Draugrveiki

Combining Draugr—the undead creatures of Norse mythology—with veiki, meaning sickness. This name suggests that the disease is directly responsible for turning living creatures into undead horrors.

This affliction originates from a fallen meteor and appears to carry both a physical and magical component. It first weakens the body and spreads through bites or contact with infected creatures, eventually resulting in a horrifying transformation into an undead state.

Within 24 hours of exposure, the infected creature begins to show signs of illness:

• Gains 1 level of exhaustion that cannot be removed by resting.
• Experiences fever, chills, and muscular weakness.

At this stage, the disease is magical in nature and can be cured by:

• A successful DC 16 Medicine check,
• The use of Lesser Restoration,
• Or Lay on Hands (5 points spent).

After 1d6 days, symptoms escalate:

• Skin discoloration, decay, and mental degradation appear.
• The creature’s Constitution score is reduced by 2.
• They become irrationally hostile or violent.

To stop progression at this stage:

• Greater Restoration can cure the disease.
• Spare the Dying cast once per day delays Stage 3 for 24 hours.
• Gentle Repose functions normally, even though the creature is still alive, preserving their body for 10 days.

At this point, the disease becomes contagious through bites.

Infection Check: A creature bitten by an infected creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 14) or become infected.

If left untreated, the victim dies and rises within hours as a mindless undead husk driven by malice toward the living.

Transformed creatures gain:

• Undead Fortitude If damage that is not radiant reduces the creature to 0 hit points, it may make a Constitution saving throw (DC 5 + damage taken). On a success, it drops to 1 hit point instead.
• Undead Nature The creature no longer requires food, water, or air.

You may optionally allow divine or natural signs (e.g., prophetic dreams, omens, strange animal behavior) to precede Stage 3 in important NPCs. This can give players opportunities to intervene dramatically.