Wendigo Psychosis

## Description:

Wendigo Psychosis is the term used to describe a peculiar phenomenon observed by individuals and groups that move or spend time in Westerland; the end result of this slow and gradual degradation is ever-increasing cannibalistic behavior, leading to total mutation of the victim and the loss of their personality. It is believed that Wendigo Psychosis is caused by brain parasites known to live and feed off of Aether that occurs within the bloodstreams of certain Westerland fauna species; when consumed, these parasites infest the human host and drive them to seek out additional sources of Aether to eat and absorb, often culminating in cannibalism.

Wendigo Psychosis was first observed by The Louis and Stark Expedition. During their cross-continental journey through Westerland, the expedition became bogged down by wintry weather high in the [MOUNTAINS] and were forced to take refuge among the valleys and peaks. Despite having enough food to eat, some of the men on the expedition grew increasingly demanding regarding the consistency of hunting trips and the consumption of fresh meat as opposed to the dried rations they had brought with them; this addiction to fresh meat intensified until those afflicted men were caught attempting to eat Louis Fairweather's hand while he slept, using the cold of the outside world to numb his wrist before chopping it off with a hunting knife. The men were found to have slaughtered 2 other members of the expedition before 1 of the perpetrators was killed and the other ran off. Believing the other man to surely have died of the cold, the expedition thought little of him until, weeks later, the campsite was harassed by a mutated, barely humanoid abomination wearing the exiled member's tattered clothes. The expedition slew this mutant and sought advice from local [NATIVES], who explained the phenomenon of the "Wendigo."

Wendigo Psychosis as a phenomenon had been a known fact of life for the [NATIVES] of Westerland for thousands of years; almost all tribes encountered explained that Wendigo were evil, hostile, and demonic creatures without humanity. Their first encounter with the illness predates written records and is unknown.

### Structure:

While it is true than an individual suffering from Wendigo Psychosis is referred to as a "Wendigo," the real Wendigos are the microbes which infest the victim. Wendigo Psychosis is caused firstly by infection with otherworldly Aetheric microbes which creates the prions that induces the psychological and behavioral symptoms associated with Wendigo Psychosis; the mutations and physical changes occur as a result of infestation by these Wendigo microbes and the obsessive consumption of Aether.

#### Signs & Symptoms:

Wendigo Psychosis is contracted in only 1 way: eating infected flesh. The Wendigo microbes which cause this degenerative disease infest Aetheric meat, predominantly the flesh of Dragons and creatures native to Westerland. As such, Wendigo Psychosis is not conventionally infectious and spreads very rarely; entire States of the Westerland Free Territories report only single-digit cases yearly. The earliest stages of the infection become noticeable only 12 to 24 hours after initial consumption of infected meat; the time to reach the final stages of the disease can range from several weeks to several months. Wendigo Psychosis is also known to affect animals and even Dragons, driving them to kill and eat members of their own species or family units without hesitation.

Wendigo Psychosis's physical symptoms occur primarily internally, as the host's brain and nervous system is infested with microbes and the prions they produce. The only early-onset physical change in the host's body, besides the infestation of the brain and nervous system, is the slight alteration to hosts' stomach acid chemistry and an enhancement of the kidneys and liver to allow the host to metabolize Aetheric substances more efficiently. Only once the person's mind and brain has fallen to the microbes' control does their over-consumption of Aetheric blood and meat begin to induce more drastic physical changes. These changes include an elongation of the limbs and skull, sharpening of the teeth (either caused by the host or a mutation), elongating of the nails, and increased speed, strength, and reflexes; these mutations twist the host into a mimicry of the human shape, appearing obviously monstrous to anyone who sees them; their bodies are reinforced and amplified by the Aether coursing through it, making them supernaturally durable, highly regenerative, and difficult or outright impossible to kill permanently without access to the right tools.

Wendigo Psychosis, as evidenced by its name, is primarily psychological in nature. The mental changes occur rapidly in a host, as the microbes spread through their brain and nervous system via the blood and skeletal tissue. The host exhibits symptoms akin to mania, rapid mood swings, vocal tics, over-eating or under-eating, disgust at normal or well-cooked foods and vegetables, inability to sleep, feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and schizoid tendencies with social avoidance patterns of behavior. After a few days, the person's addiction to Aetheric meat drives them to seek it out on their own; they will experience hallucinations, strange dreams, heightened aggression instincts, and a gradual loss of "civilized" manners in favor of animalistic behavior, like eating only with one's hands, disregarding most personal hygiene, etc. Eventually, hosts' cravings drive them to eat as much raw meat as they can get their hands on, turning to cannibalism as a source of Aether; these later stages are marked by bouts of rage and great violence, loss of empathy and an overriding of human instincts in favor of satiating the addiction. Wendigos that are detained for extended periods of time will scream uncontrollably for hours at a time, claw at themselves, maim or disfigure themselves, etc.; many have also testified that their withdrawal symptoms feel like their entire body, inside and out, is being peeled and burned and shredded away from the bones, which also feel as if they are being scraped and torn apart. Some Wendigo lose the ability to speak normal languages altogether or lose the ability to read and write; however, muscle-memory remains, allowing Wendigo to retain knowledge of technology, tools, and even weaponry they relied on prior to infection. But once they are within reach of their prized Aetheric flesh, all humanity drains from them once more, and they descend into animalistic frenzy.