Morrigan's Affliction

The Disease of Doom

Disease has shaken the fabric of Totania many times throughout its storied history, and though most point to Dragon's Doom as the most influential plague, one cannot ignore the impact of the Korvian Plague. Morrigan's Affliction, also known as "the Disease of Doom", is still dormant in all Korvians and Avians, from birth to death, and through them it can sway events wherever they may go.

The Reaper Parasite

The Korvian Plague is a parasitic infection that latches onto its hosts. Made by the Goddess of Death herself, it only targets her creations, Avians and Korvians, and in its purest form, it drains the nutrients from its host's body until they die.
Those infected by the disease refuse to eat, with their bodies rejecting whatever they consume, and no matter how much they drink, they remain thirsty. Their emotions are dampened, with only sorrow, grief, and depression rising to the surface while all others are suppressed, even eventually losing control of their bodies entirely.

Morrigan by Jarhed

Korvian Abilities

However, this is only the symptoms one faces if they cannot overcome the disease. All Korvians and Avians are born with this disease (though it now lies dormant in most Avian populations), and while a great many do succumb to it every generation, it is only those who do not have the willpower to push through the symptoms.
It only takes willpower and perseverance to keep oneself alive while infected with Morrigan's Affliction, fostering an awareness of the parasite inside oneself and latching onto it with one's soul. Once this is done, the parasite will instead begin to feed off of the soul, and it shapes itself into the form of the host's willpower. No longer a burden, it takes on unique powers for its host, creating what is known as the Korvian Ability.
Korvian Abilities differ for each host, as they reflect the unique shape and extension of their spirit and will. Some powers are minuscule, even dangerous to the host, while others can be so powerful that they go beyond the limits of normal magic. After all, this is the power of the Goddess of Death, meant to be a quick and painful end for the host, but when given new form it may retain that level of power if its host has the willpower for it.

Notable Examples

Many Korvian abilities have shaped not just Korvian politics, but global history, and below is a list of some of the most notable as an example of what the plague can do.

• Warbler- Makes the host and those around him immortal, though individual invulnerability can be toggled by the host for anyone around him, including himself.


• Monster- Grants the host the ability to turn anyone he pleases into a creature of some sort, subservient to him and his Army of Monsters.


• Etcher- The host is given access to the abilities of anyone he touches, learning what it does and, if he pleases, taking it for himself. He stores abilities, unable to use them, but can distribute them out to others, including non-Korvians who otherwise could not have an ability.


• Tyrant- Creates the Hall of the Mountain King, a throne room inside of a mountain, which gains more control over the land around him exponentially each year. Within two years, he'd built a new mountain chain across Udai, and within twenty he could shape the entire planet of Totania.

Sinner Caerxan by Jarhed


• Sinner- Grants control of a new, second sun, which can influence personal luck and that of those around the host. Can further shape situations by rigging them in favor of the host.


• Pretender- Creates a vestigial hood over the host's body, which changes the shape of his body when pulled down. He can shapeshift into anyone he has touched with the palm of his hand, taking on their voice, abilities, and memories as well.


• Puffer- Gives the host access to all things that share the color of black, allowing him to move himself through black surfaces and even take control of them.


• Growler- Takes the form of an invisible companion who acts as a secondary extension of the host's will, doing what he wants without the need to ask.

Avians

While Avians were also infected with this disease, there were great efforts taken during the early days afterwards, when Korvians had seized power, to change the form of the disease in the Avians. They were not given the secret to unlocking their powers, but were instead largely treated and cured by Korvian physicians (mostly with new, healing abilities). This left the disease dormant in most Avians, but in rare circumstances one may be born with the disease and, even rarer, one may overcome it and unlock an Avian Ability (which is no different from the Korvian type).
Those who are not Korvians or Avians have no chance of infection, meaning that even if one were to place a Human infant next to an infected Korvian infant, it would not spread.

Warbler by Jarhed

History

Morrigan's Affliction first struck during the nomadic period of the birdfolk, with a meteor that made the Yokatlān Crater at the center of Udai.
This serves as evidence that the Korvians and Avians were, at the time, living closer to the crater than the Unnamed Bay that they would later settle in, or else the disease was brought back to their camps by scouts who visited the impact site to learn what had fallen from the sky.
Whatever the case, in -515 AE the first symptoms of Morrigan's Affliction appeared among the Avians who first viewed the meteor. They lacked energy, struggled to move, and even felt their emotions dampened. It did not take long for every Korvian and Avian to be infected, and it had become a massive epidemic.
The story goes that Morrigan herself brought down the disease, displeased with her creations, so that she could wipe them all out and start anew. As the Goddess of Death, she tried to do her part and bring about death in its most sublime form yet.
For 5 years, the disease ravaged the Avians and Korvians alike. The winged Avians, who once lorded over their wingless brethren, were made equals in their suffering, but there was one individual who found a way to stop the pain.
Warbler, a young Korvian boy, wished to be better. He did not want to suffer, and he did not want those around him to either. So he focused his willpower and performed one of the single greatest feats any mortal has ever done: he willed himself back to health.
His willpower did not destroy the disease, but instead it changed the form of the parasite. It turned it from a life-draining burden to a life-saving power. It took on the shape of his will and granted him the very first Korvian ability, the power to defy death and battle even the will of the Goddess: immortality.
With his power, he was able to guide others to unlocking their own power and saving themselves from the disease. He only helped Korvians, as he worked to free them from their Avian shackles and bring them to power.
Alongside Croaker, he did just that, forming the Orchestra and conquering Udai with their combined power. The disease that had once been meant to destroy them instead gave them the power of Gods, and they were forever damned as the enemies of Morrigan.
But their efforts secured her faith in her people again, and she rescinded her plans to wipe out the two populations, instead blessing them once more (save for Warbler and Croaker).