Afflicted Guide

[The King Of The Moon 7016]

Summary:

Affliction is the Alchemical practice of infecting one’s body with a ‘Symbiote’. A docile parasite created from a mix of symbols that merges with its host’s flesh, allowing them greater control over parts of the body otherwise mundane as well as adjusting it’s host’s mental state to be more in line with the Alchemical process.
More detail on the Symbiote, its origins and its unique interactions with the Afflicted individual can be found here!
 

Physical changes:

Spoiler

The Afflicted individual’s physique is adjusted and made more efficient as the Symbiote progressively integrates with their metabolism, streamlining the body’s use of nutrient resources. 

This would give an effective immunity to contagious diseases as well as a major resistance to non-thanic ingestible poisons; where a harmful enough substance to usually kill a descendant is digested, the Symbiote will bear the brunt of the damage so as to protect the host and be rendered inert, require a full day in narrative time to recover. This effect can be consciously suppressed also, should an Afflicted wish to experiment with the effects of drugs, poisons and medicines on oneself; as a byproduct granting Afflicted the bizarre ability of being able to sober up from a drunken stupor on demand.

This also keeps a well fed Afflicted at peak physical fitness for their specific race, allowing them to reach their full natural potential in strength and agility without the same effort input usually required by bodybuilders and gymnasts to achieve the same results.

The cost of this streamlining comes in the form of a radicalisation of dietary requirements; the Afflicted must upkeep double the caloric intake of a regular descendant, or alternatively, ingest some types of nutrient high alchemical elixirs. This is because the Affliction idly feasts on the nutrients taken in by the host, though it dearly attempts to not gorge or consume further than what it deems the minimal, lest the bearer be hampered from hunger, or worse, perish from starvation. The epitome of this new diet is the Afflicted’s pseudo addiction to liquid mana, detailed further under Mental Changes.

- Afflicted must consume double the caloric amount required by their descendant race, or supplement their diets with alchemically enhanced nutrition or liquid mana. Failing to do so will cause the Symbiote to stop functioning until the Afflicted can properly nourish it again.
- Afflicted who have staved off poisoning must wait a narrative day before being able to access any of their abilities with the exception of Aesthetics and passive health.
- Afflicted improved fitness does not offer superhuman levels of strength, stamina or agility, merely a faster and easier route to peak performance that would otherwise require years of exercise and training.
 

Mental Changes:
 

Spoiler

As mentioned earlier, the Symbiote will also adjust the thought processes of its host and its general mental attitudes towards logic and order. One’s thoughts and attitudes would begin to change as the host becomes more attuned to their symbiote and the workings of Alchemy; the laws of equivalence and the ordering of the world. It would be difficult for a new afflicted to stay focused on abstracts and the non-physical philosophies, as their minds become methodical and machine-like. As the Symbiote grows and solidifies its bond to the host’s body and brain, they would find themselves distracted and intrigued by the ordering and processes of the day-to-day world; hierarchies of power, craftsmanship, natural philosophy and so on. It would be difficult for an Afflicted to suspend their disbelief, or hold themselves to any philosophy or theology not rooted in logic and reasoning.

They would most notably begin to struggle with reading written word, requiring extra focus as they’re met with a pseudo-dyslexia; beginning to rearrange words into their equivalent meanings within the Material Alphabet and may often thoughtlessly find themselves writing in its runic script - even if prior unbeknownst to them - and confused as to how or why this alien language was taking hold.

As well, this excessive grounding to the Material Plane makes the Afflicted more vulnerable than ever to the grating effects of the Material Alphabet’s antithesis: Moonspeak. Being subject to Moonspeak in doses any larger than a sentence would be torturous, causing the Symbiote to panic and if not protected eventually shut down (rendering the Afflicted unconscious); forcing them to try and block out the sound and if unable (such as having one’s hands strapped down whilst being screamed at in Moonspeak) freezing their muscles in place whilst they are tormented with migraines until the speech ends. Written moonspeak would also appear as distortions in space, confusing the Afflicted to the point where they might not even acknowledge its presence, with the exception of those who were familiar and fluent in the language prior to becoming Afflicted, who would still be able to write and speak it albeit painfully; bringing on mental exhaustion and agonising headaches.

