Death-touched

Legend

Throughout the ongoing siege of Larova, many horrors have been brought to light—but in the deepest bowels of the catacombs, and the pox-ridden hovels of the city’s slums, a new affliction has emerged. The Death-Touched, named after the original appearance of the Death-Touched Forster bannermen from the mist, are those unfortunate enough to have been cursed by the enigmatic Red Miasma. Neither living nor dead, these poor souls have been affected severely, whether by prolonged exposure to the choking red mist or their excessive ingestion of Carogna. Some firsthand accounts, most heard from refugees that embarked upon the treacherous pilgrimage to Larova, describe a lengthy and horrifying process, in which one’s mind, body, and indeed their very being are painfully stripped away. Friends and neighbors falling over feet that could no longer carry them, family members that could no longer recall the names of their loved ones, some electing to remain as they were, allowing the mist to consume them, and all they had ever known. 

If any record of this affliction existed before the siege, it was likely burned away an age ago- and thusly, is considered a new phenomenon. As refugees continue to flood into the city, more and more of these wretches are unveiled—some still able to function fully, others missing appendages or entire limbs from the rot. There is no known cure, for how could one hope to stall the course of death itself?

Description

Gaunt faces peer out from the shadows and alleys of the city, cheeks pox-ridden and skin cracked, lined with flecks of deep crimson from under their skin. Flesh dulls to grey, veins turn to red, skin cracks and sloughs away to reveal sinew and bone. Food and drink lose all taste, and the beauty of the world loses its luster; indeed, even color seems to drain away from everything. The Death-Touched develop an overwhelming sense of anhedonia, preventing them from enjoying things they otherwise would have. Memories are slowly consigned to a forgotten corner of their conscience, and even images of home and loved ones fade away. Sleep and any form of rest is nigh impossible, as the curse keeps the afflicted awake, whispering sweet nothings in an attempt to coerce them into the mist- to assume their true form in death.

Some might consider these to be boons in such trying times, but they are gravely mistaken. These symptoms do not prolong their lifespan; they greatly shorten it. To be Death-Touched is to be marked by the Skull King, to be condemned to an untimely and painful demise. Those fortunate enough to retain their sanity are hounded, ostracized, and hunted by forces that would deem them “unholy” or “contagious”. There is no evidence that physical contact or other forms of transmission carry the curse from one host to another- so far, only direct exposure to the Red Miasma or long-term ingestion of Carogna* will result in an individual becoming Death-Touched. This does not stop such superstitions from building, however.

*You may create an existing character afflicted with the curse, gained by Miasma exposure or ingestion of Carogna.

Undead of the Pale are not outwardly hostile to the Death-Touched—in fact, they see them as kin at first glance, as the curse that animates them is the very same that now torments the afflicted. This reconciliation is short-lived, however, as the undead try to force Death-Touched individuals into the Miasma, so their transformation can finally be completed*. There is no malice in this act; however, it is merely an attempt to make them whole, as the undead see fit. It is the choice of those afflicted to either succumb to the hands of the dead, drawing them in, or to resist with every fiber of their being still left.

*If captured by the Pale and PTK is not granted, they can be given the curse with PTC/RTC.

The life of a Death-Touched is one of perpetual torment, existing in a state of unresolved death. Unlike the fully risen of the Pale, they remain anchored to living flesh while necrotic forces gnaw constantly at their body and minds. This creates a fractured psyche marked by intense emotional volatility, chronic pain, and a distorted perception of reality. Pain becomes overwhelming, both physical and spiritual. The body feels heavy and foreign, as though every movement drags against rot. Thoughts slow, memory fragments, and identity blur.

Many of the accursed feel a draw to the Pale, more so than the living. Their minds are berated by intrusive whispers, taking the form of loved ones or former comrades, coercing them to abandon everything and let the rot run its course. Their sense of self is unstable, and they struggle to distinguish their own thoughts from the echoes of the dead. Old habits, phrases, or instincts surface unbidden- a constant internal conflict between decay and life, fought in perpetuity. To combat this, many cling tightly to their routines and personal relationships, the last pieces of their lives that hold any value or meaning.

Despite this instability, the Death-Touched are not inherently cruel or malicious. In fact, many experience heightened empathy, acutely aware of suffering in others because it mirrors their own. Despite this, they are often shunned by the living, treated as if their affliction were contagious rather than a condition. This constant fear and avoidance isolates them socially, reinforcing their belief that they no longer belong amongst the living.