Petrification

Petrification is an extremely common affliction in Altairians with many causes. A being that has been petrified has had their physical body either partially or completely transmuted to stone, wood, ice, or some other solid material. While it is not lethal, it is incredibly debilitating for the sufferer.

Transmission & Vectors

In cases of viral petrification, touching the petrified skin can spread the virus.

Causes

Petrification can be caused by a number of things. The most common cause is being struck with a petrification spell. Certain species such as tree cockatrices can cast petrification spells as a defense mechanism. In other cases, a virus may be to blame. There exist in Altairus certain strains of papillomavirus that can transmute skin into other materials. Both of these causes are somewhat magical in nature, though the latter is a bit more mundane.

Symptoms

In both magical and viral petrification, the sufferer's body will either partially or completely turn into some other solid material. Stone is the most common and the most well-known, but depending on the cause of the petrification, other materials such as wood, ice, metal, or even cloth have been reported. In cases where the patient's body completely transmutates, the patient drops into a sleep-like stasis, unable to perceive any sensory input from the outside world. Even so, this kind of petrification preserves the daemon, so the sufferer does not die.

Viral petrification only results in the petrification of the skin. While not as deep, this kind of petrification can still be quite uncomfortable and debilitating, especially if the transmutation appears on the hands or feet.

Fun Fact: Viral petrification is actually based on Tree Man Syndrome, a real-life condition that is also an extreme reaction to a papillomavirus infection.

Treatment

Generic healing spells do not do much to reverse petrification. Instead, there are healing spells tailored specifically for healing petrified victims. Cases of viral petrification are particularly stubborn, with the only treatments being having the affected skin either frozen or sloughed off, much like how one would treat warts.

Prognosis

While petrification is not lethal, it is quite debilitating. Petrified limbs do not have any sensation and cannot be consciously moved. In cases of complete petrification, the victim can become trapped in a sleep-like state for a long time before they are rescued, especially if they are petrified in a place where they are hard to find. If a petrified body shatters, the daemon shatters along with it.

Sequela

Viral petrification tends to have more long-term effects than magical petrification. Since it is caused by the same virus that causes warts, the skin that it petrifies tends to keep coming back over and over, requiring treatment throughout the patient's life.

Affected Groups

Viral petrification occurs more often in Earth elementals, especially those whose bodies are already partially wood or stone, such as trolls.

Hosts & Carriers

Certain creature species, such as tree cockatrices and gorgons, have a petrifying stare as a defense mechanism.

Prevention

There's not much one can do against magical petrification save for knowing a few de-petrification spells and not looking petrifying animals in the eye. For viral petrification, the condition can be prevented by avoiding close contact with afflicted skin.

Cultural Reception

Trolls have a rather unusual reaction to viral petrification; their bodies form a symbiotic relationship with the virus that causes the plants that grow on their backs to grow more rapidly, enhancing their magic. These trolls are both feared and respected for their incredible power and often serve leadership or sage roles in troll clans.

Type

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common