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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
From 1506-1511
A black mark on Eden’s world history, the Rotting Plague’s true origin is unknown, but its first outbreak can be traced back to the northern fiefdoms of Hadriana in the year 1506. The name “Rotting Plague” originates from its symptoms. The disease was spread through direct contact, but it could also become waterborne, therefore infecting plants, and livestock. Later in its lifespan it became airborne as infected bodies were burned. Those who were infected had their limbs and organs rot out from the inside over a period of eight days.


A black mark on the history of Eden, the Plague of Rot aka Rotting Plague decimated all race populations to the point where they are today. It has been a decade since the end of the  pandemic, and the people of Eden are still rebuilding and in fear of another outbreak.
A decade has passed since the five year long pandemic, which decimated all race populations to where they are today. Even now, many nations are rebuilding, while others were wiped out entirely.  
The name “Rotting Plague” originates from its symptoms. Those who were infected had limbs and organs rot out from the inside over a period of 8 days. The disease was spread through direct contact, but it could also become waterborne, therefore infecting plants, and livestock. Later in its lifespan it became airborne as infected bodies were burned.
   The Rotting Plague’s true origin is unknown, but its first outbreak can be traced back to the northern fiefdoms of Hadriana in the year [tba]. This strange disease would spark into a 5-year long pandemic.


== Infection Cycle ==
The ‘Rot Spores’ as they are colloquially known, rapidly break down their host’s body for protein and nutrients, resulting in gruesome side effects such as necrosis, loss of limb function, and organ failure. Sometimes in the late stages of the disease, the host’s lungs degraded to a point where the host began to cough, resulting in the exhalation of Rot Spores. Necrotic tissue within the infected organism also produced spores in the late stages before its death.


The methods of infection include direct skin-to-skin contact, ingestion of contaminated food/drink, and later on airborne spores and cremated remains of infected. Both fauna and flora could be infected by the Rotting Plague, so even though the Elves were directly immune to the disease, their crops and livestock were not, which resulted in widespread famine.


Both plants and animals were affected by the plague, livestock in particular, which included chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, and even horses. The livestock would suffer symptoms very similar to their human counterparts, wasting away one day at a time. Given their close proximity to one another, and the rapid rate of the disease, entire herds were wiped out in little more than a week.


A plague, known to the world, or at least that is the point of this document you are reading right now. This document will tell you about the most vital details of the Plague of Rot. Or, as it is commonly referred to: The Rotting Plague.  
Meanwhile, a select few animals were asymptomatic carriers such as fish, insects, and rodents. However, rats reacted differently to the plague, showing minor symptoms of the plague, while also exhibiting traits and behaviors similar to rabies. Infected rats formed massive hordes to search for food; which was everything. This included the humanoid inhabitants of Eden, especially unattended children. While still unexplainable, the rats showed aversion to fire, magic, and large bodies of water.


This document will be split into sections, each giving information on the plague. The details you see in this document are the primary form of the plague. What we mean with primary is how the plague initially works, as each race in our world was eventually affected differently. An example would be humans having no immune system and thus be affected by all its effects, while elves were immune yet faced other problems. Tieflings would suffer different kinds of effects, and so did other races.
=== <u>Symptoms:</u> ===
 
Symptoms of plague mainly firstly hidden, as the "rot"  formed within the body before radiating outward. This made it difficult to diagnose early enough to quarantine, as its trademark symptoms only show up during its later stages. In its early stages the plague takes on the symptoms of the cold or the flu. The life cycle of the disease was on average eight days. Conveniently, the stages of the infection can also be measured by days.
== History ==
The Rotting Plague's true origin is due to the technology of the time, unknown. First sightings of the plague were in the northern fiefdoms of The Kingdom Of Hadriana in the year [...], sparking the beginning of a five-year-long apocalypse onto the world of Eden.
 
The name "Rotting Plague" originates from the effects the plague had on its victims. Each living being, plant, or even certain foods that the plague touched turned into living yet decomposing husks. The name, just like the pestilence itself, spread quickly throughout the world thanks to nature and merchants, bringing death and destruction in its wake.
 
== Infection cycle ==
The way the virus or bacteria spread was again due to the time period very hard to point out. It was from direct skin touch with infected flesh, ingestion of contaminated foods and drinks, insects, and saliva. Even certain animals were not safe to approach. Air was later on added due to the ash of corpses being also burned, still holding spores of rot.  


