Salinkanthropy

Salinkanthropy is a curse-like disease that can be found in certain layers of the Spirit World, particularly the forests of The Gates. It is, like Lycanthropy, spread through contact with a were-creature, particularly Weresnails.
The Spiritual Travelers first encountered this illness on Nurend 19, 308 when they were accosted by a group of Weresnails and had to defend Tympi. Kaswink has, unfortunately, been infected with this disease.

Transmission & Vectors

Salinkanthropy is transmitted through contact with Weresnails. Damage dealt by a Weresnail has as chance of transmitting the disease and inflicting the curse of Salinkanthropy on the victim. Depending on the victim's health this could be resisted or they could succumb to the unfortunate fate of being a weresnail.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease-curse include transforming into a weresnail during a full moon, however, being in the Spirit World puts quite the damper on what the current phase of the moon is currently being experienced. This is because the incessent cloud cover refuses to provide any clue about the current phase aside from particularly dark nights when it is a new moon. Though, the amount of moons, time it takes for the moon to cycle, and other factors are all unknown here.
With that in mind, when one might turn into a werewolf is significantly harder to determine.
With enough experience and depending on the afflicted's mindset, they could train to control the transformation into a weresnail and be able to change outside the cycles of the moon as well. Additionally, a weresnail could gain the ability to fully become a snail with these transformation abilities.

Treatment

It has yet to be determined what the cure for Salinkanthropy would be amongst the Spiritual Travelers, however, if it is anything like Lycanthropy it will likely require some method of curse removal to be cured. Though this could be approached either scientifically with a study of herbs, other plant matter and even animal matter or it could be approached within the realm of the occult using magic, talisman, incense and so on.
Experimentation is still required.

Cultural Reception

Weresnails, be they transformed or in humanoid form, are generally accepted amongst most societies, surprisingly. While there are those that would go out and cause trouble, this is true for any race or creature, and those that are respectful are still allowed within societies. Known Weresnails may have a closer eye upon them, and if they are particularly infamous they could be barred from civilizations. That being said, the nature of a snail is not so much that it would overly influence any sort of evil action.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Affected Species

• Weresnails