Vile Diseases II

Vile Diseases II

More vile diseases from Book of Vile Darkness. Again, most of them are clearly supernatural in nature.

Iron Corruption

This disease comes from prolonged exposure to iron worked in conditions of extreme toil and misery. Iron corruption often spreads from a stab wound or an arrowhead lodged in one’s flesh for too long. The victim is gripped with terrible chills. His skin turns a dull metallic hue.

Statistics: Blood; HT-4 to resist; 1d/2 days delay; 1d-3 toxic damage (with HT-1 after loss of 1/3 HP and HT-3 after loss of 1/2 HP); 24-hour cycle with ten cycles. Not contagious.

Life Blindness

The infected victim loses all ability to perceive living creatures, even plants. After losing 1/3 HP the victim treats such beings as invisible, silent, and odorless. The loneliness and alienation eventually drive the victim to be completely antisocial, suffering effects similar to the emotion (despair) and emotion (hate) spells. After losing ½ HP, the victim gains Chronic Depression (9). In addition, each cycle the victim must make a Fright Check on the Despair variant table from Pyramid #3-92, page 29.

Statistics: Respiratory; HT-3 to resist; 1 day delay; 1d-1 toxic damage (special symptoms); 24-hour cycle with ten cycles. Not contagious.

  

Lightning Curse

When a creature takes a major wound from electricity and is at the same time exposed to great evil (such as the presence of an evil outsider or a desecrated area), it risks contacting lightning curse. As its blood vessels burst, the victim is covered in blue and black bruises, his muscles ache and he cannot think straight.

Statistics: Blood; HT-3 to resist; 1 day delay; 1d toxic damage (with IQ-3 after loss of 1/3 HP, moderate pain after loss of ½ HP, terrible pain after loss of 2/3 HP); 24-hour cycle with six cycles. Not contagious.

  

Melting Fury

Caught by characters who handle undead flesh, this disease is as horrific to watch as it is to contract. The victim’s flesh slowly liquefies and “melts” off his body until he is dead.

Statistics: Contact; HT-2 to resist; 1d days delay; 1d-2 toxic damage (with ST-2 and DX-2 after loss of 1/3 HP; DX-4, ST-4, HT-4 after loss of ½ HP; and agony after loss of 2/3 HP); 12-hour cycle with six cycles. Mildly contagious.

Misery’s Passage

This disease causes intense emotions of sadness and despair and manifests as dark boils.

Statistics: Blood; HT-1 to resist; 1d days delay; 1d-1 toxic damage (with Chronic Depression (12) after loss of 1/3 HP; Chronic Depression (9) after loss of 1/2 HP; and Chronic Depression (6) after loss of 2/3 HP); 12-hour cycle with eight cycles. Mildly contagious.