ones to health.
Through the strides made with the Witch Redemption Programme, The Council of Camelan has co-operated with Wiccan communities to find a cure. Since the Beasts are potent curses made into natural organisms, they realised the most knowledgeable on how to reverse this condition would be the people rumoured to have created them.
The cure is a potion, administered orally. It is more viscous than a conventional brew, so it needs to be eaten much like a soup or stew. Doctors recommend that patients consume this half an hour before eating conventional food, when their appetite makes a temporary return. After 3 weeks of purging the beast's substance from their body, the patient should be cured.
Since these potions can only be made through specialist equipment and instruction, the commoner doesn't have the means to obtain it. Wiccan vary in generosity. Those who come by the cures second-hand are eager to squeeze the value of such a vital medicine, especially in hunter communities where desperation is rife.
Prognosis
The first stage of the disease is the most common and noticeable. This is when the body is trying to either accept or reject the cursed aether that it has to digest.
The most dangerous stages of the disease are when the body rejects the foreign aether. The patient can either combust or waste away, serving as the fuel source that the curse burns down from the inside. This can also cause brain damage in its later stages and lead to other conditions.
If the body accepts and digests the aether, the curse manifests as a permanent part of the patient. Therefore, some symptoms of Beast Consumption may persist even if the patient is cured. In this advanced stage, it has also been reported that patients become animalistic or "beast-like" before death.
Becoming undead is impossible, since only necromancy can achieve this outcome. Instead, the patient will pass away as normal. It is rumoured, however, that people suffering under Beast Consumption are more likely to linger as ghosts in the afterlife.
Sequela
Complications can occur if the patient isn't fed or hydrated. Most sufferers will go through a phase of malnutrition which can be lethal if not addressed, especially if the patient is unwilling to eat or drink. Starvation and terminal dehydration are early obstacles. A patient's lack of appetite can persist even if they've recovered from the condition.
Hallucinations are more likely both whilst suffering and after recovering from Beast Consumption. Most of these instances are from cold fever dreams, where patients have been kept awake all night from the effects. It isn't unheard of, however, for the mind's disposition to be permanently altered after contracting the disease.
Prevention
Avoiding eating beast flesh would be the most common method of defence. For those unable to, such as hunters who may run short on rations, there are few prevention measures.
Out of those reported to work well, Wiccan Wards of Protection prove the most effective. This is to little surprise, since beasts were themselves manifested from magic. These wards can come in forms of physical charms or amulets, sold on the road to travellers. Their quality varies.
Epidemiology
If the food supply becomes tainted with beast flesh, the condition can spread quickly. Outbreaks are common on feast days, especially in hunter circles or those living in the Northern Beastwilds. That one tavern with an unspecified food source, recently scarce on new beasts to hunt.
Naturally, the disease is prevalent amongst shoppers in the black market. Poor with few other options are also susceptible to Beast Consumption, often exasperating their malnutrition.
Cultural Reception
A culture of blame has developed around sufferers of Beast Consumption. They are often ostracised or punished for putting themselves or others in danger. A circle of paranoia isn't far behind when someone tests positive amongst a group who ate together, especially amongst Vandrere or hunters.
The psychological symptoms of the disease only serve to antagonise sufferers further, who find themselves less able to regulate their emotions or levels of aggression. These patients isolate themselves - some as a form of penance - awaiting their deaths alone.
With the development of a cure, this attitude is fading away. More people are able to see the sufferers as afflicted with a disease, rather than getting what they're due for their recklessness. All over Poraile, cracks in the doors are appearing and hopeful, glossy eyes are finally able to look back.
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