Cdonnic Rot
I'll let you suffer the rot then! You can watch as the world dies around you!Cdonnic Rot is the term used for the effects caused by Cdonnic Copper when exposed to living material. Cdonnic Copper, when it has appeared naturally, has always had detrimental consequences.
Manifestation
Cdonnic rot sets into living material after 24 hours of exposure. Flesh, on any creature, will begin by taking on a greenish hue. Prior this hue, exposure can be remedied by rest and will see no lasting effects. Otherwise, once the flesh turns green it has set in and cannot be remedied - the affected flesh must be removed to prevent it spreading further.Sentient Species
In sentient species, the rot will not affect the mind and is completely painless. After turning green, the flesh will turn white and become bloodless. This symptom will occur anywhere between a day and a fortnight after the flesh turns green initially. As the blood drains from the system, the heart will eventually die off. Following this, the lungs, the stomach, the intestines, live, kidney, and all internal organs will shutdown. However, the muscles and mind of the afflicted will remain intact. After the organ death, the afflicted individual will find their body will continue to decay, but their muscles will operate as per normal (as long as they remain attached) and their brain will continue to function and process sound and light, but not smell (without lungs, the individual will not breathe), not taste (useless without smell), and not touch. Along with touch, they will lose pain receptors and a sense f temperature. When the first occurrence of Cdonnic rot occurred in sentient beings, it was thought the afflicted had become "zombies", a term to mean an undead creature with no will apart from destruction. This was inaccurate and instead the afflicted is fully aware of their changes, often times disgusted at their own appearance. The general term for a afflicted person is a 'lichen', but often times this is used derogatorily. Because the body has shutdown and yet still functions, a 'lichen' will live much longer than their species might allow; often a lichen can only die from braindeath (destruction of the brain matter) or they can "die" in that enough of their body falls apart that they no longer function correctly. This does lead to a horrifying possibility that they may end up as just a head with no appendages and are locked in such a state forever without some external force. This is especially true if a 'lichen' were to fall overboard.Animal Species
In animals, the same effects occur but can cause a deterioration in their mental capacity. Many pose this is due to the loss of senses necessary for them to function and the limited brain capacity to accept such extreme changes. This doesn't mean a person with the rot will always accept the change in their body.Plant Species
The rot occurring in plantlife is not unusual. However, it can often be undiagnosed (a plant is often green already and so a green hue is indeterminate from its original colouring). What's more, due to plants having no bones or muscles, the resultant affect is the plant will wilt and die. This leads to sudden and swift changes and devastating effects on farmland, forestry, general agriculture. A field of crops may wilt and die with nothing to prevent it. A forest may suddenly begin to fall apart before someone's eyes.Spread
The initial infection of Cdonnic rot occurs on contact with Cdonnic Copper. Prolonged exposure to the copper, such as several minutes, can mean instant death without the rot setting in. After a person has been infected they cannot then infect a person - the rot is not transferrable. There have been cases where a widespread infection of Cdonnic rot has occurred when a vein of Cdonnic Copper is exposed. The theory is that Cdonnic Copper is very brittle as an ore and therefore disturbing it can cause flakes and dust to enter the air. This is enough to cause the onset of the rot if inhaled. Cdonnic Copper is insoluble and therefore it is difficult to ingest the material through water.Historical Significance
Battle of the river Hull
In 865 TF, a battle was waged between the then King of the Mell and the Lord of the Hull (who was a lesser lord at this time). It was said that the King Marc II of the Kingdom of Mell did battle with a sword made of Cdonnic Copper. In battle, he believed he had made a cut on the skin of Lord Philipe of Hullsfar. When Lord Philipe retreated from battle, this lead to a seige on Hullsfar. It is said that King Marc called out to Philipe that:You've been cut ser, your days are about to grow much longer than you will bear! Surrender and I shall give you a quick death rather than a long life!It is written that Lord Philipe refused, responding that he did not believe he had been cut at all. This was followed by a quick dispute before King Marc II left shouting:
I'll let you suffer the rot then! You can watch as the world dies around you!Two days later, Lord Philipe surrendered and his head was taken. King Marc II placed a garrison in Hullsfar and claimed the town and keep for its lumber. However, a week later, the surrounding forest began to fall and succumb to the rot. The lumber economy of the town was shaken and forced King Marc to abandon the town. When Lord Philipe's son Javier took on the title of Lord of the Hull, he took to Hullsfar and reignited their industry by investing in it to become a market town. Since then, the forest has recovered and Hullsfar is once again surrounded by woods, but the historical moment when Hullsfar ceased being a lumber town is well recorded.
The Widuw's Wood Treefall
Early in 1032 TF, a devastating amount of rot affected the forests of the Widuw's Peak, originating from where the Cdonnic Mint now sits. A vein had been opened by gentle erosion, and it managed to infect a large portion of the forests on the mountain, leading to trees to fall all around the mountainside and foothills. The falling trees caused destruction to many settlements and homes along the mountain passes and foothills, leading to a huge swathe of refugees and reparations necessary. A company of dwarves, masters of stonework from Saulstein and Skyforge, were sent to investigate and protect the Elpan Mountains from exposure, and forests on the northern faces of the Elpan Mountains would have meant disaster for many Yuletyde settlements, who relied on the forests for fuel to their fires. This company established the Cdonnic Mint, building the first iteration of the Mint on the vein. Eventually, their work allowed them the expertise to work the Cdonnic Copper, a skill that is taught to their brethren today. The Cdonnic Mint remains a society that find duty with protecting the people of Olivia from the effects of Cdonnic Copper, rather than making products alike the other Dwarven Forges of Olivia.Temsgeit
The city of Temsgeit on the pass between the islands of Llein and Brynlei was once a wealthy and sought after city in Olivia. In 193 RB, a vein of Cdonnic Copper was opened up and Cdonnic rot was spread to the people of the islands and the city. The sudden pandemic caused wide pandemic, with many attempting to escape the island. When news had reached the mainland of the disaster, the nations at the time closed their ports and borders to any traffic from Temsgeit. Ports in Valyea actively sunk ships they recognised as coming from the island, or that were perceived to have been from the island. The sudden fear that gripped the world meant that Temsgeit was effectively shut out of the world stage and the people there left to supposedly die and suffer to their fate. This wasn't entirely effective; some lichen people managed to reach the mainland and remade a life for themselves, if a lonely and rejected one. In 294 RB, some hundred years later, the city was investigated and the people there were found to have lived comfortably together. When it was determined the rot could no longer spread, the islands were reopened, and lichen began to be assimilated back into society. However, they lead ostracised lives and are commonly mistaken for being contagious.
Type
Natural
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