Query about Phagian Virii
Query about Phagian Virii
This is something that just started nagging me; I've occasionally heard mentionings of a possibly-magical disease called the Phagian Virus, which apparently comes in a number of different strains. Can anyone tell me what Phagian Virus actually is, what the strains are, and if it's been updated into 3.X edition?
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From Mangrum:
Virus, Phagian: CR 5. Supernatural diseases created by the late Invidian wizard Phagius the Unclean sometime in the mid- to late-600s (during the reign of Bakholis). Phagian viruses are quasi-living diseases that manifest supernatural (and lethal) symptoms, and possess a dim sort of will to exist and spread, which makes them more difficult to cure. In terms of game mechanics, Phagian viruses are hazards like slimes and molds, not actual creatures. Symptoms manifest in three stages. Generally, the first is cosmetic and brief, the second damaging, and the third fatal.
Combustion Virus: “A combustion virus causes the cells in the body of its host to continually increase their levels of activity until they grow wildly out of control. Unless cured, the victim begins to literally smolder and, ultimately, dies an agonizing death as she burns from the inside out.”
Crystal Virus: “A crystal virus spreads more slowly than other Phagian viruses, but its effects are just as monstrous. Victims of this disease slowly crystallize, suffering through a slow death as their lungs lose the ability to take in air and their blood hardens in their veins.”
Petrification Virus: “A petrification virus slowly calcifies its victims into a hard, stonelike material. Disturbingly, survivors of this disease have claimed that they remained conscious for months after their bodies had completely petrified.”
Phobia Virus: “The phobia virus is the only one of Phagius’ creations that is not necessarily lethal to its host. This disease attacks its host’s mind, causing the victim to develop crippling fears. Although the virus cannot kill by itself, the insane fear it breeds in its host may lead to desperate behaviors that are all too fatal.”
Psionic Virus: “A psionic virus continually restructures the synapses of its host’s brain, opening new pathways in the victim’s mind. In the short term, a psionic virus can be empowering, since it causes the victim to develop psionic gifts, even if she never possessed them before. However, the infection inevitably continues until even the strongest mind can no longer withstand the psionic pressure building within it.”
Shadow Virus: “Perhaps the strangest of all of Phagius’ diseases, this virus exists partly in the Umbral Curtain. The infection begins by destroying the host’s shadow, then converts the host’s body into yet more shadowstuff. If the virus is left unchecked, the victim becomes an undead shadow herself.”
(The Umbral Curtain is to the Plane of Shadow as the Near Ethereal is to the Ethereal Plane.)
Virus, Phagian: CR 5. Supernatural diseases created by the late Invidian wizard Phagius the Unclean sometime in the mid- to late-600s (during the reign of Bakholis). Phagian viruses are quasi-living diseases that manifest supernatural (and lethal) symptoms, and possess a dim sort of will to exist and spread, which makes them more difficult to cure. In terms of game mechanics, Phagian viruses are hazards like slimes and molds, not actual creatures. Symptoms manifest in three stages. Generally, the first is cosmetic and brief, the second damaging, and the third fatal.
Combustion Virus: “A combustion virus causes the cells in the body of its host to continually increase their levels of activity until they grow wildly out of control. Unless cured, the victim begins to literally smolder and, ultimately, dies an agonizing death as she burns from the inside out.”
Crystal Virus: “A crystal virus spreads more slowly than other Phagian viruses, but its effects are just as monstrous. Victims of this disease slowly crystallize, suffering through a slow death as their lungs lose the ability to take in air and their blood hardens in their veins.”
Petrification Virus: “A petrification virus slowly calcifies its victims into a hard, stonelike material. Disturbingly, survivors of this disease have claimed that they remained conscious for months after their bodies had completely petrified.”
Phobia Virus: “The phobia virus is the only one of Phagius’ creations that is not necessarily lethal to its host. This disease attacks its host’s mind, causing the victim to develop crippling fears. Although the virus cannot kill by itself, the insane fear it breeds in its host may lead to desperate behaviors that are all too fatal.”
Psionic Virus: “A psionic virus continually restructures the synapses of its host’s brain, opening new pathways in the victim’s mind. In the short term, a psionic virus can be empowering, since it causes the victim to develop psionic gifts, even if she never possessed them before. However, the infection inevitably continues until even the strongest mind can no longer withstand the psionic pressure building within it.”
Shadow Virus: “Perhaps the strangest of all of Phagius’ diseases, this virus exists partly in the Umbral Curtain. The infection begins by destroying the host’s shadow, then converts the host’s body into yet more shadowstuff. If the virus is left unchecked, the victim becomes an undead shadow herself.”
(The Umbral Curtain is to the Plane of Shadow as the Near Ethereal is to the Ethereal Plane.)
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