Ash Blight Syndrome

Incurable bacterial disease in which victims either turn into ash or Aberrants/Homunculuses

Infection

ABS (abbreviation)

• Coming into concentrated or extended contact with Orgone particles


• Overdosing on the Ambrosia or Ichor
  

Through air, contact with infected individuals, and contaminated objects

• Victims' skin turns metallic silver-black with glowing, pulsing indigo veins all over their bodies


• Hands morph into claws


• Some can grow to enormous size

• Violent, erratic mood swings


• Lapses in consciousness and memory where victims go berserk and indiscriminately attack others


• Culminates in either death or full psychosis and loss of all sense of self, though certain higher-class Aberrants known as Homunculuses retain their intelligence and lead lower-level Aberrants

• First stage – patches of skin turn black, with indigo veins twining around the limbs soon after. Mainly visual, though slight discomfort and stiffness of muscles may occur.


• Second stage – the victim's skin turns entirely black and indigo veins now cover the entire body. Movement becomes increasingly difficult as muscles and tendons turn to ash. The victim's skin may flake and peel particles of ash.


• Third stage – body turns rigid, rendering movement impossible. Auditory and visual hallucinations manifest. Organ failure will begin to occur as victim's soft tissue and organs decompose into ash.


• Fourth stage (death) – the victim's body decomposes into ash. Nothing is recoverable.


• Fourth stage (Aberrant) – the victim's sentience degrades entirely as they become part of the Aberrant hive mind. Their bones harden into armor and their eyes turn crimson as their form morphs into that of a humanoid Aberrant. Rarely they may immediately morph into other types of Aberrants, though often mutation requires spending some amount of time in a humanoid form.


• Fourth stage (Homunculus) – the victim retains their sentience. The outer layer of skin cracks and falls off to reveal pure white metal; they also grow a pair of wings and blades on their arms. Their eyes turn cobalt blue, and they gain the ability to control other Aberrants.

Until the victim either dies or turns into an Aberrant or Homunculus

Once it is contracted, there is no cure

Dawnwing Organization Liberators are inoculated with the Ambrosia while Duskwing Syndicate Subjugators are inoculated with the Ichor; however prolonged use of both items will slowly turn the user Aberrant

• Ambrosia


• Ichor

• Ambrosia


• Ichor

Animals cannot contract Ash Blight Syndrome
Some victims of Ash Blight Syndrome turn into statues made of ash

Victims contracting Ash Blight Syndrome are forced into a pact with Dovrak. If they refuse, death by decomposition into ash is all but guaranteed; if they accept, they turn into either Aberrants, or more rarely, Homunculuses

Ash Blight Syndrome brings about natural disasters, such as ash tornadoes and clouds that Aberrants use to trap and infect humans