Also noteworthy in the Afflicted’s inability to comprehend and work alongside the Void is that whenever in the immediate presence of someone recognisably establishing a Voidal Connection, unheard whispers of Moonspeak will be picked up on by the Symbiote across the mage’s bridge through the outer Veil, bringing feelings of discomfort and anxiety to the Afflicted individual in a manner akin to standing too close to an open flame. They would feel naturally inclined to bring a stop the spellcasting or distance themselves from it, whilst their Symbiote would also note the potential to harvest Liquid Mana from said mage, bringing a temporary parchness and thirst to the Afflicted only quenched by the drink. It is not uncommon for an Afflicted then to seek the restriction magic in its home residence, or to alternatively try and subjugate or employ mages in harvesting their abundant supply of Liquid Mana.

-Afflicted are unable to forcefully suck liquid Mana from any sort of mage, and would instead be inclined to barter with them for it or in extreme cases try to torture them into producing it for them.
-The addictive desire for Liquid Mana brought on by the presence of Voidal Connections is as potent as a heavy smoker’s desire for nicotine; it can only be suppressed by drinking at least 100ml of Liquid Mana or escaping the Mage’s vicinity by entering another room or travelling at least twenty meters (blocks) from them and waiting for the thirst to subside after half a narrative hour. A byproduct of this addiction also comes in the presence of Voidal Enchantments, with which Afflicted would constantly feel the tugging desire to crack open mana gems to drink the essence from when wielding them.
-When aware that Voidal Magic is being practised, Afflicted will experience feelings of anxiety and discomfort, invoking a mild fight or flight response that will naturally force them to try and distance themselves from it or in extreme cases engage with the Voidal Mage to halt their connection.
- The mental changes brought on by Afflicted only serve to shift their personalities and perceptions and do not bring about any changes in the individual’s intellect or ability. The only ‘knowledge’ it might grant is an inherent understanding of the Material Alphabet.
 

Abilities

Bodily Alteration

Spoiler

 

Alteration of oneself is the focal point for this newfound brood of Affliction, much as the generation of bygone. Utilizing the Affliction, an Afflicted can temporarily sculpt their beings into something different; this combination can take the aesthetic of a liquid or mist/haze, there is no mechanical change. Whilst vaguely similar to transmutation the procedure is not magical, but rather revolves around the Affliction becoming manifest for a brief while, excreting the fluid or mist from the bearer’s pores and the like to subsequently direct and form around the region desired, hardening, shaping into whatever willed.

This manipulation can alter limbs into a prosthetic-esque appearance as depicted above or merely build atop the body of the individual, more akin to adding a layer over the skin, as one would garb themselves in cloth or metal - More on aesthetics later. These changes to one’s body are non permanent, reverting after some time has passed or at the individual’s will. Similarly, the more extensive the changes are is based on the aptitude of that individual. The excreted liquid/haze/mist is generally hues of gray, but can take the color of the bearer’s aura. Pain is invoked during alteration, lesser and lesser as one progresses.
 

Emote Example:
-Other character performs an action

Afflicted Al straightens his arm out, the veins upon it begging to swell as his fingers squeeze together into a fist.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s skin begins to crack and harden, calcifying in some strange manner about his fist as the Afflicted’s right hand starts to lose its features, becoming stump-like.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s arm then flattens as a sharp edge, pulling itself out to two feet in length to form a blade-like bone akin to an arming sword.

 

- Formed weaponry are not greater than their mundane counterparts. A bladed arm would serve just as a normal blade. 
 - Procured armor is no different than their normal counterparts, reaching the maximum potential of Platemail. Armouring is as durable as any ordinary armor counterpart up to steel in quality with no added defence, and would weigh the same as if an individual were to equip that armour normally.

 - These formations are unable to be done instantaneously, generally taking 2-3 emotes depending on the size of the manipulation in question. Someone could pull out a weapon quicker than an Afflicted could make one, for example.

 - The aesthetic is up to the player’s discretion, whether the excreted essence be mist/haze-like that travels over the area to manipulate it or a viscous liquid. This is also the deal with how the manipulated area appears, perhaps completely changing the region as shown in the depiction or merely seeming as if something was overlaid the skin, etcetera. There is no mechanical difference.

- Alterations can not extend past three meters (blocks). A pike or a spear would likely be the longest alteration, ranged weaponry is not possible, but things such as quills are.
 

Bodily Attachment

Spoiler

As the name suggests bodily attachment builds off of the individual rather than change as alteration does.
 

Through enough concentration one can will the Affliction to build off of themselves, constructing something entirely new. As alteration this can roughly be likened to the art of Transmutation. An example of what this allows would be formation of extra appendages, though lesser than normal limbs.
 

The amount that can be attached to one's body is finite, the more one has procured the less feasible they truly are to utilize; attachments must remain attached onto the body to function. Similarly to alteration attachment invokes pain upon the persona, becoming less of a burden as the Afflicted becomes more experienced.

