Zenhis Sengua

The Perfect Blood

Oh, how beautiful you are... You cannot imagine my happiness. Right now, I feel like the world is smiling at me... You look very healthy... very lively. That's very good, yeah, that's amazing. Please, stay in my quarters for the next week so I can see if any problems develop.

— Elder Ohari

Zenhis Sengua is an engineered blood disease that slowly alters the body of the infected, granting them increased strength and agility, improved physical & magical regeneration, improved perception and highly prolonged lifespans through direct genetic and array modification. This affliction can spread to any species, but the effects on non-sapient species is not yet known. The infected will witness many changes happen throughout the incipient stage, culminating in a creature colloquially known as a "vampire", a highly developed monster that will prey on other sentient beings such as humans, dwarves, kirfolk, elves etc.
The disease, as well as its "lower" counterpart, Dehrei Sengua, were created by a powerful Exalted professor of Exarhi University by the name of Elder Ohari. However, unlike Dehrei Sengua, Zenhis Sengua does not lower the capacities of the body, but rather it amplifies them, all while providing an improved form of pseudo-immortality (one that not forces the body to continuously spend energy to regenerate). Zenhis Sengua is also capable of "redeeming" those infected with Dehrei Sengua, transforming forsaken into vampires.

Transmission & Vectors

The disease can be contracted if the Zenhis mutagen is injected into a new host's bloodstream. Once direct contact is established, the mutagen will replicate itself inside the blood vessels and begin the process of array alteration.
Biting is the only well-known method of spreading the disease; if a vampire wishes to create another vampire, instead of sucking its victim dry, they will use their sharp teeth to pierce the skin and inject some of their mutagen-contaminated blood into their prey. Less known is the fact that the mutagen is its own independent substance that can be harvested from a vampire's blood, or even synthesized in a laboratory.

Causes

The original Zenhis mutagen was developed by Elder Ohari inside his private laboratory, using the Dehrei mutagen as a template to further his goals of achieving the perfect being. He refined the formula, splicing elements from different animals and constructing a new magical array that would alter the infected being, merging with their own internal array and triggering a chain reaction.
The Elder has only infected one pacient with the disease, a mysterious being that is rumored to have been one of the professor's students, a woman that is simply known as the "Matriarch". The very few living vampires obey her orders - mostly restricting the creation of new vampires and going on rampages against the population of the Meridian.

Symptoms

• Physical symptoms: pale skin; sharper and longer teeth; increased power, agility, stamina and perception; high regeneration rate; prolonged lifespan. Complete removal of reproduction capabilites, akin to sterilization. Partial or full alteration of personal traits that manifest themselves in a physical way (this is a consequence of array alteration, making it a magical symptom that manifests physically).
• Mental symptoms: an overall sense of superiority, as well as a thirst for warm blood. One command can be implanted into a transforming vampire by the one who infected them, forcing the order inside their system as they morph into their new form. All vampires that come from the Matriarch will have "obedience to their creator" as a command, including the Matriarch herself. All vampires that originate from the Matriarch are also forced to keep themselves from public sight as best as possible.
• Magical symptoms: as the disease directly modifies the individual's magic array, all aspects related to their mana manipulation are affected. Greater inner mana reserves and improved mana regeneration are expected, but so is trait altering. The natural inclination of an individual towards a certain magic type are also changed.

Type

Magical

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare