Void Burns

Less a sickness and more of a scaring of the soul. When arcane fire scourers the soul of a mortal man it can very rarely leave permanent scars for those who are unlucky. It is a rare condition that rather quickly kills almost all who contract it.

Transmission & Vectors

When magic is cast upon none mages it often has no more effect than the intention of the spell. The soul is fragile and with intentionally invasive powers or those of extreme power, however, can cause non-mages to develop the sickness. While it is incredibly rare for such a thing to come into being the sickness is technically inheritable by a child of one who contracted the sickness although in a reduced form. This is, of course, is uncommon due to the rarity of survivors.

Causes

While the transmission might be the extensive use of magic on a non-mage the exact reason it is caused is unknown. Some believe that it is the hungering spirits of the void lashing out through magic and latching onto a normal soul. One without the mage's natural connection to the flow of life cannot sustain themselves as the essence of The Void slowly begins to eat away at their soul.

Symptoms

It is very similar to the conditions mages experiences as they overuse their powers although at a much slower rate compared to the quickly shifting and reforming bodies of magi. The body will be to decay as if the body is aging rapidly with the body becoming increasing skeletal and weak, they will often not develop the decline in mental facilities that come with aging however, this is merely the sapping of their bodies strength until it is unable to sustain itself. Nightmare and dreams are very common, often of which are prophetic similar to those of a diviner.
Arcane patterns or anomalies will begin to develop on their body and often remain there forever, one's hair turning white as snow in mere days is not an uncommon sight.
One of the most unique symptoms is the fact that they become extremely resistant to arcane powers after its contraction. Making it hard not only to treat them, but resistant to nearly all magic. It is not unheard of for a witch hunter to be losing a battle with a mage only to suddenly find that the witch is powerless against him. It assuring victory with a quick death for both to follow.

Treatment

The most common treatment is via ironicly, the very magic that caused it. Magi can channel their life into one suffering the sickness and allow the void to feed upon those scraps of the soul rather than that of the host. This is not a longterm solution though as even the strongest of the unaging magi do not have the power to sustain multiple lives off their own body forever. The type of magi also very much determines how long the sickness can be fought this way. Those who are more tied to the cycle of life, death and the flow of life are often far better. Enchanters, Censari, Alchemists, Druids, Hemomancers, and Necromancers are very apt at channeling raw life compared to most other mages. In the end though this can often lead to both the mage and the victim to slowly decay and succumb to the void together.
The only long-term solution is the imbibing of liquid Archstone, the essence of life in its purest of forms and a mineral guarded by the Colleges of Magi. It can counteract the detrimental effects of the void burn. Although it requires a near constant supply which for most is not feasible.
The only for treatment to be effective though in ending the condition is hoping that the burns simply heal and fade away with time, which is not impossible if as rare among those who have it as those that get the condition among normal people.

Prognosis

The condition is often fatal within a few months of contracting it.

Affected Groups

The sickness is very common amoung the witch hunting orders for obvious reasons due to their contact with mages especially the fact in which they commonly come into aggressive contact with magic users.

Prevention

The best prevention is of course to avoid exposure to mages and magi, though numerous cultures believe to have developed charms against black magics. While these charms were not intended to prevent the sickness such charms are often worn by Witchhunters who claim that they can protect from the condition all the same.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• Prosperoian