The Plague

**The Plague**, or **The Infection**, is a type of nanite-based swarm intelligence capable of assimilating other organisms and technology.

## Origin and History

The Plague's origin is left unspecified in *McCreary's Planet*, though unchained SEEDships are mentioned as a possible source.

The Endless Emperor performed some operation ("the Emperor's Blessing") to limit the plague's ability to spread, making it more dependent on biological hosts. Fenrir and Plague Lords can overcome this limitation.

## Strain 112

Plague Strain 112, originating in the Solarius sector of the Empire, is the strain present on McCreary's Planet. It is notable for its specialized techniques against Ascended, such as cohesion-damaging static.

(Note: the text of the game inconsistently refers to "Strain 112" and "Strain 111." "Strain 112" was the first reference to the specific strain plaguing McCreary's Planet, and is the name the Plague emissary used for itself, so is being used here.)

## Fenrirs and Plague Lords

**Fenrirs** and **Plague Lords** are powerful incarnations of the Plague. Fenrirs are massive Plague structures able to consume the mass of entire planets. Plague Lords are humanoid forms of the Plague, capable of wielding dust and willpower. Planets usually completely fall to the Plague a few weeks after a Plague Lord emerges. Both forms can rise inevitably on a Plague world, but if the Plague assimilates an Ascended's corpse, an especially powerful Plague Lord can rise in a matter of months. Because of this, it is standard practice for the Empire to destroy Ascended corpses or keep them sealed away as relics.

Recommended 'treatment' for a Fenrir is an assault by a "full naval fleet" of the Empyreal Navy. A squad of trained Ascended is recommended to deal with Plague Lords.

Phoebe obtained the following information from research on the Empyreal Network:

> A Fenrir is a massive plague construction. So large, that it can eclipse the sun for a helpless planet. It is a beast that devours all life it can find within a system, adding to its mass. Ships. Soldiers. Marines. Anything and everything is absorbed and integrated. The largest Fenrir recorded was approximately [~6 × 10^25 kg] in mass, the size of a planet. It destroyed noble fleets and ripped worlds apart. It took many, many fleets working together to destroy this monstrosity. Thousands of ships were ruined. Millions of Empyreal Navy-men and Privateers died. Even the Nobility leading the attack were so grievously wounded that they did not survive the return home. The star that the battle took place in had to be detonated with Noble Technology, so great was the Fenrir.
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> Fortunately, most Fenrirs do not possess much in the way of intelligence or long term planning. However, this one was special. Based upon historical and prescience data, it was determined that this Fenrir grew around an Ascended Plague Lord. Plague Lords spontaneously arise when the Plague evolves. It eventually takes on a human-esque form, gaining willpower and further intelligence. Usually, these can be defeated with overwhelming firepower, just as any Ascended can be defeated.
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> However, should an Ascended, live or dead, fall prey to the Plague, and be taken back to the Place Of Origin, the Plague will undergo a rapid mutation. A Plague Lord, usually something taking many, many thousands of years to form, will nearly spontaneously appear. The Data stored within an Ascended will be used to modify the Plague. Willpower is based on the amount of certain nano-cells within the body -- however, the Plague will create these cells at a rapid rate. It will no longer bound by the restrictions placed upon the Plague by the Endless Emperor/Empress. It will be an unfettered demon, capable of devouring worlds -- reshaping them with Willpower. It is recommended by all involved that during battle with the Plague, that all Ascended corpses should be treated as relics or destroyed.
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