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The creature’s unarmed attack or Natural Weapon (see page 199) is diseased and each hit that wounds an enemy will also pass on the infection it. The disease effect is ongoing until someone administers a cure. Healing the wound alone will not provide a cure, as the penetrating strike delivers the disease into the victim’s system.
Someone infected with the bite of a Diseased creature must make a Strong test penalised by the level of the Diseased Monstrous Trait (between -1 to -3) each day. During the period of sickness, success halves the damage taken. As an alternative, a character with the Medicus Ability at Adept level of greater can roll their Cunning instead to achieve the same reduction – or combine with a Strong test to reduce damage to one-quarter (but never less than 1).
At the end of the period set by the disease (for example, on the 3rd day for Diseased I), a success of this test (either Strong or Medicus) will shrug off the disease completely – else it continues causing damage at the same rate until success or cured by some other means.
Attempts to cure disease require skill or the application of powers. Attempts that involve a [Cunning] test (e.g. Medicus) suffer a penalty equal to the level of the trait (between -1 to -3).
A Disease may harm a specific Attribute instead of Toughness, including Strong, Cunning, Vigilant or Resolute (similar to Alternative Damage, page 198). For example, a disease which causes delirium will reduce Cunning while one that causes blindness will affect Vigilant.
In extreme circumstances, a character might complete a Purging Fire ritual to burn away their bodies corruption, with the disease treated as equivalent Corruption to the rank of the Trait. Alternately, an Elixir of Life will also purge a disease from the character’s body as part of the regenerative process.
| I | Passive | The disease is weak and deals 2 points of damage for 2 days. |
| II | Passive | The disease is moderately strong and deals 3 points of damage for 3 days. |
| III | Passive | The disease is strong and deals 4 points of damage for 4 days. |