Spore cases were rare of the plague. When an infected host would be infected for a longer time, the damaged lungs will cause the infected to cough, making the host release spores of the plague. The dead tissue of the hosts’ body also produces spores in the ending stages up until death. The same was when staying near an infected body being burned, the ashes would still contain the spores of the plague.
quoted from Scholar Erinae Lazaru’s “''Ruin & Rot''” study of the Rotting Plague:


Infected bodies, plants, or animals that reached clear waters, such as rivers or ponds or other water sources, would infect the water if their bodies made contact, turning the water either poisonous or giving the person or animal drinking it the disease. Wells in villages and towns were quickly infected, spreading the plague only more.
''Name: Terrence Umber''


=== <u>Symptoms:</u> ===
''Race: Attian Human''
Symptoms of the plague and its infection cycle were looked at throughout the apocalypse years thanks to the sacrifice of those who tried studying the plague. Unfortunately, due to their losses, most of their works also failed to reach the majority of the population.


Symptoms of plague mainly were hidden, as the primary way of killing the host was making them "rot" from the inside first rather than showing this to the skin. This meant that living creatures like animals and the races of Eden had a hard time finding out who or what was infected, or showing signs of the disease.
''Age: 37''


Symptoms varied from each race, but the most notable effect the plague had was the immense fever and skin irritation in the first phase of the disease. Loss of taste and smell followed suit. Many of these symptoms were seen as minor illnesses. Making many people realize the danger until it was too late.  
''Presumed origin: Touched exposed corpse of infected individual.''


=== <u> ''Stages of infection:''</u> ===
====== Stage One, Day 1 (24 hours since infected): ======
An infected lifespan was eight days. Each day represented a stage or phase of the disease affecting the one being infected. It even causes the infected to act as a carrier in particular phases.  
Host retains motor function and is cognizant, but complains about congestion and aching pains.  


===== Stage one, day one: =====
====== Stage Two, Day 2 (48 hours since infected): ======
Disease lays dormant in the host. The host will suffer an illness known as a common cold. Only in this stage can the condition of the disease be held back by high-tier medicine used for treating the common cold, causing the plague to be cured. But this is only in 30% of the cases.
Subject is bedridden with a high fever, sweating with chills. Mild skin irritation around the skin folds and cuticles. Subject is somewhat delirious but was able to confirm congestion and muscle pains.  


==== Stage two, day two: ====
====== Stage Three, Day 3 (72 hours since infected): ======
The disease begins to spread through the body. The spread causes the host to suffer immense fever combined with the common cold. From the second stage, the infected can no longer be cured. The host loses sense of smell.
Fever has broken and the subject has regained cognitive function. Beginning signs of paronychia around the skinfolds/cuticles, with skin irritation traveling up the limbs and appearing around the torso. Subject continues to complain about congestion and muscle aches, but less so than the intense itching/burning of the irritated areas on their body.  


==== Stage three, day three: ====
====== Stage Four, Day 4 (96 hours since infected): ======
The immense fever has died down. The disease has now started to <nowiki>''eat away'' at the body tissue of the host. The skin irritations can be first seen on the host'</nowiki>s body. This causes itching and sometimes gives a burning sensation to the skin. The host will continue to have the symptoms of stage one common cold.  
Subject has lost body fat and remains cognitive but is in extreme discomfort. “Feels like I’m covered head to toe in fire ants that think I killed their mother.” Welts have appeared on irritated skin, the itchiness has been replaced entirely by a burning sensation. Pus has accumulated around fingernails.  but no longer suffers from congestion or muscle aches.  


==== Stage four, day four: ====
====== Stage Five, Day 5 (120 hours since infected): ======
The common cold has faded - redness and irritation of the skin increase. The itchiness has now disappeared as well, replaced by the burning sensation completely. This causes no significant pain on the infected host but enough to cause irritation. In most cases, the infected host will begin to suffer hair loss.  
Subject has lost more weight and become an infectious carrier. Subject’s welts have developed into large collections of boils, which leak pus (which can be infectious). Signs of gangrene have appeared on fingers and toes. However the subject reports that the burning sensation has stopped with little discomfort, and that he has no appetite. Upon testing reflexes and pain response time in other areas, the subject reports little to no pain. Subject has small cough. Given the frequency of these symptoms, I propose that the nervous and digestive systems are the first to degrade.  


==== Stage five, day five: ====
====== Stage Six, Day 6 (144 hours since infected): ======
The infected host their organs will begin to be affected by the disease, starting at the digestive organs and lungs. The host will start to slowly lose the need for food or drinks and begin to cough. The coughing brings bacteria airborne, turning the infected host into a carrier. The irritated skin has already started to tear and crack, causing the irritated skin to bleed and show exposed tissue.  
Fat in the body is nearly gone, and the subject has difficulty with his mobility. Rot has spread to his muscles, leaving blackened splotches beneath intact skin. Boils have burst to reveal severe necrotic damage below the dermis. Once more, the subject reports no physical pain, although he shows emotional distress at the sight of his body. Brain still mostly intact then.  


