Turned

* Stage 1
* Stage 2
* Stage 3

"*They're not dead. **Far from it**. The virus drives them **insane**. So insane their brain has been turned to mush. They act on their basic instinct...*"
—Part of a broadcast explaining the nature of the Turned[src]
The **Infected**, better known among the general populace as the **Turned**,are humans and sometimes other animals that have been infected with the Langdom Bioweapon, a genetically engineered WMD primarily derived from common rabies. The resulting creatures are highly aggressive and will attack any uninfected human on sight. In just eighteen months, the Turned spread all around the world, threatening the existence of humankind and giving rise to new subtypes due to the bioweapon's capacity for mutation. Aside from the hostile survivors, they are the main antagonists of the *Langdomverse*.

## Overview

The Turned are the result of the release of a genetically engineered Weapon of Mass Destruction known as the Langdom Bioweapon, but more commonly known as dollar rabies or the cotton plague. The virus is derived from common rabies, the same type that affects bats and dogs, only it has been designed to incubate much more rapidly, inducing the common symptoms of aggression from as little as ten seconds to several hours, depending on the strength of the infected person's immune system.

The virus has a devastating effect on the brain as it grows directly in brain cells, causing inflammation of the brain and, unlike regular rabies, triggering rapid growth of brain tumours that quickly erases the infected person's memories and drives them completely insane. This modifies their brain to follow only their most basic animal instincts, which include spreading the virus, the consumption of flesh, and procreation. The tumours in the brain stimulate extensive tumour growth all over the skin of the infected person, and these tumours release toxic "spores" that carry the virus into the air when they are burst.

Public reaction to the Turned has been catastrophic. As the vicious virus has taken hold of the majority of the population, the pandemic causes the total breakdown and destruction of society through widespread violence; the failure of martial law to contain the outbreak, the military's increasingly violent efforts to censor information, and the near-extinction of humankind.

## Biology

### Infection

For humans that have been exposed to dollar rabies, the virus attacks the brain and begins to alter the behaviour of its host. However, some have had resistance to the infection, specifically Cassie Levitt, who despite being bitten hasn't turned. The infection spreads directly through contact with a Turned or via their corpse - that is, bodily fluids such as blood or saliva or the toxic "spores" that carry the virus and which form in the tumours that grow on the skin. These tumours constantly produce the virus, wrapping them in a droplet "sac" that is airborne over short distances when the tumours are burst.

In order for the virus to infect a host body, the host must first be alive. Dead victims who come into contact with the infection do not undergo the transformation. According to a pamphlet released by the Federal Rescue Force, the victim can only become infected by directly coming into contact with a Turned's bodily fluids, usually from a bite but sometimes through contact with blood or by inhaling the viral spores released from the skin tumours when they are broken.

Ordinary rabies is only spread through direct contact with saliva or nervous tissue of an infected subject, but dollar rabies has been genetically altered to be airborne, but only over short distances.

### Turning

While the turning process has never been seen close-up in a controlled environment, it has been witnessed numerous times by survivors in the open. When the virus reaches critical mass in the brain, all forms of reasoning or higher function are completely destroyed, and the infected is reduced to a shell of a human that acts only on primitive animal instincts. They no longer recognise their loved ones and attack anything in sight, sometimes even other Turned.

The time between initial infection and "turning" varies from person to person. It takes on average several minutes for the virus to reach critical mass in the brain, but it may largely depend on the strength of a person's immune system; in some, the process happens within a few seconds, with the shortest being around fifteen seconds, while in others it takes several hours, even up to 12 hours. Age also appears to be a deciding factor; the elderly Dorothy Wright turned within a few seconds, while the younger Sara Levitt succumbed around 12 hours after being bitten. The virus also appears to affect those who have had the rabies vaccine, although it appears to act slower in those who have had the rabies vaccine, such as Sara herself.

### Behaviour

Upon becoming a Turned, the victim loses any ability to think freely and begins to behave irrationally as the virus spreads in the brain. Relying on warped instincts, the Turned will attempt to attack and/or eat any human they find. They lapse into their primitive, animalistic instincts, attacking anyone or anything that disturbs them, sometimes even other Turned. These animalistic instincts also have an effect on the Turned's method of locomotion, as shown when they sometimes run on all fours when chasing potential prey. When stood still, the Turned undergo painful, whole-body spasms that eventually weaken their body to the point that they can no longer run at such speeds, exacerbated by the tumours that grow over their skin, including in the joints. They almost permanently froth at the mouth due to difficulties swallowing and severe hydrophobia.

The Turned are incredibly sensitive to light and sound; these two factors can be used to both attract them or repel them. The Turned also demonstrate heightened senses as a side effect, and they are able to track prey based on scent and sound.

The Turned appear to have increased endurance, able to take multiple gunshots or stabbings before finally going down. It is unlikely that the virus actually increases their endurance, and instead the Turned are unable to feel pain and are not repelled by physical trauma.

### Botched

> *Main Article: Botched*
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"Botched" is the term used for the offspring of the Turned. One of the few instincts remaining in the Turned is their need to procreate, which they do after establishing their nests. The product of this is the Botched, an evolved form of the Turned whose DNA have been heavily modified by the inherited Dollar Rabies. From the moment of birth, the Botched grow at an alarming rate, reaching adulthood within a matter of months, and possess heightened strength and endurance compared to regular Turned.

## Stages of Infection

From the moment of infection, the Turned begin to change physically and mentally. Dollar rabies quickly induces extreme insanity that causes the Turned to act only on their most basic animal instincts. They change physically due to the tumour growth induced by the virus, which deforms their bodies by erupting through the skin and growing on bones and joints.

The following listed Turned are those that go through the standard stages of infection. As of the winter of 2019, only three standard types have been encountered.

### Unique Cases

In some cases, environmental changes have led to the creation of unique Turned that are offshoots of the main types already seen in the series. These special types are rare but may become more widespread in the future.

### Botched

The Botched are a unique subtype of Turned that are born from those infected by the Langdom Bioweapon. The bioweapon is genetically included in the genome of the Botched, and they are generally considered as "Born Turned". Botched are extremely aggressive, intelligent and territorial, possessing enhanced strength, speed and agility.

### Demons

Demons are rare creatures born of Botched queens. Considered the pinnacle of Turned evolution, only one demon has been shown to exist.

## Characters That Turned

### Season 1

* Dorothy Wright
* Walter Witt
* Karen Witt
* Zach Walt
* Marsha Ericson
* Sara Levitt
* Approximately 4500 residents

### Season 2

* Peter Reid
* Randall
* Philip

## Trivia

* Aside from "Turned", the infected are also known as, among others, "**hungries**" and "**crazies**".