Emote Example:

-Other character performs an action

Afflicted Al buckles forth, a crunch emitting from his spine.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s upper back splits open, the sound of tearing flesh resonating from between his shoulderblades as a mass begins to force its way out from under his cloak.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s robe is freyed open as a limb of sorts, made from a horrific mass akin to a muscled spinal column, begins to reveal itself. About as thick as either of Al’s arms, it churns and creaks out from his back, taking shape.
-Other character performs an action
[!] Upon Al’s back a third arm appears, about a foot longer than his natural respective limbs and lacking a thumb or any other inclination to ‘left’ or ‘right’.

- As alterations, attachments are not instantaneous and generally takes 3-4 emotes to form, more or less depending on the size and density.

- Only accessible to Tiers 3 and higher.

- Concentration is needed to perform an attachment successfully.

- Five is the maximum attachments capable, the more additions equals the less they are feasible, degrading them. For instance, with five attachments each would only have the diameter and strength of a child’s arm; vice versa, if only one attachment was utilized the appendage would be comparable to a knight’s arm, that of a honed warrior.

- Attachments can not extend past six meters (blocks)

-Five attachments would only have the diameter and strength of a child’s arm, able to lift up to a maximum of 10lbs, or roughly 4.5kg.         

-Four attachments would have the diameter and strength of a proficient mage, able to lift up to a maximum of 20lbs, or roughly 9kg.      

-Three attachments would have the diameter and strength of an average farmer, able to lift up to a maximum of 40lbs, or roughly 18kg.  

-Two attachments would have the diameter and strength of a man-at-arms, able to lift up to 60lbs, or roughly 27kg.         

-One attachment would have the diameter and strength of someone of the Afflicted’s race that is in peak shape.

-In combat,  all attachments after the first two will become clumsy and harder to control as the Symbiote is put into a state of panic. In light of this, an Afflicted with 5  attachments during combat would experience clumsiness in the 3rd, 4th and 5th, which would be unable to form sensitive enough ends to properly wield objects, and would also take an additional emote to aim and strike with.

Aesthetics

Spoiler

Lacking any personality or consciousness of its own, the Symbiote expresses itself through its host’s identity and self awareness. This leads to subtle changes in the appearance of mutations specific to the individual Afflicted. For example, Afflicted with low self confidence and a poor perception of themselves might find themselves accidentally appearing as they believe; an Afflicted paranoid about the size of their nose could accidentally cause it to grow slightly more bulbous or hooked, whereas a vain Afflicted might on the inverse cause their features to sharpen in a clearer reflection of their own personal interpretation of beauty. This could also be applied to things like ear size and shape, skin colour, hair colour, eye colour, vocal range and so on as aesthetic non-functional changes in appearance.

These changes can be consciously or subconsciously brought about, and sometimes become extreme when utilising Bodily Alterations and Bodily Attachments. As a rule, no one aesthetic will make an Afflicted inherently stronger than another (like armouring appearing metallic instead of chitinous), though impractical Aesthetics will still come with logical detriment. 

Emote Example:
-Other character performs an action

Afflicted Al grits his teeth, tense veins spreading over his elven ears.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s ears begin to swell about their tips, as if his flesh were melting.
-Other character performs an action
Afflicted Al’s ear-points fold over and mesh with the skin upon his ears and the sides of his head like hot wax, leaving rounded humanoid ears in their wake.

- Aesthetics cannot functionally superseded the limitations prior set out by Bodily Attachments and Bodily Alterations.

- Aesthetics in specific Bodily Attachments and Bodily Alterations can be applied instantaneously as parts are added or resculpted as they yield no functional benefit, though aesthetics outside of this range or being applied to prior formed Attachments and Alterations would take two emotes to apply per changed area (IE making a single attached limb look like a bramble instead of a fleshy appendage)

- Aesthetics do not count towards the amount of Attachments and Alternations an Afflicted can have at once as they are not functional, but they will be dropped if an Afflicted is rendered unconscious by any means other than sleep. 

Progression

 

Spoiler

Tier One
 

The symbiote is ingested by a host, causing it to awaken from its dormant state and infect their body, beginning the process of symbiosis. This minute Affliction passively feasts on the nutrients that the person would intake; basically comparable to the likes of equivalent exchange; a handful of days shall pass before the Affliction may decide to make itself known to that whom nurses it; one may be strained awake as a startling pain envelops over them, procuring the feeling of dulled nausea, the individual experiencing something similar to a cold sweat, though in truth it is the Affliction excreting measly amounts of liquefied essence.

