Rot Grub Infection

Hold there lad! Back away from the body quickly now! Come! Come! Now look at it from here only pay close attention. See the skin moving in a way it shouldn't? Good. Take a good smell. Yes from here. Notice anything? No smell of decay is there? Yet the body is disfigured and death is all but certain eh? He died of infection. Rot Grub Infection to be specific. Go get the torch. Only one thing to do now and that's to stop this from happening to others.

Transmission & Vectors

Contact (bite) from a Rot Grub.

Causes

Rot Grub Infection begins the moment the victim is bitten by a Rot Grub. The creature then burrows into the victim's flesh.

Symptoms

If not treated immediately within the first 12 seconds, the victim dies as the Rot Grub enters it's heart and pierces it in multiple locations and waits for the victim's body to begin decomposition.

Treatment

Upon infection, the wound must immediately have fire applied to it. While extremely painful to the host, this will ensure the death of the Rot Grub and as a result, survival of the victim. That said, the window that this must happen in is very small, 6-12 seconds exactly or death is certain. Magical forms of healing from Divine, Arcane or Druidic sources will also have similar results in killing the Rot Grub and thus, preventing the death of the host. Healing Potions will also suffice should spell casters not be available. Despite the source or method of the treatment, it MUST be administered within the first 6-12 seconds after initial infection or death is guaranteed.

Prognosis

Provided the victim is treated quickly, there is a one-hundred percent chance of survival. If not, death is just as certain with the additional hazard for all others in the vicinity of the host when decomposition has begun.

Affected Groups

This Disease affects all ages, genders and species of both humanoids, insects of humanoid size and beasts. The only exception being those individuals immune to Diseases by magical means.

Hosts & Carriers

Normally only found in dead victims, trees and Treants. The Rot Grubs can and do sustain themselves on rotting wood or flesh. When in trees or Treants, they simply eat the dead wood and leave the living wood alone. Many Treants will often use them to cure themselves of rot within their bodies. Woe be unto the poor soul who slays them though. For it is as that point, the Rot Grubs will emerge.

Prevention

Avoiding all contact with Rot Grubs is the only known method of prevention aside from magical immunity to all Diseases.

Epidemiology

Once a Rot Grub has killed it's host, it will remain inside until decomposition sets in, about twenty-four hours, before devouring the flesh. Until then, it begins to lay fertilized eggs numbering in the hundreds inside the victim's body. The eggs will hatch at the same time that the body begins decomposition and it's flesh begins to rot. The eggs all hatch simultaneously and begin feasting on the flesh of the victim along side the original infector. Once the inside is consumed, the worms wait until the body is disturbed, by a humanoid inspecting the body or creature looking for food.

Type

Parasitic

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Uncommon