Aetherial Sickness

Aetherial Sickness is a dangerous consequence of prolonged or intense exposure to the Aetherial Flow’s raw, unpredictable currents. It affects individuals differently, its symptoms ranging from uncontrolled magical outbursts to disorienting hallucinations and, in the most extreme cases, physical mutations or death.
For mages, the sickness disrupts their control over the Aetherial Flow, turning their carefully honed abilities into unpredictable and potentially dangerous forces. Spells might backfire, erupting in uncontrolled bursts of energy, or their effects might be amplified or diminished with no discernible reason, a frustrating mockery of their years of training and discipline.
In those lacking innate magical ability, Aetherial Sickness becomes a more insidious corruption that can warp both perception and physical form. Hallucinations plague their waking hours, vivid nightmares haunt their sleep, and their bodies, unable to process the Aetherial overload, might exhibit strange mutations. If exposure is not halted, this overload inevitably results in a slow, painful death.

Stages of Illness
Magic

Stage 1

Early symptoms include difficulty focusing while casting spells, minor magical mishaps (a spark instead of a flame, a trickle of water instead of a healing wave), and an increased sense of fatigue after even minor magical exertion.

Stage 2

As the sickness progresses, control over magic becomes increasingly difficult. Spells may backfire, erupting in unintended bursts of energy, or their effects can become amplified or diminished in unpredictable ways. Emotional instability and heightened sensitivity to the surrounding Aetherial Flow are also common.

Stage 3

In its most severe form, Aetherial Sickness can result in complete loss of control over one's magical abilities. Mages might become living conduits for chaotic energy, unleashing devastating bursts of raw power, their bodies wracked by the strain, their minds consumed by the very forces they once commanded.

Stages of Illness
Non-magical

Stage 1

Initial symptoms mirror a mild cold or flu - headaches, fatigue, a general sense of unease. Subtle hallucinations may occur – flickering shadows in the periphery, whispers in empty rooms, the sensation of being watched by unseen eyes.

Stage 2

As exposure intensifies, hallucinations become more vivid and persistent, blurring the line between reality and delusion. Physical symptoms worsen, including fever, chills, difficulty breathing, and skin rashes that shift and shimmer with a faint, yrddestone-like luminescence.

Stage 3

In extreme cases of prolonged exposure, the body undergoes physical mutations. These mutations, unpredictable and often reflecting the dominant elemental energy in the area of exposure, can range from subtle changes in skin pigmentation or hair growth to more dramatic transformations – extra limbs, crystalline growths, or even the development of animalistic features. These physical changes are often accompanied by severe mental instability.

Treatment and Recovery

There is no known cure for Aetherial Sickness. The only effective treatment involves removing the affected individual from the source of exposure and allowing their bodies and minds to gradually regain their equilibrium. Affected mages must abstain from using magic until the sickness subsides. This forced inactivity, often lasting weeks or even months, can be a frustrating and even humiliating experience for those who define themselves by their abilities. Treatment for those without magical affinity is much easier, as all they need to do is avoid returning to areas contaminated with magical radiation, a simple prospect for the vast majority of those affected.