Mage Worms
Overview
Mage Worms is a magic eating parasitic worm that lives in the swamps of Inanta. Once infected, the mage worms live off the magic of the host to survive. Depending on the amount of magic the host has, the mage worm grows, reproduces, and invades the organ systems that make their hosts sick, resulting in a parasitic infection.Transmission & Vectors
The mage worm is picked up by a magical person or creature when they come in contact with the parasite. The parasite can be transmitted through sexual contact, contaminated food, water, soil, or blood, and through insects that are carriers of the parasite.
Causes
The mage worms live out their lives in the swamps of Inanta or in spaces of toxic magic. They spend their lives cleaning up the toxic waste left from the spells, potions, and rituals completed throughout Inanta. Think of it like this, when a sorcerer or mage uses a spell, there are bits left over and float off into the wilds of the world. These bits are toxic to the environment. Instead of poisoning the environment, that toxic waste is filtered into the swamps of Inanta where the Magic Worms eat the magic, clean it, and then release it back into the atmosphere as Wild Magic.
The Mage Worms are attracted to the most powerful magic nearest them. They are made that way so that they will clean up the most toxic magic first. When a powerful magic user or pure magic creature comes close to them, they are attracted to that magic as it is more powerful than the bits and pieces of filtered leftover magic. Then, the magic users and/or pure magic creature travel away from the swamp taking the mage worms into other areas.
When the mage worms breed, they have to find more room to grow. They latch on to the next most powerful magic, and then the next, and so on. This causes epidemics in cities and town of magical creatures or magical users to get sick and die.
Symptoms
Beginning Stages
- uncontrollable magical surges or ebbs
- dizziness when using magic
- headaches
- fever
- rash
If it not treated, it will lead to:
- breakdown of magical power
- extremely high fever
- shutdown of infected organs
- eventually death
Treatment
It has only been in the last five years that there has been a treatment for Mage Worms. First, the magic user or magical creature has to be isolated from all magic. There are special null chamber set up in all healing temples that house mage worm victims. Then there is magical diuretics that washes all the magic from the being or creature temporarily. This diuretic must be used for a week to ten days while staying in the null chamber depending on how powerful they are.
During the first three day, magic pours from the patient in sweats, vomit, and diarrhea. The patient is given simple soups and water to keep them hydrated. For the next four to seven days, the patient must poop out all the mage worms with a special potion along with the diuretic. After the treatment is complete, the patient is taken to a regular healing chamber where a Healer run a diagnostic on them to see if the mage worms are gone. If they aren't, they have to repeat the treatment until they are.
Prognosis
Mage Worms is not fatal unless left to long to treat or if the patient has another condition that make treatment impossible. If mage worms is left to long, then the patient's magic could become unstable to the point of implosion.
Prevention
The only prevention is staying away from Mage Worms.
Epidemiology
Who Is At Risk?
- Especially Strong Magic Users and Pure Magical Creatures
- Magic Users that live near or travel near a swamp
- Magic Users that live near a toxic magic site
- Magic Users that live or work with magical people or creatures already infected
- Magic Users that work with contaminated food, water, soil, or blood
- Magic Users that eat contaminated food
- Magic Users that drink contaminated water
- Magic Users that have sex with a contaminated sentient being.
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