Diagnosis - Iugulare's Infection

quadraptor's picture
I wanted to write a detailed description of Iugulare's Infection - how it works, what it feels like, what it does, ect. For more info on Iugulare and the Deadly Trio, click here.

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Name - Often simply called "The Infection" or "Iugulare's Infection", though sometimes it is referred to as "Black Belly" or "White Belly", depending on the color of the infection.

Source - Iugulare, who is an alien lifeform from a distant planet where the infection originates. Very little is known about Iugulare's home world.

Appearance - The infection is photogenic (light sensitive) so it prefers to grow on the underbelly, though stronger forms of the infection will spread farther on the body. In some cases, the body is fully covered with the infection. It has the consistency of thick lather or gel, clinging to the skin and fur. It sometimes will bubble, though this is unknown as to why it does. The infection normally will be black to white in color, though on some occasions will have a hue to it. The most common 'colored' infection is yellow, though white and black are generally considered 'normal'. In some cases, an infected creature will have both black and white infection on their bodies (Iugulare's colorization is a good example). The infection is often described as "goo" or "ooze", as it is frequently seen dripping from an infected.

Description - The infection is viral and must have a living host organism to survive. It cannot live on it's own, and if the host organism dies, it dies as well. The virus multiplies by making the cells of the host produce more of it quickly, but it generally slows production over time. (A minor infection will only spread a small distance on the body, whereas a host exposed to constant contact with an infected will eventually be fully covered with the infection.) The virus attacks the host's skin, eating away at it until it is able to enter into the body. It then travels through the blood stream to the brain, where it attacks and attempts to 'zombify' the host. Young creatures such as fawns are very easy to zombify, where older creatures can resist the process for some time. When a host is zombified, it loses it's own functions, and the virus controls the body, seeking out others to infect.

Symptoms (pre-zombification) - A host who has been exposed to the infection but still retains their own bodily functions is called a carrier. The infection burns continuously after immediate contact, and spreads as far as it can (generally begins on the underbelly to avoid light exposure). The more infected the body is, the more painful the burning becomes. The host may be able to resist the virus' attempts to control the body, but generally if they remain untreated for some time, they will die from the infection. The rate of death is dependent on how well the host can resist the infection as well as how badly they have been infected.

Symptoms (post-zombification) - A host who has been exposed to the infection with the virus controlling the body is called an infected. "Infecteds" fall into a deep sleep, and often dream vivid, pleasing dreams. This keeps their minds occupied while the virus controls the body, and often a host will never wake up from this sleep. The body, now controlled by the virus, remains awake and alert, it's only instinct is to seek out any other hosts around and infect them with the virus. The infected, when confronted, will be more vicious and agile, and once it has found a host it wants to infect, it never loses eye-contact. The infected attacks without warning, trying to grasp or bite it's target so it can hold on while the virus spreads from infected to host. The infected may continue to attack the target host even after the virus has spread to it. Only when the carrier has also become an infected will the original infected cease attacking. It is relentless and seems not to wear down easily, often chasing a target nonstop until the infected catches it. The infection normally attacks animal species, and the reason why humans are not as susceptible is unknown, though it is thought that they may have built a natural immunity to the virus.

Treatments and Cures - The virus has been proven difficult to kill, but the best treatment is exposure to sunlight. If a host becomes a carrier, escaping the infected and finding a place to absorb light is the best way to cure the infection. The best time to do so is midday, as morning and afternoon light will do very little to cure the infection. Naturally, many infecteds hunt at night to almost guarantee effective spreading of the virus. In addition, certain creatures (Quad) may be able to produce their own light source which will kill and cure the infection from carriers. If infected, seek out one of them for the cure.
quadraptor's picture

Is there anything else you

Is there anything else you think needs to be added or explained, or is this good?

Maybe sometime I'll include a section on what inspired me to create the infection. I'll show you an example...

For example, notice the white marks on the pronghorn? In my eyes, I saw this as 'the infection' growing on him, and that was what sparked the idea when I was a kid.

Can the infection be

Can the infection be completely cured or will it leave residual side-effects? If one is exposed and can fight off the infection, can they get it again? Or will the Rock Hounds just leave them alone after that?

Interesting...I might let one

Interesting...I might let one of my deer get infected a little. :]
quadraptor's picture

ForTwoLifetimes - Those are

ForTwoLifetimes - Those are good questions, stuff I forgot to add. To answer your questions...

The infection can be cured, but it will leave the carrier/infected weakened. Their body will feel very sore and often goes into shock, and the afflicted skin will be much more vulnerable to other disease as the infection chews away at the skin layers. It can be regrown after a while, though it may leave a slight bruise or stain under the fur (the skin would probably look more pale than usual).

If someone has been infected before and are cured, they can get it again. They possibly can have stronger resistance to being infected, but that does not guarantee that they won't get it again if exposed. The only way other zombified infecteds will leave them alone is when they've become zombified themself. It's much like how zombies are portrayed in movies, where they continue to come after you until you're one of them.

The Rock Hounds act differently than Iugulare. If Iugulare caught your deer, she would infect them until they were a zombified minion. The Rock Hounds, however, work more on feral instinct and are more interested in killing and eating rather than trying to infect. They may possibly infect their prey to where they are zombified, but it isn't their intention. They have their own motives for killing.

Thank you, Quad. I

Thank you, Quad. I just...infected my doe. Her story is on the Community Events page and I just wondered how she is going to cope with the Infection and what will stay with her. ^^ So thank you again ^^
quadraptor's picture

Haha I just replied to that.

Haha I just replied to that. She'll have those symptoms of shock and weariness but it's only short-term effects, and the discoloration of the skin is optional.

I think I will take the

Mauvable's picture

Oh yes indeed. BUT! Which

Oh yes indeed.

BUT! Which character should I use? Cadaver or Mauv? I want you to pick Quad.
quadraptor's picture

You mean for the "What If?"

You mean for the "What If?" story? I really like Cadaver personally.