Radiation

In the setting of Evarencia, certain variants of the world's primary energy source, aether, can give off properties that are considered **Radioactive**. Green Aether, Silver Aether, and Violet Aether all can exhibit **radioactivity**, especially when burned. The perpetually burning flames are known as banefire and are highly radioactive. The **Irradiated** condition homebrewed specifically for *WovenRealm* represents the effects of this radiation on characters. As a condition, radiation starts with minor penalties that grow worse and can lead to death if left untreated.

Radiation was introduced early in the saga of *WovenRealm,* first seen when the Emerald Caravan delved into the ruins of the Severed Hand during the events of Season 1.

## Overview

Aether, a strange almost magical or alchemical substance found in wells deep in the earth comes in many varieties. One of its more notorious kinds is Green Aether, a strange, sludgy aether that is well known for having mutagenic properties when interacted with by folk. It is also well known for having a strong and persistent energy potential and getting green aether to burn is difficult.

Banefire is greenish and orange in color and may adopt blues as well. The flames of banefire do not go out no matter if doused in water, covered, or blown on. Banefire burns for a very long time and long term or heavy exposure to the element can have detrimental effects on the health of folk. Banefire can be incredibly insidious in that it flare off of even green aether to release small doses of banefire into the environment.

Exposure to banefire can cause burns, similar to ones from being in the sun too long, nausea, violent illness, banefire sickness, death, and in some extreme cases, mutation. These effects are still poorly understood by scholars as banefire is a rather new discovery. Long term exposure to banefire can cause wide array of health problems and diseases. Banefire and green aether's glow are often likened to Cherenkov radiation.

## Game Mechanics

Exposure to banefire and other radioactive sources causes characters to have to make saves against it. When affected by radiation, each 'dose' applies 1d6 radiation stacks that build up over time with continued exposure. Effects start as innocuous mutations such as a changed hair color or strange glow. It also effects a character's total HP score.

A character heals 1 point of radiation damage after after a period of long rest where they regain all of their recoveries. Radiation can be healed with powerful restorative magic. Effects of radiation are removed once the total RAD score is below the threshold.

*Radiation* and *Drained* HP decreases stack. To determine how much to subtract from a character's HP total, a player simply adds together their Radiation score and Drained score and subtracts that total from their total HP.

### HP Effect

A character's maximum hit points are reduced by the number of radiation stacks a character has.

### Building Radiation

A character will suffer the effects of radiation when their RAD score reaches certain thresholds.

**At RAD 6** - You gain 1 minor mutation. A minor mutation is something innocuous the player chooses such as a character's eye color changes, they begin to glow, or they sport a constant sunburn.

**At RAD 12** - Your character’s skin burns and blisters. You are feeling a bit light headed but can power on. You suffer a -4 penalty to attacks.

**At RAD 18** - Your character grows nauseous and your head spins even more. You have -4 to defenses.

**At RAD 24** - Your exposure causes you take on a major mutation. This is when the mutations start to resemble something more detrimental and form altering than the minor mutation.

**At RAD 30** - You are left Vulnerable due to your illness.

**At RAD 36 + CON mod -** Your exposure to radiation is too much for your body to bear and you die.