Vermin Rot Plague

This is a strain of the Rot Plague, mutated by the Plague Engine from Vikasha. It appeared in small bursts in the city in 2016, but wasn't fully unleashed until 2018. 
This plague is critically understudied, but seems to initially target vermin - possibly bugs - as the primary host. The vermin, once infected, become mindless puppets that work to spread the plague within them through bites; they also intuitively follow the commands of local Plague Warlocks and have an aggressive temperament. The vermin are not passive while mindless, like most infected, but aggressively propagate themselves and feed.
While parasitic bugs, like fleas and ticks, are the main hosts, the aggressive propagation and behavior extends to second-tier hosts like rats and birds. Strangely, the ticks and fleas also seem to better target and infect other bugs, such as scorpions or cockroaches. Across the board, the Vermin Plague seems to align with a socially-defined conception of vermin. 
The Vermin Plague is the first terrestrial mutation of the Rot Plague, and its basic territory is Southern Izekra, Makal, and Ukaram. While that is its Plague Engine territory, the vermin plague can and will spread globally. 
The Vermin Plague is particularly dangerous given its ability to spread beyond water sources - it is a major jump from the basic Plague. It is especially well-suited to lush tropics, urban areas, and shipping lanes. Sparsely populated and arid regions may prove harder for this variant to infect.

Type

Divine

Parent

Rot Plague

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique