Blight Infection

Stage 1: Minor Infection

• Symptoms:

  • Blackened veins subtly visible under the skin.

  • Occasional fatigue or mild discomfort.

  • Itchiness or a dull ache at the site of infection.

Pros:

1. Heightened Awareness:
   Infected players gain a slight edge in perceiving corrupted or magical phenomena (e.g., advantage on Arcana or Perception checks related to blight-afflicted areas or creatures).

2. Resistance to Disease:
   The infection boosts resistance to natural diseases or poisons, as the body adapts to combat the foreign magic.

3. Shadow Affinity:
   Players find it easier to hide or blend into darkness, as their appearance begins to dull and merge with shadowy environments (advantage on Stealth in dim light/darkness).

Cons:

1. Exhaustion Risk:
   Players must make a Constitution saving throw after strenuous activity (e.g., combat or travel) to avoid gaining one level of exhaustion.

2. Magic Disruption:
   Casting spells feels slightly "off," requiring a minor concentration check (DC 10) for spells with a duration longer than 1 round.

3. Distrust:
   Observant NPCs may notice subtle signs of the infection, resulting in lowered attitudes or outright suspicion.

Stage 2: Severe Infection

• Symptoms:

  • Veins darken further, spreading visibly across the body.

  • Skin becomes pallid or discolored (ashen gray or greenish tones).

  • Intense fatigue, muscle spasms, and occasional lapses in focus.

Pros:

1. Blighted Strength:
   +1 to Strength or Dexterity-based attack rolls as well as +1 DMG for Spell Saving DCs / To Hits if it is a damage type spell

2. Dark Vision:
   Players gain the ability to see in darkness up to 30 feet, even if they lack it normally.

3. Fear Aura:
   Hostile creatures may hesitate or react with fear when approaching the infected (DC 12 Wisdom saving throw to avoid being frightened for one round).

Cons:

1. Ability Score Reduction:

   • Players lose 1 point in Constitution (permanent until cured).

   • Disadvantage on Charisma-based skill checks due to unnerving appearance.

   • standard 5% wild surge for casters and a temporary 5% chance for a "reckless attack" for fighters, after taking damage 

2. Chaotic Magic:
   Casting a spell has a 5% chance of producing a wild magic surge or causing minor harm to the caster (e.g., psychic damage equal to spell level).

3. Infection Spread:
   Close allies and NPCs in prolonged proximity must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 13) to avoid infection.

4. Vulnerability to Radiant Damage:
   The infection's corruption makes the player more susceptible to radiant energy (+1d4 damage from radiant sources).

Stage 3: Blighted Creature

• Symptoms:

  • Veins and skin are almost entirely blackened or mottled with strange, glowing sigils.

  • Constant pain, hallucinations, and compulsions to protect or spread the blight.

  • The character's mind begins to slip, teetering on the edge of madness.

Pros:

1. Enhanced Physical Abilities:

   • +2 to Strength and Dexterity temporarily in combat.

   • Increased movement speed (+10 feet).

2. Blight Magic:
   Players can unleash blight-fueled abilities, such as:

   • Blighted Strike: A melee attack deals an additional 2d6 necrotic damage.

   • Tainted Aura: Hostile creatures within 10 feet take 1d6 necrotic damage at the start of their turn.

3. Immune to Fear or Poison:
   The character's corrupted form no longer feels fear and is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Cons:

1. Permanent Madness:
   The character must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15) at the start of every day or develop a permanent short-term madness effect (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations).

2. Player Control Loss:
   In moments of high stress (combat or significant emotional events), the DM may take temporary control of the character to represent the blight’s influence.

3. Hostility from NPCs:
   The character is visibly a blighted creature, causing NPCs to react with extreme prejudice or fear.

4. Life Drain:
   Every long rest, the character loses 1 hit point permanently unless they consume a source of life energy (e.g., draining HP from a living creature).

Stage 4: Fully Blighted

• At this point, the player is entirely corrupted by the blight and becomes a monster or servant of the blight, losing their free will and becoming an NPC controlled by the DM.

Pros (Before Transformation):

1. Near-immortality and unmatched power in combat, with access to legendary-like abilities.

2. Temporary immunity to death from critical hits or massive damage.

Cons (Before Transformation):

1. Total rejection by all living creatures and divine entities.

2. Complete loss of control as the character becomes a part of the blight's hive mind.