Cube of Rot

*by the Temples of Naos*

As a legendary artifact, the Cube of Rot is used in many tales as the symbol and reminder of the failure of societies. The tales tell of the downfall of entire ancient nations not particularly due to the Cube of Rot, but certainly initiated by it.

### Description

With an awareness of its own, the Cube of Rot decided what face it would show the observer. There was no way for one particular observer to ever see a different face of the cube, even if the person holding the cube would turn it. Once assigned a face by the awareness of the Cube of Rot, an observer would never get to see any other face of it, and would therefore have to rely on other observers whose words they could trust.

### Powers

It is written that the Cube of Rot caused an illness that was undefined and had no parallel to any other known sickness, but the symptoms described a slow decay of muscle tissue and various glands. Many of those afflicted would feel as if they were rotting from the inside, though the details in symptoms varied greatly.

### Six Faces of the Cube

The first face of the Cube of Rot was known to be pale like a winter sky, a soft blue, and when looked at, one would feel a cold ignorance. People who described seeing this particular face would never feel any different, never show any symptoms, and were not affected by the cube in any way at all.

The second face of the Cube of Rot was said to also be pale, yet green in hue. Those who observed this face of the cube would not feel any different, even remain as efficient in their daily routine as they had ever been, yet healers and researchers would find scars on inner tissue, and their bones and nails would, even years later, show signs of a mineral deficit. Most of the people to ever be in possession of the Cube of Rot happened to see the second face of it, but since they never noticed any harm, they were careless with the artifact and often proudly showed it around.

The third face of the Cube of Rot was pale in color as well, pastel, violet in hue, and those who observed it would not feel an issue right away. However, over the years, their lives were permanently affected by weaker muscles, lack of concentration, lack of motivation, depressive thoughts, lower endurance and stamina, and many other lasting symptoms.

The fourth face of the Cube of Rot was yellow, as fresh as a lemon. After looking at this face, individuals noted but a few days later discomfort, pain, panic. Symptoms ranged from limbs refusing to move, paralysis, chest pains, aching bones, head, and eyes. Furthermore, they would end up with long term side effects as listed for the third face of the cube, yet they would never go through the initial struggles again.

The fifth face of the Cube of Rot was red in color, strong, crimson and heavy. It was not much unlike the fourth face of the cube, with the difference that the symptoms were stronger. Not only did the victims struggle with the long-term effects of the cube, but they would repeatedly find themselves bed-ridden with the same suffering over and over again, several times a year, for the rest of their lives.

The sixth face of the Cube of Rot was entirely black, empty and yet so overwhelming. The symptoms were insufferable, much like torture, and those who were not driven to suicide by the pain would eventually succumb to organ failure.

### Origins

During ancient times in which the island continent Inun flourished, ruled by humans, a mad duke stole the Cube of Rot from the kingdom’s artifact chamber and showcased it in public, locked behind bars only moveable by himself. The people swarmed to the place, wanting to see one of these rare and mysterious artifacts.

The king of Inun, who heard of the crime of the mad duke, warned the people of the dangers of the cube, and he set up rules, enforced laws to protect his people, and sent his generals to find and imprison the mad duke.

The folks who had never shown any of the alleged symptoms after looking at the Cube of Rot soon called the threat a hoax, and they accused their king of lies to control and manipulate his people. The ones with few symptoms or even none that ever bothered them said that the danger was not as grave as the king had told. They claimed to see through the intrigues of the king to get rid of the duke, abusing an opportunity of fate.

Mistrust was sown through the land quickly, and barely anyone was willing to follow protocol of safety. More and more swarmed to the Cube of Rot to see what all the ruckus was about. Those with immediate symptoms claimed that the kingdom’s rules and laws were useless, that the king was unable to protect his people.

And then, lastly, those with recurring symptoms, suffering over and over again, said the cube was made by the king itself, was planted; perhaps the mad duke had even been helping with the intrigues all along. These ill people feared the king was using the Cube of Rot to cull the lands of those who did not blindly follow him.

Every death added to the despair, mistrust, and hatred.

In the end, the humans fought one another. Their accusations were so heavy they sank the entire island continent of Inun, for it to forever be lost to the depths of the oceans. Their society and empire fell not to the Cube of Rot itself, but to the very nature of the human species: madness.