Scale Rot

Scaleless

Written by Endrise

You better take of that skin and make sure it's peeled off when you shed. Last thing you want is an infection at an uncomfortable spot.

— Tribe Mother

Scale Rot is a bacterial infection caused by Dragons or Kobolds not taking care of their skin after shedding. A common fate for the unhygienic, it's seen as a downwards spiral of health if untreated. As such, it has gone down with some infamy.

The Process

Most instances begin when a draconic species does not get properly rid of their shed skin. Dead skin ends up decaying in specific spots and begins attracting bacteria. Over the course of a few weeks, those areas begin to itch and get infected as a result.

The infection will get worse if left untreated, leading to a decolouring of the scales and even scale loss. Infected tissue turns painful, if not goes necrotic at later stages of the infection.

In most cases, one dies from infection in only a month or less.

Treatment

The best way to treat scale rot is to prevent it in the first place. Many Kobolds will scrub their sheds off hard or take baths to clean it, often in collective groups. Dragons meanwhile prefer to rub it off on their environment, leaving pieces of shed skin all around.

If the area is already infected, it's best to treat the area with a salve to stop further infection. Regular cleaning of the wound is advised, with bandaging to avoid dirt to get in it too. If necrosis has started, amputation or removal of the dead tissue might be mandatory.

Type

Bacterial

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon

Affected Species

• Dragon
• Kobold