==== Stage six, day six: ====
Some reflexes also remain intact, such as to cough, which has become far more severe. What comes up in a mixture of phlegm, blood, and dislodged degenerative lung tissue. Cough is likely to contain living Rot Spores, so avoid.  
The hosts' muscle tissue is now in a damaged state too. The host has trouble moving now. Skin tissue begins to peel off, exposing large chunks of tissue underneath, even bone in early cases. The coughing of the host is now painful, coughing up bacteria and gobs of blood and rotten tissue. In 100% of the cases, did the host not feel pain beyond stage six, even though their body began to suffer immense trauma.  


==== Stage seven, day seven: ====
====== Stage Seven, Day 7 (168 hours since infected): ======
The brain has now been affected as well. The host will begin to turn into a <nowiki>''zombie'' like state. Their movements are slow, almost limping or crawling, speech begins to slur, and eyesight begins to be faulty as the eyes start to rot too. Larger chunks of skin, combined with muscle tissue, will begin to turn black, rot and peel from the host's body, exposing more bone. The rotten tissue present in the lungs causes the host to cough out spores. These are also released from the hosts'</nowiki> rotten skin tissue.
Subject is completely emaciated, and severely cognitively impaired. Motor function is all but gone. If speech is attempted it is greatly slurred beyond understanding. Necrosis is visibly spreading across the body, revealing blackened blood vessels visible beneath the skin, which begins to flake off. Coughing has lessened in intensity, but yields even more debris and spores than before. Subject is alive, but smells like a several-day-old corpse.  


==== Stage eight, day eight: ====
====== Stage Eight, Day 8 (187 hours since infected): ======
The host has lost eyesight. The skin on 60% of the body has rotten off, exposing bone and rotten muscle tissue. The infected body continues to release spores. In most cases, the hosts' nervous system is active again, causing the host to feel the pain originating from the trauma that is caused by the plague. The host will begin to scream out, followed up by the complete, literal collapse of the body moments or hours later. The last spores of the plague will leave the hosts’ body as well. The host is then declared dead.  
40% of the body has rotted away due to necrotic damage, leaving bone exposed to the elements. The subject is unable to respond, and is motionless. Sensory input seems to have been severely damaged. At 187 hours post infection, the subject stopped breathing, and his heart stopped.


== Survival ==
== Survival ==
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If the host survived all these things, damaged skin tissue by the rot would heal, leaving large scars. If people lost their eyesight, this would not return, and you would forever be blind.
If the host survived all these things, damaged skin tissue by the rot would heal, leaving large scars. If people lost their eyesight, this would not return, and you would forever be blind.


== Animals of the plague: ==
[[Category:Plagues and Diseases]]
Certain animals were not infected. 'Till this day, the world has not been able to find out why. But animals such as rats, fish, and insects were immune to the plague, acting more as carriers rather than dying out. Rats, however, reacted more differently than any other animal affected by the plague. Rats would form massive hordes, searching for food even to the point that the races of Eden were not safe anymore. Being alone was dangerous, and rats would eat a person or larger animal if possible. Most notably left unattended children.
 
Due to rats living in the dark most of the time, and the rot affecting their eyesight, magic and light would scare them off. Their behavior during the Rotting Plague was matched with that of Rabies. Though, their increased lust for flesh and stacking of numbers was never fully explained. Animals like cows, sheep and chickens were damaged in the same ways humans were, decaying them and making them skinny. Their skin and meat would wither away, flaking off their remains. This means the plague affected every person even if they were not infected their food source became sparse.

Latest revision as of 07:15, 13 February 2022

Introduction

A black mark on Eden’s world history, the Rotting Plague’s true origin is unknown, but its first outbreak can be traced back to the northern fiefdoms of Hadriana in the year 1506. The name “Rotting Plague” originates from its symptoms. The disease was spread through direct contact, but it could also become waterborne, therefore infecting plants, and livestock. Later in its lifespan it became airborne as infected bodies were burned. Those who were infected had their limbs and organs rot out from the inside over a period of eight days.

A decade has passed since the five year long pandemic, which decimated all race populations to where they are today. Even now, many nations are rebuilding, while others were wiped out entirely.

Infection Cycle

The ‘Rot Spores’ as they are colloquially known, rapidly break down their host’s body for protein and nutrients, resulting in gruesome side effects such as necrosis, loss of limb function, and organ failure. Sometimes in the late stages of the disease, the host’s lungs degraded to a point where the host began to cough, resulting in the exhalation of Rot Spores. Necrotic tissue within the infected organism also produced spores in the late stages before its death.

The methods of infection include direct skin-to-skin contact, ingestion of contaminated food/drink, and later on airborne spores and cremated remains of infected. Both fauna and flora could be infected by the Rotting Plague, so even though the Elves were directly immune to the disease, their crops and livestock were not, which resulted in widespread famine.

