Muck Blood

Muck Blood is a unique malady that causes the blood to coagulate within the body, essentially making all cardiovascular functions become impossible. This strange pathogen is only passed by the Ephemeron that exist in the Outlands fringe areas.
Diagnosis Within hours of the initial infection, the patient will begin to experience moderate discomfort in the upper body and a shortness of breath. This results in a -1 on all constitution and strength based rolls including combat. Over the course of the following 24 hours this will increase to include headaches, dizziness, and trouble speaking coherently, leading to a further disadvantage to all rolls made. By the second day, the patient will lose motor function and is paralyzed. This paralyzation will affect cardiovascular function in a number of hours equal to the patient's constitution score. Once that time has passed, the patient expires.
Pathology This infection is a direct taint to the bloodstream itself, the infection targeting the blood only. It appears to be a quickly spreading pathogen, working its way through the host body in hours, but barring a transfusion of some kind, it is not communicable. It works quickly and efficiently, and is extremely resilient to attempts to control or eliminate it from the host. Once the host has expired, the remaining pathogen becomes inert.
Epidemiology This pathogen exists only in Ephemeron saliva, and is only transmissible via a bite that breaks the skin and offers entry into the host's bloodstream. It is not contagious and cannot be spread by other means.
Etiology A combination of anticoagulants and antibiotics administered to the patient over the course of 1d6 days will clear the infection, though during treatment the patient will still suffer the -1 penalty during this time. Should the patient insist upon strenuous activity, the increased heart rate will also run a 25% chance risk of extending the time needed to clear the infection by a further 24 hours, and additionally the increased viscosity of the patient's blood during this time incurs a 2% chance of permanent blindness occurring as a result of strenuous activity pushing too much of the thickened blood into the patient's eyes and bursting the sensitive vessels there.
Thanatology The body of a deceased host holds no extra threat of contagion and may be disposed of as normal. Should an attempt to preserve the body be made, the nature of the infection will actually make the process slightly easier, adding and additional 3 days to possible preservation length before decomposition causes irreparable damage to the corpse.

Type

Viral