The Plague of Mal’kor

The Plague of Mal'kor
Overview
The Plague of Mal'kor, often called "The Fleshblight," is a brutal magical disease that originated from the cursed marshes of **Aganoestra**, a continent known for its ancient and dangerous magic. This disease targets the body’s physical form, spreading rapidly and causing devastating organ failure, tissue decay, and eventual collapse of the entire body. The disease leaves behind cities full of rotting, crumbling corpses and is a major threat to all nations on Aganoestra. The origin of the plague is said to be tied to an ancient catastrophe, where forbidden rituals brought forth a curse that now festers in the very land itself.

Symptoms and Stages

Stage 1: The Embering

Duration: 1-2 days

Symptoms:

Heat spots: Reddened patches of skin, hot to the touch, begin to form across the body. These are the first visible signs that the plague is working beneath the skin. Fever and muscle fatigue: Victims experience a creeping fever along with severe muscle fatigue and body aches. Mild tremors: As the muscles begin to weaken, victims may experience uncontrollable twitching or mild tremors, especially in their arms and legs.

Stage 2: The Seeping Blight

Duration: 3-5 days

Symptoms:

Boils and blisters: Blackened, foul-smelling boils begin to spread across the body, particularly in areas affected by the initial heat spots. The boils burst, releasing a putrid dark liquid. Organ strain: Intense pain in the stomach and chest as the internal organs begin to struggle, causing nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Skin necrosis: Areas around the boils darken, the skin begins to rot, and the tissue underneath decays rapidly, leaving exposed muscle or bone in some cases.

Stage 3: The Devouring Rot

Duration: 1-2 weeks

Symptoms:

Organ decay: The organs deteriorate rapidly, with liver, kidneys, and lungs failing one after another. The pain becomes unbearable, with most victims barely able to move by this point. Extreme dehydration: The body dehydrates at an accelerated pace, leading to cracked, dry skin, and lips. Eyes sink into the skull as the body rapidly wastes away. Bone exposure: As flesh continues to rot, the victim's limbs and face may start exposing bone where tissue has completely broken down.

Stage 4: The Crumbling

Duration: 2-3 days (end stage)

Symptoms:

Organ collapse: All major organs fail, leaving the body a lifeless husk. The victim is bedridden, experiencing violent seizures and delirium in the final hours. Skeletal collapse: The muscles and tissues deteriorate completely, causing the bones to break down under the weight of the decaying body. The victim’s remains eventually turn into a pile of broken bone fragments and decayed flesh.
Death: Death is inevitable at this stage, and few survive longer than a few hours after organ collapse.

Transmission and Spread

The Plague of Mal'kor spreads with frightening speed, its contagious nature making it a constant threat on Aganoestra. The primary methods of transmission include:
Bodily fluid contact: The blackened, oozing boils of an infected person are filled with highly contagious fluid. Any direct contact with these fluids will almost certainly result in infection.
Airborne in later stages: As the infected body decays in the later stages, the rotting tissue releases particles into the air that can infect others within a short distance. Crowded cities and confined spaces are particularly dangerous.
Contaminated surfaces: Anything that has touched an infected person's fluids, such as clothes, weapons, or furniture, can carry the disease for several days, infecting those who come into contact with it.
Animal carriers: Carrion feeders like rats and scavengers can become unwitting carriers of the plague, spreading it across the land after feeding on infected bodies.

Magical Herbs and Cure

There is no single known cure for the Plague of Mal'kor, but a combination of rare magical herbs can be used to create **The Salve of Verdant Renewal**, an alchemical potion capable of halting the disease if administered in its early stages. The herbs required are incredibly rare, found only in remote and magical areas of Aganoestra. The salve can heal the infected and stop the progression of the disease if applied before the third stage.
The key magical ingredients include:
Emberleaf: A vibrant red plant that grows near volcanic activity. The herb absorbs heat and energy from its environment and is known for its ability to break high fevers and purge the early heat spots caused by the plague.
Blightroot: A dark, twisting root that grows deep in the shadowed forests of **Fellmarch**, this herb has strong properties for drawing out infection and stopping the spread of necrotic tissue. It must be harvested by moonlight, as the root's power fades in sunlight.
Frostmoss: Found only in the icy peaks of **Draethor's Spine**, this pale blue moss has incredible healing properties, particularly for restoring damaged skin and tissues. It soothes the burning sensation caused by the disease and halts the progression of skin necrosis.
Ironbloom Petals: Bright silver petals from the Ironbloom flower, which grows in ancient ruins scattered across **Aganoestra**. These petals are known for their ability to strengthen failing organs, slowing down the effects of internal decay.
Lunebark: Taken from the sacred Lunebark tree found in the mystical groves of **The Shimmering Isles**, this bark has been used for centuries by healers to counter poisons and plagues that attack internal organs. It is a crucial component in regenerating organ health and reversing the effects of organ failure.
These herbs must be carefully mixed and prepared by an experienced healer or alchemist to create the powerful **Salve of Verdant Renewal**. The salve is administered as a paste directly to the boils and consumed as a potion to target internal organs. The earlier the salve is used, the higher the chance of recovery. If the infection reaches the third stage, it becomes nearly impossible to stop the progression.

Prevention and Protection

The Plague of Mal'kor can be contained through several magical and practical methods:
Wardstones: Enchanted stones that create a barrier against dark magic and diseases. Villages and towns often erect these at the edge of their borders to keep the disease from entering their lands.
Sacred Salts: A special type of salt found near enchanted lakes that can purify contaminated surfaces and create protective barriers around homes. It is used liberally in marketplaces and meeting areas to prevent infection.
Cleanse rituals: Powerful cleansing rituals performed by priests and shamans to purify areas where the disease has been present. These rituals must be regularly performed in high-risk areas to keep the plague at bay.
Quarantine zones: Entire sections of cities or towns are often isolated when the plague breaks out, and those showing symptoms are immediately quarantined to prevent the spread.

Conclusion

The Plague of Mal'kor, born from the cursed lands of Aganoestra, is one of the most feared and deadly diseases in existence. Its ability to ravage the body within weeks, turning vibrant lives into decayed husks, has left civilizations in fear. While the Salve of Verdant Renewal offers hope to those who can acquire the rare ingredients, the plague remains a constant threat, capable of wiping out entire populations if left unchecked. Aganoestra stands ever vigilant against this magical curse, knowing that one careless act could unleash its horrors once again.

Type

Bacterial