Anthropy

MAJOR: Anthropy is the catch all term for any disease or illness that partially or fully transforms a humanoid creature into an animal. While there are many different forms of anthropy, many of them are rarely seen. The most common forms of anthropy are Lycanthropy, Arkouanthropy, and Kaproanthropy.

Transmission & Vectors

While the transmission vectors for different forms of anthropy can vary between the different forms of diseases, almost every form can be transferred through the transfusion (intentional or otherwise) of the blood of an affected creature and a humanoid recipient.

Causes

Anthropy is a magical disease said to have originated from a botched healing spell. Though the origins are questioned and the possible spell that caused it still unknown, a certain magic seems to be transmitted between infected and uninfected subjects when certain fluids from the infected subject enter the bloodstream of the uninfected.

Symptoms

All forms of anthropy involve some form of bodily transformation under specific conditions. This can range from a complete transformation into the creature to simple cosmetic changes. These changes also range in terms of how much control a subject has over them, with some subjects having complete control while others have no power over their transformations. Most forms of lycanthropy also offer the creature some form of pseudo-immortality, usually in the form of resistance to other diseases along with either a slowed aging or no aging at all.

Treatment

Treatment of the early stages of anthropy is usually performed by pricking the affected creature's fingers with a small Silver needle once a day, combined with bed rest, until the standard triggering conditions of the disease have passed once. Certain forms of the disease have much more unique (and often simpler) treatments in the early stages, including drinking alcohol to simply staying indoors for a couple days. The final stages of anthropy are usually much harder to treat, requiring a Remove Curse spell alongside other intensive forms of treatment usually unique to that specific variant of the disease. Ambrosia can be used to treat any form of anthropy, though the dangers of doing so often far outweigh the benefits of curing the disease.

Prognosis

While no form of anthropy is dangerous to the health of the affected creature on its own, many of the affects can cause external harm. Symptoms such as insanity and bloodlust can cause a creature affected by anthropy to lash out and even kill those around them, often with much more strength than the creature naturally has. Those with forms of anthropy that have violent symptoms may also be hunted to protect those they may harm.

Affected Groups

Any humanoid can be infected by anthropy, though certain strains may affect a certain species more or less, and in rare cases may not affect them at all.

Hosts & Carriers

Any humanoid can carry and transmit anthropy. The disease can also often be carried by the creatures they are based on, though this is less common.

Prevention

Ambrosia can be used to prevent the disease entirely, though there are much safer ways to prevent getting infected for most known strains. Other methods vary from wearing certain holy symbols to eating specific types of meat.

Cultural Reception

The cultural reception to anthropy varies heavily depending on the location the disease is found in and the exact strain of the disease. The less controllable transformations are often viewed as dangerous and negative, while the controllable forms are often viewed as a blessing or an oddity.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Rare