By the end of the week the Afflicted individual will notice dramatic dietary shifts, suffering hunger pains until they begin regularly eating twice as much or supplementing themselves with liquid mana or alchemical nutrients. They would also begin to feel more healthy and able than before, with prior conditions like lethargy, back pains and muscle strain fading away. 

 

Furthermore, reading becomes more difficult, as if they’re trying to read text between other letters written on top of it, and their interpretation of the world also begins to shift, possibly causing them to question prior accepted truths and norms. 

At tier one, the individual is limited on the extent to which they can sculpt their body with Bodily Alteration, they may only have up to two alterations and only create very basic changes, examples of this would be a pair of talons or claws as opposed to fingers, or scales to cover the flesh.

 

Tier Two

 

The Afflicted feels healthier than ever, should they continue to properly satiate their growing hunger. Muscle mass and flexibility seems exceptionally improved and hangovers become a thing of the past.

Subtle changes - for the better or worse - might be noticed in one’s reflection. Putting conscious focus on these changes allows the Afflicted to begin willingly experimenting with Aesthetics. 

Reading is once more doable, but the Afflicted finds themself understanding the meanings of pictures rather than translating text on a page into thought. When writing they might find themselves accidentally scribbling in symbols they’ve never seen before when trying to spell a word, and strangely still understanding said symbols.

The Afflicted finds their world view either solidified or shaken, with the processes of nature and society either seeming much clearer and logical or confusing and problematic. 

At tier two, the Afflicted may create up to three alterations at a given time and has likely experimented with the symbiote enough in delve deeper into their capabilities and better tolerate the pain it may bring. Examples of this would be being able to form a blade out from one’s forearm, replacing the hand, or something more complex, for instance, a slight enhancement of their senses in the ways of finer vision within dim light or a somewhat more sensitive sense of smell.

 

Tier Three

 

The Afflicted reaches their physical peak for their respective race, finding themselves in a state significantly stronger and more agile than prior to ingesting the Symbiote. They’d also note how long it’s been since they’ve gotten sick.                       

The Material Alphabet becomes the Afflicted main read dialect, which they will acknowledge despite any further understanding of what it is or why they’ve learnt it. Conscious effort can be made to read and write in Common and other languages again alongside it. 

The Afflicted becomes more mindful and appreciative of the world’s complexity, from meagre craftsmanship to natural philosophy. Furthermore the world begins to seem more inherently ordered or disordered, depending on what impetus they have been exposed to to draw said conclusions. They might also find themselves mistaken at times, as a byproduct of this black and white mechanical world view. Methodical tasks become more satisfying, and easier to follow.

The Afflicted becomes able to use Bodily Attachment. Five is the maximum amount of attachments capable, the more additions equals the less they are feasible, degrading them. 

For instance;

Five attachments would only have the diameter and strength of a child’s arm, able to lift up to a maximum of 10lbs, or roughly 4.5kg.

Four attachments would have the diameter and strength of a proficient mage, able to lift up to a maximum of 20lbs, or roughly 9kg.

Three attachments would have the diameter and strength of an average farmer, able to lift up to a maximum of 40lbs, or roughly 18kg.

Two attachments would have the diameter and strength of a man-at-arms, able to lift up to 60lbs, or roughly 27kg.

One attachment would have the diameter and strength of someone of the Afflicted’s race that is in peak shape.

At tier three, the Afflicted may create up to four alterations and will be able to better utilize the aforementioned, being able to utilize their senses at their peak at will and research the biology of beasts and creatures to implement onto their own forms.

 

Tier Four

 

At tier four, the Afflicted is adept at the alteration of their body and are able to create up to five alterations. At this stage, the wielder is able to go beyond the peak of their ordinary form and augment their bodies to better suit their needs, whatever the situation. An Afflicted at this tier may create a form to allow for the use of echolocation, an adaptation to their legs to run even faster, artificially add to their muscle mass for strength or coat their body in chitinous or metallic armour.

Tier four Afflicted can also naturally produce the base strain required for bodily enhancement, and unlock the potential be taught how to create Symbiotes of their own to spread the Affliction.

 

Tier Five

 

At tier five, the Afflicted has mastered the alteration of their body and are able to create up to seven alterations. Utilizing the symbiote is something that may have become second nature to them, no longer feeling the pain its usage once brought whatsoever.

 

 

[IsaaKc 1240]

 

cool lore thekingofthemoon from lord of the craft the worlds number one minecraft roleplaying server

[saint swag 2484]

cant wait to get asked oocly by every ******* loser for afflicted

[lemonke 6014]

Chad 

[Archipelego 2188]

very cool gamer