Radiation Sickness

50 years ago, a hundred or so uranium, plutonium, and hydrogen bombs were implanted within Prometheus' crust, set to detonate at 7.06 am on 6.6.3996. The air on the planet became ionized, causing a clear blue glow and a visible wave of heat to surge across the surface. Nobody saw this coming, not even the colleagues of the entity responsible. This widespread destruction caused buildings to be turned to dust, nature to ashes, and people to shadows. However, the planet miraculously survived, and humanity attempted to rebuild itself, despite the horrifying affects of the radiation.

Transmission & Vectors

The nuclear explosions resulted in large bursts of gamma rays. These waves pass through the entire body, affecting all tissues in the body, from skin to bone marrow. This causes widespread, systemic damage, and many people became "ghoulified" as a result of the burns. Residual radiation in the environment causes new organisms to often be born mutated, with two heads, no limbs, etc. Rarely, the genetic material of some individuals born after the Day of Reckoning results not in radiation sickness, but arcane powers.

Symptoms

For those fortunate enough to be far away from a nuclear detonation, the symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, headache, fever and even, in severe cases, loss of consciousness, and burns on the skin. Symptoms occur more quickly the greater the dose of radiation.
After a week or so, the radiation damages cells and structures within the body. The body becomes anemic and susceptible to infections. Radiation also damages the cells that line the digestive system, causing more infections. Radiation in high doses can damage skin so severely that it doesn't heal properly. Hair falls out. Scars develop beneath the skin will that swell and form keloids.

Sequela

Ghoulification is a direct effect of extreme exposure to radiation. This process consists of massive burns all over the skin, the clouding of the eyes, disintegration of cartilage, and sometimes damage to the vocal cords. Individuals who have turned into Ghouls are actually healed by more exposure to radiation, and their aging process slows down significantly.

Type

Genetic

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Ghoul
• Human / Anthropo