The Rust

A magical disease contracted by those who live in Detritus. It is largely contained to the poorest neighbourhoods of the large settlements or to remote geographical areas, but no-one is sure how it is spread. Initially, the inhabitants of Detritus thought it largely harmless and ignored its spread as much as a cold, but like everything in the Trash Plane, it seems to be changing and adapting. It has started to become more serious, though no deaths have been reported except in cases where the person was already in ill health or suffered an unconnected accident after contracting it. The symptoms are a reddish-orange discolouration around the hands, neck and back, which spread out along the veins until the afflicted is covered in a spider web of rust-coloured marks. This is accompanied by tiredness and achey, stiff limbs. More recently, reports have begun to filter in of the slow degrading and flaking of the skin to reveal a harder, dark green section of skin underneath. No-one is entirely sure what this means, and several experts in the healing arts from a number of disciplines have travelled to the areas where it is most widespread to try and cure the disease. Some from civic-mindedness, others for the challenge of it, and others yet because the cure to such a common disease is undoubtedly going to make whoever finds it first extremely rich. Most citizens of Detritus disregard the dire warnings, still convinced that it is the sort of disease one really shouldn't make a fuss about.
How it will mutate further over time, and whether it can be stopped, are concerning topics for anyone who takes it seriously.

Type

Magical