Carnagia

A biological weapon created and employed by the Krand, the weapon has been dubbed **Carnagia** by the galactic community of Aeos, coined by Archmage Taevon Insoria. To the Krand who engineered it, Carnagia is simply called *Saarvor*. Utilizing special mycotoxins found in the spores of the fungus *Gakkeri Okor*, the Krand found that this weapon is able to permanently sever the Magickal capabilities of most races and their offspring. While generally reserved for dangerous individuals with Magickal tendencies, the Krand deployed the Carnagia against the Heskra during the final years of the Great War, contributing to its end and the Alliance's victory. While it helped end a bloody and destructive war that cost trillions of lives, Carnagia is reviled by much of the galaxy as a dangerous and unethical weapon. While Magick sterility is the main effect, respiratory issues and shortened lifespans have been observed in cases of extreme exposure to the airborne plague. The Krand defend their use of Carnagia as a tool to be used in defense of their people against threats, and few dare to challenge their use of it. While it is reviled and condemned by the Core Alliance, many other groups have attempted to purchase, steal, or otherwise replicate the Krand's bioweapon with little success.

## History

*"Harkan Felreave held the Core at a knife's edge, and then the Krand came and sucker punched the fucker in the gut. Then they took the knife away."* -Adan'krel Voros regarding the end of the Great War.

The weapon known as Carnagia was largely kept a secret by the Krand, though not by real choice. It had been dispensed in controlled events and targeted at dangerous individuals or small groups that used Magick to threaten their safety or sovereignty. It was only in the waning years of the Great War did the Krand introduce the bioweapon to the greater galaxy, releasing it through *Parhsor* guided missiles and atmospheric satellites over Heskra occupied worlds after the Krand had gained a foothold in Imperial territory. Without the effectiveness of their Magick, the Heskra found withstanding the combined efforts of the Alliance and Krand forces significantly more difficult.

The end of the war was signaled with the fall of the Dark Star Citadel on Faska and the surrender of the remaining Coalition leaders. The final years displayed the brutality of the Carnagia's effects, with many Heskra growing darkened areas around concentrated infections on their bodies, with more severe cases leading to respiratory issues, organ failure, and worse. The once proud and tyrannical people have been reduced to shorter lifespans and complete arcane sterility, with the effects passing onto offspring as well. For this, those that did not contract the disease are heralded as the Heskra's last hope of order and conquest. Efforts to undo the disease have been ultimately futile, with some Heskra even losing their lives as attempts at a cure only worsen the disease's effects.

## Symptoms

Immediately following exposure to the airborne pathogen, victims suffer coughing fits while their mystical abilities wane over a quick period of time, usually in seconds. Arcs of lightning fade into brief sparks, then flashes of light, and finally nothing. Objects become heavier to lift with kinetics. Victims strain to perform even the easiest of spells to manage before their abilities are inevitably lost forever. The short term effect is complete Magickal sterility for both the victim and any children the victim may sire, though the disease is not transferable from person to person.

Over time, small and large pockets of dark blue resembling bruises form on the victim's bodies. When exposed to Mana, these infections burn intensely, discouraging efforts at a cure. When the infections spread inward toward the organs, the individual is doomed to a slow death as the disease shuts down the affected organ. The infections generally, however, do not spread quickly and a mark the size of an apple may only grow a few inches over the course of a decade. Many Heskra have lived full lives with only varying coughing fits while others have had to rely on synthetic lungs and major surgeries to recover, if they even can.