@hinatot (and is it okay if we submit more than one of these? I'm having a lot of fun yes I'm weird :D)
Disease Name: Rotting Insanity
Also known as: Wanderer's Illness, Plaguemother's Curse
Disease Type: Infection (Inhaled or contact--skin must be broken)
This devastating disease attacks both the body and mind. Thankfully not contagious while the victim is alive, it is native to the Rotrock Rim and surrounding areas, although there are some particularly virulent places in the Scarred Wasteland and the Abiding Boneyard where dragons have been infected. There is no known cure, and once the disease has started to show symptoms it's already too late to stop it.
When the disease enters a victim, it works its way through the bloodstream to the brain. Once inside the victim's brain, it slowly rots the neurons related to short-term memory. As the disease takes over, the victim loses its capacity to store short-term memories. This process is very gradual and is accompanied by occasional severe migraines as the brain slowly rots from the inside out. This first phase can last for up to a month before the next stage occurs. Once the victim loses most short-term memories, it becomes fearful of everything and everyone. Infected dragons rarely leave their dens, afraid that their food is poisoned, or that their clanmates will kill them, or some catastrophe will befall them, or any number of suspicions and fears.
As the disease progresses and destroys more neural pathways, even the victim's long-term memories begin to fade--or worse, are twisted into nightmares and false terrors. Dragons effected this way often start to actively lash out at their friends for false wrongdoings, instead of just hiding from the world. It is not known why it affects different dragons differently, but the leading theory is that there are actually two strands of bacteria responsible for the disease.
Once in its final stages, all memories are completely lost and all that is left is the instinct to survive. The victim's head and neck grow oozing pustules full of the disease, and where they burst is contaminated. The victim attacks blindly, clawing at friend and foe alike in its madness. Eventually the vital parts of the brain decay and the victim dies, filling the area around its disease-laden body with virulent bacteria that, when touched or inhaled, will infect the next dragon who comes along.
Disease Name: Rotting Insanity
Also known as: Wanderer's Illness, Plaguemother's Curse
Disease Type: Infection (Inhaled or contact--skin must be broken)
This devastating disease attacks both the body and mind. Thankfully not contagious while the victim is alive, it is native to the Rotrock Rim and surrounding areas, although there are some particularly virulent places in the Scarred Wasteland and the Abiding Boneyard where dragons have been infected. There is no known cure, and once the disease has started to show symptoms it's already too late to stop it.
When the disease enters a victim, it works its way through the bloodstream to the brain. Once inside the victim's brain, it slowly rots the neurons related to short-term memory. As the disease takes over, the victim loses its capacity to store short-term memories. This process is very gradual and is accompanied by occasional severe migraines as the brain slowly rots from the inside out. This first phase can last for up to a month before the next stage occurs. Once the victim loses most short-term memories, it becomes fearful of everything and everyone. Infected dragons rarely leave their dens, afraid that their food is poisoned, or that their clanmates will kill them, or some catastrophe will befall them, or any number of suspicions and fears.
As the disease progresses and destroys more neural pathways, even the victim's long-term memories begin to fade--or worse, are twisted into nightmares and false terrors. Dragons effected this way often start to actively lash out at their friends for false wrongdoings, instead of just hiding from the world. It is not known why it affects different dragons differently, but the leading theory is that there are actually two strands of bacteria responsible for the disease.
Once in its final stages, all memories are completely lost and all that is left is the instinct to survive. The victim's head and neck grow oozing pustules full of the disease, and where they burst is contaminated. The victim attacks blindly, clawing at friend and foe alike in its madness. Eventually the vital parts of the brain decay and the victim dies, filling the area around its disease-laden body with virulent bacteria that, when touched or inhaled, will infect the next dragon who comes along.
