Heart of Gold

Not a very fortunate condition

General

Heart of Gold is one of the more enigmatic and conditions that might afflict an individual. It is also extremely rare, and from what one has managed to uncover, only has a few dozen are affected each generation.
It is undoubtedly of a Divine nature, though the possibility of it having a Primordial origin should not be dismissed so easily, due to it being yet so poorly understood.
Heart of Gold may have some connection to Stansja Magic, due to some similar effects between both. However, Stansja Magic does not transmute matter -- whether it be biological or inorganic -- into noble metals like gold, nor does it imbue capabilities connected to the Heart of Gold condition.  
— Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
 

No clear spread pattern

Similar to the Flower's Mark, the those afflicted with Heart of Gold have no clear pattern between them. The risk of receiving it appears to be the same no matter one's age, race, gender, skin color, social standing, or general health. For all intents and purposes, it might as well be random.  
— Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
 

Possibly a birth condition

There are some loose theories that one is born with the affliction, but that it does not bloom into fruition until something triggers it. How and why is not known, though a few who advocate for these theories claim that those who have faint golden pigmentation in their irises are more at risk of being afflicted.  
— Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
 

Symptoms

Heart of Gold has some distinct symptoms connected to itself. One more enigmatic than the other. They also differ in regards to how much time it takes for a symptom to appears; from mere weeks to several years, though the latter is much more common.  
— Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
 

Noble Blood

One of the first noticeable symptoms of Heart of Gold is that one's blood is slowly transmuting into liquid gold. It is also the symptom that takes the longest to reach its end result; usually around ten to fourteen years.
It is named after the simple fact that gold is a noble metal and affects the individual two-fold:
  • One is that it gives their skin a more reddish-yellow shine, with visible veins being given a near golden shine.
  • The other is that it increases their weight to more than twice their amount; a person weighing about 78 kilograms would at the end of the rope weigh around 170 kilograms.
  • — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Heart of Gold

    The name-sake of the condition will be the second-longest to complete its transmutation, after the Noble Blood symptom. As one might have guess simply by hearing its name, the heart of a Noble Bloodied will slowly transmute into solid gold.
    It is a painful process, and while it ordinarily becomes something one can get used it, heart attacks will become a lot more common during the next few years.
    Despite being of solid gold though, it will still act as an ordinary heart; it will even appear to become stronger and louder.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Transmitters of

    While the Heart of Gold condition is not a transmittable disease -- at least as far as one has managed to understand it -- it does carry with it other ailments that can be quite lethal unless treated in time.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Golden Fever

    Those who stay close to Noble Bloods have a risk of contracting a residual affliction from them known as Golden Fever. It mainly affects one mental state and can make people paranoid, aggressive, and fatigued. It can also negatively affect people's short-term memory and make them obsessively collect shiny objects.
    They will also begin to stalk and eventually follow the Noble Blood around, being at their thrall. One of every fourth affected, however, will, without warning, one day attempt to extract the golden blood and heart from the Noble Blood in a fit of greedy madness.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Capabilities of Hearts of Gold

    Those afflicted with Hearts of Gold will after some time, realize that they are now bearers of enigmatic and supernatural capabilities. Some are of which are noticeable than others. The strength of some of these aries greatly from time to time.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Greater strength

    Noble Bloodied receives greater strength, which is a blessing as they would otherwise be incapable of moving their increasingly heavier bodies due to their noble blood sympthom. For some, it is just enough to allow good movement of limbs, while for others is strong enough to lift twice their weight.
    For both, their general increase in strength can make them quite dangerous, capable of cracking bone and stone with not much effort.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Longlivety

    Belived to be due to their heart of gold, as well as their noble blood symptoms, Noble Bloodied has shown themselves to live for several centuries unless they are forcefully indisposed of. This does not have any notable adverse effects on their mental state, excluding the Solidification Process.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    Durability

    They experience greater durability. Their skin becomes more difficult to cut and their bones can stand greater trauma before they are broken.  
    — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
     

    The Solidification Process

    One of the most random symptoms of the Heart of Gold is known as the Solidification Process. While their bodies have been in a slow state of transmutation, it is only an unknown time period after all their blood has turned into liquid gold, that they may experience the sensation of turning into literal golden statues.
  • Their greater strength decreases, making it more difficult to move their limbs.
  • Their skin will rapidly transmute into gold, increasing their weight and eventually making it impossible for them to move or speak.
  • Their mental state diminishes, making their thought process slow and muddy.
  • Their lungs will collapse under the pressure of the increased weight, suffocating the Noble Bloodied.
  • — Afflictions within Alézun'Teran.
    Type
    Divine.
    Origin
    Primordial.
    Rarity
    Extremly rare.
    Afflicted Demonym
    Noble Bloods.
    Gold Blood.
    Goldilocks.
    Gold Cursed.
    Concept by RockCat

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