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--- additions:undead_sickness [2025/06/21 17:17] – Ron Helwig
+++ additions:undead_sickness [2025/06/21 19:58] (current) – Ron Helwig
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 # Draugrveiki
-Combining Draugr, the undead creatures of Norse mythology, with veiki, meaning sickness. This name suggests that the disease is directly related to turning living creatures into undead horrors.
+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 disease originates from the fallen meteor and seems to carry both a physical and magical component. It first weakens the body, spreading through bites or physical contact with infected creatures, and can eventually cause a horrifying transformation into an undead (draugr) state.
+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.
+---
 ## Progression of the Disease
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 ### Stage 1: Fever and Weakness
-Infected creatures show symptoms of **exhaustion** (gaining one level of exhaustion that cannot be removed by resting), muscle weakness, and fever within 24 hours of contracting the disease. At this stage, the disease is magical and can be cured through spells like *Lesser Restoration* or *Lay on Hands*, or by succeeding on a **DC 16 Medicine check**.
+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).
+---
 ### Stage 2: Physical Corruption
-After several (1d6) days, infected creatures experience skin discoloration, visible decay, and a deterioration of mental faculties. Their Constitution is reduced by 2 points. They also lose control of their emotions, becoming increasingly aggressive. This stage can be reversed by stronger magic (*Greater Restoration*), though healing at this point becomes more difficult. Casting *Spare the Dying* once per day on an infected creature will prevent progression to Stage 3 for 24 hours. *Gentle Repose* works as expected on infected creatures even though they are not dead yet - preventing further decay for 10 days.
-All creatures in this and following stages can spread their affliction through biting another creature. Creatures that are bitten must make a Constitution Savings Throw to avoid infection.
+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.
+---
 ### Stage 3: Undeath
-If the disease progresses unchecked, the creature eventually dies and is reanimated as a zombified version of itself. Once transformed into an undead, the disease takes root in their corpse, and their mind is entirely lost. They become aggressive towards all living creatures.
-When a creature progresses into undeath, they gain the following abilities.
+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.
+---
+## Notes for DMs
+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.
-  * **Undead Fortitude**: If damage that is not *radiant* reduces the creature to 0 hit points, it may make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken. On a success, the creature drops to 1 hit point instead.
-  * The creature no longer requires food, water, or air to survive.