Fade

Immortality, at a price...

There exist legends of an ancient city, one renowned for its craftsmanship and quality of life. It was a prosperous city, but even in such a society there are those who wish for something more.

No More Disease, No More Strife, Drink for a Happy and Healthy Life!

— Slogan used by the original peddler of the Immortality Elixir

When that is offered, however, these people did not consider the ramifications of what immortality would bring to their lives. They ingested freely, feeding their children, husbands, wives, sisters and brothers this miracle drink that would cure their ails and misfortunes. They had all the time they needed to craft fine things, develop new technologies, live for a bright and extended future. This did not last, as they soon ran out of the alchemical components necessary to sustain such a population. One by one, those unable to get another sip fell into a deep sleep, then into another state of being. As such, they were all lost from this world.
This is all conjecture, of course, as all those involved in this incident have been lost, and many of the records destroyed, presumably to prevent such a tragedy in the future.

Transmission & Vectors

Fade cannot be transmitted from person to person. However, the perception of it does. When someone were to take the potion, they would feel immediately better and the effects would be apparent. Limbs returning, eyesight clearing, previous chronic conditions banished entirely would prompt them as well as anyone they knew to believe that this would end their ailments for eternity. When the second stage approached and they began to weaken, then some would grow concerned, but the majority of the population would simply take another dose, and thereby continue the effects that so influenced their friends and family. It was in this way that the consumption of the potion, and therefore the disease, spread so quickly throughout the victim populace.

Causes

The condition is only contracted through the ingestion of a potion, believed at its inception to cause immortality. The potion initiates the disease, but also staves off the final symptoms, keeping its consumer alive indefinitely so long as they have access to the potion.

Symptoms

The initial stages of the disease are like nothing the affected have ever felt, but soon degrade into an irreversible state.

Stage 1

All their aches, pains, injuries, debilitations and previous diseases are healed within a day of ingesting the potion. The effect lasts for two weeks before degrading into the second stage. At this point they feel themselves weakening for the last day or so. If another dose of the potion is ingested before the two week period is over, then the effect lasts for another two weeks past that point.

Stage 2

The patient falls into a deep coma, alive and healthy as they once were, but all brain function seems to shut down as they pass toward the third stage. At this point further doses of the potion have no effect. After 24 hours in this state, they advance to the third stage.

Stage 3

At this point, the body collapses into a pile of ash, crumbling into dust as every last bit of energy the body has goes into producing a self-sustaining ectoplasmic construct. In other words, the afflicted soul separates from the body, taking all the energy with it and becoming an immortal, unbound soul. This construct can fly about freely, exists on the border between the prime material and ethereal planes, and can communicate only with others of its condition.

Treatment

There is no known cure for this disease, as everyone who was afflicted by it eventually proceeded to the third stage and their whereabouts were lost to history. The only treatment can be found in the potion that caused it, but the ways of its making were destroyed as the last act of the peoples lost to this disease.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique