Infection Vectors

“How the Rot Spreads”

How the Rot Spreads - Infection Vectors

Primary Vectors

Direct Contact

Method: Touch corrupted tissue/fluid

Risk Level: MODERATE to HIGH

Transmission: - Touching Rot-infected wounds - Contact with corrupted blood/saliva - Handling Rot-Beast remains - Physical combat with infected

Protection: - Gloves (leather/thick fabric) - Avoid wounds (yours + theirs) - Wash immediately after exposure

Note: Brief contact ≠ guaranteed infection (but risky)

Airborne Particles

Method: Breathing Rot-corrupted air

Risk Level: HIGH (dense zones), LOW (open air)

Locations: - Deep Murk (Rot-clouds) - The Hollow (extremely high concentration) - Recently collapsed corrupted islands - Enclosed spaces with infected

Protection: - Cloth mask (minimal help) - Distance (disperses in open air) - Avoid dense zones (best prevention)

Note: Prolonged exposure cumulative

Rot-Shards

Method: Handling concentrated corruption crystals

Risk Level: EXTREME

Danger: - Instant infection (often) - Accelerated progression - Valuable but deadly

Protection: - Don’t touch directly (ever) - Lead-lined containers - Minimal exposure time - Specialized handling (experts only)

Black Market: Highly illegal trade

Secondary Vectors

Consumption

Method: Eating corrupted food/water

Risk Level: VERY HIGH (almost certain infection)

Sources: - Water from corrupted regions - Animals infected with Rot - Plants grown in corrupted soil - Contaminated food supplies

Protection: - Source verification (know where food comes from) - Avoid Murk/Peripheral food - Boiling doesn’t help (Rot survives)

Symptoms: Rapid progression (internal exposure)

Environmental Exposure

Method: Living in corrupted environment

Risk Level: CUMULATIVE (low per day, high over time)

Mechanism: - Ambient corruption seepage - Contact with corrupted surfaces - Breathing ambient particles - Unknown vectors (Aether itself?)

Populations at Risk: - Murk residents - Scavengers (Periphery) - Glimmering Spire (environmental decay)

Prevention: Minimize time in corrupted zones

Sexual Transmission

Method: Intimate contact with infected

Risk Level: HIGH

Reality: Body fluid exchange

Social Impact: - Infected isolated romantically - Relationships destroyed post-infection - Stage 1 can transmit (even if careful)

Tragedy: Love becomes dangerous

Debunked/Uncertain Vectors

Eye Contact

Claim: Looking at Voice-Touched causes infection

Reality: FALSE (superstition)

Origin: Fear-based myth

Conversation

Claim: Hearing Voice (secondhand) infects

Reality: FALSE (infected describe Voice, others don’t hear)

Note: Psychological impact (hearing descriptions disturbing)

Proximity (Non-Contact)

Claim: Just being near infected causes transmission

Reality: UNCERTAIN (maybe through air, not proximity itself)

Evidence: Conflicting (some families resist, others all infected)

Dreams/Visions

Claim: Voice contacts uninfected through dreams

Reality: UNVERIFIED (Sister Morrigan claims possible)

Orthodox: Rejected (heretical claim)

Risk Factors (Susceptibility)

Increased Vulnerability

Despair: Psychological state affects infection rate

Cumulative Exposure: Multiple minor contacts compound

Weakened State: Illness/injury makes vulnerable

Genetic?: Possible (some families more susceptible)

Age: Children and elderly higher risk

Resistance Factors

Hope: Genuinely protective (unknown mechanism)

Health: Good physical condition helps

Genetics?: Some individuals resistant (rare)

Faith: Religious belief correlates with resistance (causation unclear)

Purpose: Strong sense of meaning helps

Geographic Risk Zones

Extreme Risk

The Hollow (epicenter)
Deep Murk (Rot-clouds)
Actively corrupting islands
The Deeps (rumored, unconfirmed)

High Risk

Murky Chasm (settlement in Murk)
Weeping Halls (infected community)
Periphery ruins (variable)
Recent collapse sites

Moderate Risk

Scavenger’s Roost (proximity to Periphery)
Glimmering Spire (environmental decay)
Trading routes (occasional exposure)

Low Risk

Skyport Eos (rare exposure)
Ironhold (well-protected)
Bright Reaches settlements
Isolated farming communities

No Safe Zone

Reality: Rot can appear anywhere (unpredictable spread)

Prevention Strategies

Individual

Avoid Exposure: Primary defense

Protective Gear: Gloves, masks (limited effectiveness)

Hygiene: Wash after potential exposure

Vigilance: Know what corrupted looks like

Distance: From infected individuals/zones

Settlement

Quarantine: Exile infected (harsh but effective?)

Screening: Check newcomers/traders

Perimeter: Avoid corrupted zones

Education: Teach population recognition

Preparation: Plans for outbreak

Ironhold Approach

Strict Protocols: - Mandatory screening - Immediate exile - Military quarantine enforcement - Zero tolerance

Effectiveness: Lowest infection rate (major settlement)

Cost: Humanitarian (families destroyed)

Skyport Eos Approach

Balanced: - Screening (less strict) - Quarantine (compassionate) - Treatment attempts (limited) - Eventual exile (if progressive)

Effectiveness: Moderate infection rate

Cost: Resources strained

Kael’s Research

Findings: - Chemical signature detectable (early infection) - Transmission mechanisms mapped - Prevention protocols optimized - No vaccine possible (yet)

Problem: Knowledge doesn’t equal prevention (exposure often unavoidable)

Quest Hooks

The Exposure: Party potentially infected (how to know? What to do?)
The Outbreak: Settlement infected (identify vector, stop spread)
The Rot-Shard: Handle dangerous material (safely?)
The Screening: Quarantine duty (moral dilemmas)
The Investigation: How did this person get infected? (trace vector)
The Prevention: Develop better protocols
The Sacrifice: Expose self to save others (worthwhile?)

“Every handshake is risk. Every breath in Murk is gamble. Every moment near infected is countdown. You can be careful or you can be safe. You can’t be both in this world.” — Quarantine Officer

“They fear touch. I understand. But isolation kills as surely as corruption. Choose your death: Alone and pure, or connected and transformed.” — Sister Morrigan