Stain Contagion

The Stain Contagion was brought upon the Turnal race by Ascendant Colour.

A Lord of Law first tested the Stain Contagion on the non-living to test its efficacy on those of Darkness. It was proved highly effective even on those without much in the way of mental accuity. The Lawful saw this as proof sufficient that it would deal a major blow to the Turnal race.

In a carefully executed plot, Colour put the Stain Contagion into a Lord of Law. This lord volunteered to be the one to take the Stain into contact with the Turnal.

Transmission & Vectors

The Turnal were a race of blackness. In this, Colour found a way to infect them. As Colour had gained a degree of self-awareness, it had within its newfound abilities, a way to move light through crystals and cause a linkage reaction in the thoughts of those nearby. This might have been a Shard-related causation, although it was never proved. As this was a contagion, it was vital to the plan that the thought was sufficiently negative that the Turnal would be unable to fight the contagion off. One with sorcerous skill and a suitably powerful mind was necessary to transmit the disease.

A Lord of Law had joined Colour. He knew that Colour would reach new heights as a Power. He had also learned that it would take knowledge antithetical to the Turnal to afflict them to the point of debilitation. He invested a spell with both the strength of Colour -- chiefly delivered through Black -- and secret knowledge that Darkness would sacrifice the Turnal to achieve an end to Light. This, despite the race being lesser to these greater Powers.

The Lord of Law was 'captured' by the Turnal. Four Turnal, one of each of the Factor groups, were given the honour of taking the prisoner to the Darkness but he never reached this destination. The Lawful ejected his spell/telepathic attack into his four captors. This was the way that the Stain Contagion was delivered into the Turnal.

Symptoms

Pustules are first seen below the skin. These begin as black splotchy discolourations. More brightly coloured than bruising, the Stain Contagion then turns from black to almost any hue.

The thought of Darkness's disdain for the Turnal would sink into the mind of the one afflicted. The nature of Darkness's planned casual disregard and dismissal of the Turnal would come to be an obsession. At that point, several days after the infection, a single colour would become dominant. This colour will lend a specific disability to the Turnal. Some colour's are not well-understood.
Black - The first understood. The Turnal who see the contagion become black, are afflicted with suicidal thoughts. The ones afflicted are able to fight off this compulsion but it is an ever-present struggle.

Red - It fell upon the Turnal infected by the Red Stain to feel a sense of hopeless despair. A nostalgic and sentimental turn of thoughts that might lead to their being unable to act decisively at times that are most important.

Orange - These Turnal threw themselves into foolish and needless dangerous fights as often as they were unable to resist the call of the 'Magma Stain'.

Treatment

No known treatment other than constant encouragement of others to resist the thoughts that come to those afflicted.

Prognosis

Incurable.

Sequela

As the Turnal took the drastic step of going into an enforced stasis to avoid the effects of the Stain Contagion, the long-term effects are unknown.

Affected Groups

Turnal

Drowse -- Second Realm

Drowse -- Third Realm: Factors & Hiles

Prevention

Due to the Turnals' means of 'keenpang' telepathic communication between themselves, the contagion raced through the race like wildfire. None of the Turnal were able to avoid being infected -- none were able to prevent their being infected.

History

see -- 'How the Drowse Came to the New Realm'

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique

Affected Species

• The TURNAL/DROWSE: A Racial Study