The Blood Curse
The Blood Curse is a dangerous disease that once ravaged the whole of Tregaron; and more recently, the Chain of Fire. While much more rare, the disease still remains an uncurable plague that can decimate entire cities from the very first sign of infection. The disease infests mortal hosts and causes them to twist into horrific killing machines that rapidly evolve as they kill.
Over time, it erodes their mind; slowly picking apart their psyche until they're reduced to beasts held only on primal instincts. This earned it the nickname of Beastblight.
Those infected will continue to kill until they're put down, while those exposed to the slightest drop of blood will become infected themselves. This dangerous trait has lead to a very staunch outlook from Human societies, whom later created the Huntsman's Court with the intention of eradicating all signs of the blight.
Transmission & Vectors
The disease is spread through a variety of vectors, but the most common one is blood, saliva, or general contact with an infected's malformed claws. It is a highly infectious disease with very little cure behind it. Certain beasts are known to actually mutate in ways that allow them to more efficiently spread the curse.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the curse are actually a slow and steady onset; one of the dangerous qualities of the curse is its ability to stay bound based upon the personal restraint of the infected. If the infected individual is capable of resisting their dark urges, they're often capable of lasting a very long time without succumbing to the more dangerous symptoms -- and thus blend perfectly with society.
This dormant phase is unique in the sense that it is not entirely infectious; while it is still incurable, it is able to be repressed based upon the infected's personal will.
Early Stages
While it is often dormant outwardly; early stages and signs of the infection often include a hunger for raw meat and an irritable personality. Delusionsof grandeur often infect the mind of the host, which only further pushes them towards their sadistic tendencies.Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis is the second and most obvious stage of infection due to the rapid changes. The most dominant symptom shows itself here; black veins, which swell along the skin. During this phase, the victim often suffers intense hallucinations -- it is not uncommon for them to make claims of things 'slithering' inside their skin. Their muscle rapidly mutates, causing it to bulge and tear at the skin until the body they once had tears away at the seams. Metamorphosis is able to recede back in a dormant stage through a careful psychological treatment, but it is often very, very difficult to accomplish -- and the victim will also often always find new mutations twisting their body regardless of a successful treatment.Final Stages
The Final Stages is regarded as Beasthood; the complete, utter transformation of life into a monstrous beast. Hosts that are at this stage are incapable of being brought back from this state and are reduced to ravenous killing machines. A Beast will always kill, harm, and seek to cause the most violence possible.History
The Curse began in Tregaron; it is a corrupted form of Vampirism that mutated into a much more hostile, uncontrollable form. It ravaged most of Tregaron until the formation of the Huntsman's Court, which slowly gathered willing participants to fight against the curse from all regions of the world regardless of race or national standing. This active effort is often seen as the first grand collaboration of all peoples across Tregaron, and is often seen as a testament to the mortal spirit by historians.
While the curse was effectively eradicated from Tregaron, Elven Refugees carried the disease when they fled to the Chain of Fire, which lead to a epidemic that has yet to be addressed by the Fianni or Elven people.
Ironically enough, the disease created a unique unity that lead to the Huntsman's Court slowly rising to political power; they now effectively control the regions of Vilstrung and Mordencrast and reign over what is widely considered the most peaceful era for humanity.
Cultural Reception
Anything to do with the curse is often viewed as so abhorrent that it must be eradicated with extreme prejudice. Carriers of the curse that remain lucid enough to speak are quarantined and studied in an active effort to attempt curing the curse, but even so, it is much more common for the Huntsman's Court to immediately execute the afflicted.
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