Inpulsive Myositis Quartzification

Inpulsive Myositis Quartzification (IMQ) is a magical condition that causes the victim to suddenly grow fulguquartz crystals from their bodies.
Fulguquartz is a powerful magical conduit, used in the creation of wands and other magical artefacts. It is in high demand, and as such there are many out there digging for these crystals to supply that demand. However, sometimes a miner lacking the proper protection is infected, slowly becoming a living host for the fulguquartz crystal. Depending on where they life those infected may either be interned in a hospice for the rest of their lives, or be used as a living electric weapon by their rulers. These living weapons, called electro-zombies by their superiors, waddle on all fours towards their targets, functioning as raging tesla coils that zap anyone who comes too close. A wizard can also use a line of electro-zombies to far extend the range of their spells.
The use of IMQ patients as weapons of war has stirred up a great controversy. On one hand there are those who believe that the treatment of these poor people as electro-zombies is highly unethical and that regulations must be created to ensure that patients are well treated and that miners receive the proper protection. On the other hand there are those who believe that hospices must be closed to meet the demands of the war machine, and that prisoners of war should be forcefully infected with spores to ensure a steady supply of electro-zombies. And than there are those who obviously see that both sides are just as evil and that protection is actually bad for the miner's health.

Transmission & Vectors

During the fulguquartz mining process a tiny bit of dust is released. These dust particles, known as fulguquartz spores, float around, harmlessly falling upon the skin. It is only when they come into contact with muscle tissue, be it through an deep enough open wound or through the mouth, that these spores begin to nestle themselves and develop.

Symptoms

Once the fulguquartz spores have nestled they begin to charge themselves, leeching small doses of electricity from the action potentials the muscles receive. Once fully charged the spores magically transform nearby muscles into fulguqaurtz, becoming part of their own crystalline structure. At first this only effects a few dozen cells on acount of the spores small size, but as the crystals grow so does the charge they can hold, and with each cycle they transform more of the muscle tissue. Eventually the infected will begin to notice hard sharp bumps under their skin. After a few months these bumps will grow large enough to protrude through the surface, at this point the crystal will start to affect nerves and other soft tissue as well and accelerate its growth. After a year the weight of the fulguquartz growing from the victims flesh reaches a point that they are forced to walk on all fours to support the crystal. At this point the crystal has most likely affected their brains, leaving them in a lobotomized stupor.

Treatment

When caught early enough the best treatment is amputation of the infected limb, hoping that the spores haven't spread to other parts of the body yet. Tongues especially must be cut out swiftly or risk the victim either chocking or starving to death from the crystal covering their mouth.

Prognosis

Those who have only lost a limb to IMQ can consider themselves lucky. For those who are cursed to see their IMQ reach its final stages become little more than slaves to the crystals growing out of their bodies. The fulguquartz growing from their flesh has taken control over their bodies and has become capable of exciting the nervous system to generate an endless supply of electricity for it. The fulguquartz crystal can use this energy to release a bolt of electricity around them, arcing to any nearby foes and turning them to dust.

Prevention

IMQ infections can easily be prevented by a thick layer of protective leather clothing and a clean facemask. However, the price of these protective measures is often too high for those running the mines compared to the proffits made on the operation. It is more cost efficient to send the miners in unprotected and replace them when they get infected.

Epidemiology

IMQ primarily infects the mineworkers who collect Fulguquarts for the creation of magical artifacts and those living nearby in mining towns. Careless artificers who didn't heed the safety precoutions thought by their mentors can also find themselves be the victim of IMQ.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Rare