Saturday, 23 November 2024

Freebie: Arcane Contamination Syndrome (Magical Disease)

Arcane Contamination Syndrome (Odditis)

A chronic mystical illness caused by exposure to excessive, uncontrolled, or otherwise dangerous magical energies, Arcane Contamination Syndrome is an annoying but non-fatal magical disease as classified by the Helical Archive. Usually referred to as “Odditis” by laymen, a few historical texts note that this strange malady has been vexing folk potentially as far back as the 2nd Aeon.


Contraction

Arcane Contamination Syndrome is usually contracted when consuming items that have been tainted by magical pollution or exposure to bursts of unrefined mana. Certain creatures and Abilities may also infect individuals.

  • Whenever you are exposed to Arcane Contamination due to staying in a place with excessive magical pollution, consuming tainted food or drink, or are the target of an ability or other source noted to cause Odditis, make a Grit Check.

  • On a success, you are free of Arcane Contamination Syndrome and are immune to contracting it for 24 hours.

  • On a failure, you are afflicted with Arcane Contamination Syndrome


Stages of Infection

There is only one stage of infection of Arcane Contamination Syndrome. It is a persistent and annoying malady, rather than one that progresses in a potentially lethal way. 

  • Once you have contracted Odditis, roll on the symptom table and apply the result immediately. This effect ends after 24 hours, after which you should roll again for a new symptom, and repeat.


Arcane Contamination Symptoms (Roll)

  • 1-2: Word Bubbles -  Anytime you try to speak, nothing but bubbles come out. This prevents you from verbal communication or using any Abilities that require speech. Sounds emerge if the bubbles burst, but anything longer than a short phrase is so jumbled it’s unintelligible.

  • 3-4: Dizzy Distress - Your head is spinning and nothing makes sense! You are afflicted with the Disoriented Ailment for the duration of this symptom.

  • 5-6: Grossly Incandescent  - Your body glows brightly, making it hard to look at you directly. You do provide illumination like a torch, but you stick out like a sore thumb in the shadows and darkness, making stealth almost impossible unless you cover yourself up  completely.

  • 7-8: Stony Feet - Your lower half turns to stone! You remain on the first stage of the Petrification Ailment for the duration of this symptom. 

  • 9-10: Hex Shrunk - You won’t be reaching the top shelf for a bit. You are afflicted with the Chibbed Ailment for the duration of this symptom.

  • 11-12: Hammed Hands - Your hands grow to twice their size, less than optimal for delicate tasks. You have a Snag on all Deftness Checks and Contests requiring fine motor skills involving your massive mitts, and cannot properly use small tools and weapons (such as Concealed Melee and Small Mechanical Missile Weapons).

  • 13-14: Stretch Sickness - You’re suddenly much taller. This growth isn’t proportional though, and you’ve grown gangly and awkward. For the duration of this symptom you have a Snag on all Deftness Checks and are probably hitting your head on the top of doorways a lot.

  • 15-16: The Jumbles - You just don’t feel quite right. Your positive traits invert into negative versions of themselves, subtracting from your aptitudes instead of adding to them for the duration of this symptom. 

  • 17-18: Spell Spots - You’re covered in odd colored spots! Unfortunately these act as mana magnets of sorts - for the duration of this symptom you have a Snag when trying to roll to resist or avoid a magical effect or Ability.

  • 19-20: The Wobblies - You’ve become downright gelatinous. For the duration of this symptom you’re afflicted with the Jellified Ailment.


GM Tip!: Many of these symptoms can be isolated and used as new Status Ailments to be inflicted by adversary abilities and adventure site perils.


Treatment and Cure

  • Not ingesting any contaminated or imbued consumables and avoiding being the direct target of any magical abilities for at least a week will cure you of Arcane Contamination Syndrome.
  • Having the effects dispelled by the Sage’s Demystify or a similar Ability will also free you of this magical disease.

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