Both plants and animals were affected by the plague, livestock in particular, which included chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, and even horses. The livestock would suffer symptoms very similar to their human counterparts, wasting away one day at a time. Given their close proximity to one another, and the rapid rate of the disease, entire herds were wiped out in little more than a week.

Meanwhile, a select few animals were asymptomatic carriers such as fish, insects, and rodents. However, rats reacted differently to the plague, showing minor symptoms of the plague, while also exhibiting traits and behaviors similar to rabies. Infected rats formed massive hordes to search for food; which was everything. This included the humanoid inhabitants of Eden, especially unattended children. While still unexplainable, the rats showed aversion to fire, magic, and large bodies of water.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of plague mainly firstly hidden, as the "rot" formed within the body before radiating outward. This made it difficult to diagnose early enough to quarantine, as its trademark symptoms only show up during its later stages. In its early stages the plague takes on the symptoms of the cold or the flu. The life cycle of the disease was on average eight days. Conveniently, the stages of the infection can also be measured by days.

quoted from Scholar Erinae Lazaru’s “Ruin & Rot” study of the Rotting Plague:

Name: Terrence Umber

Race: Attian Human

Age: 37

Presumed origin: Touched exposed corpse of infected individual.

Stage One, Day 1 (24 hours since infected):

Host retains motor function and is cognizant, but complains about congestion and aching pains.

Stage Two, Day 2 (48 hours since infected):

Subject is bedridden with a high fever, sweating with chills. Mild skin irritation around the skin folds and cuticles. Subject is somewhat delirious but was able to confirm congestion and muscle pains.

Stage Three, Day 3 (72 hours since infected):

Fever has broken and the subject has regained cognitive function. Beginning signs of paronychia around the skinfolds/cuticles, with skin irritation traveling up the limbs and appearing around the torso. Subject continues to complain about congestion and muscle aches, but less so than the intense itching/burning of the irritated areas on their body.

Stage Four, Day 4 (96 hours since infected):

Subject has lost body fat and remains cognitive but is in extreme discomfort. “Feels like I’m covered head to toe in fire ants that think I killed their mother.” Welts have appeared on irritated skin, the itchiness has been replaced entirely by a burning sensation. Pus has accumulated around fingernails.  but no longer suffers from congestion or muscle aches.

Stage Five, Day 5 (120 hours since infected):

Subject has lost more weight and become an infectious carrier. Subject’s welts have developed into large collections of boils, which leak pus (which can be infectious). Signs of gangrene have appeared on fingers and toes. However the subject reports that the burning sensation has stopped with little discomfort, and that he has no appetite. Upon testing reflexes and pain response time in other areas, the subject reports little to no pain. Subject has small cough. Given the frequency of these symptoms, I propose that the nervous and digestive systems are the first to degrade.

Stage Six, Day 6 (144 hours since infected):

Fat in the body is nearly gone, and the subject has difficulty with his mobility. Rot has spread to his muscles, leaving blackened splotches beneath intact skin. Boils have burst to reveal severe necrotic damage below the dermis. Once more, the subject reports no physical pain, although he shows emotional distress at the sight of his body. Brain still mostly intact then.

Some reflexes also remain intact, such as to cough, which has become far more severe. What comes up in a mixture of phlegm, blood, and dislodged degenerative lung tissue. Cough is likely to contain living Rot Spores, so avoid.

Stage Seven, Day 7 (168 hours since infected):

Subject is completely emaciated, and severely cognitively impaired. Motor function is all but gone. If speech is attempted it is greatly slurred beyond understanding. Necrosis is visibly spreading across the body, revealing blackened blood vessels visible beneath the skin, which begins to flake off. Coughing has lessened in intensity, but yields even more debris and spores than before. Subject is alive, but smells like a several-day-old corpse.

Stage Eight, Day 8 (187 hours since infected):

40% of the body has rotted away due to necrotic damage, leaving bone exposed to the elements. The subject is unable to respond, and is motionless. Sensory input seems to have been severely damaged. At 187 hours post infection, the subject stopped breathing, and his heart stopped.

Survival

Only in 10% of the case can an infected host be cured by magical means before reaching stage six. This magic came from the elements of Earth and Water, which held the most healing spells. Yet, using these spells on plague victims was hard, barely even curing the infected and merely staving off the symptoms. Alchemy was also used as a way of healing the bacteria. Yet, none of the alchemic recipes or results of their use survived the plague years.

If the host survived, which was most unlikely and extremely rare, dead portions of the body: arms and legs would be amputated. Some would be so damaged they would be unfit for use. Death could eventually occur due to internal organ damage thanks to the effects of the rot.

If the host survived all these things, damaged skin tissue by the rot would heal, leaving large scars. If people lost their eyesight, this would not return, and you would forever be blind.