Mystical Plague: Difference between revisions

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Perhaps a necromancer is summoning dark magic to bring about the [[Zombie Apocalypse]], worshippers of the God of Disease call upon their master to bring vengeance upon their enemies, or a shaman uses a forbidden curse in the vain hopes that it keeps his people from being wiped out. Whatever the reasons behind it, the use of disease-based magic is nearly always seen as an evil act for the sheer amount of suffering it can bring about.

~~[[Mystical Plague|~~Mystical Plagues]] need not be limited to just attacking the physical being of those who contract it, and thus are not limited to the standard vectors of transmission of common illnesses. A curse may be designed to infect the spiritual essence of a creature, or even to only [[Mage Killer|infect other magic users]] as they cast spells of their own. While this versatility may seem to make a magically created plague more reliable than other types, it is still not uncommon for the caster who created it to [[Hoist by His Own Petard|be killed as well]], either directly by being infected themselves, or in the aftermath that the disease's spread causes.

'''Mystical Plagues''' need not be limited to just attacking the physical being of those who contract it, and thus are not limited to the standard vectors of transmission of common illnesses. A curse may be designed to infect the spiritual essence of a creature, or even to only [[Mage Killer|infect other magic users]] as they cast spells of their own. While this versatility may seem to make a magically created plague more reliable than other types, it is still not uncommon for the caster who created it to [[Hoist by His Own Petard|be killed as well]], either directly by being infected themselves, or in the aftermath that the disease's spread causes.

A subtrope of [[The Plague]]. Compare [[Synthetic Plague]], [[The Virus]], and [[Depopulation Bomb]]. Can overlap with [[Fisher King]], in cases where the [[Mystical Plague]] is caused by the actions of a kingdom's ruler.

A subtrope of [[The Plague]]. Compare [[Synthetic Plague]], [[The Virus]], and [[Depopulation Bomb]]. Can overlap with [[Fisher King]], in cases where the '''Mystical Plague''' is caused by the actions of a kingdom's ruler.

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== Tabletop Games ==

* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''

** The Judges Guild adventure "Verbosh" had a new spell called "Plague" which causes 20-70% of the population in a 1 mile square area to be incapacitated for ~~1-4~~ weeks as well as killing many of them.

** The Judges Guild adventure "Verbosh" had a new spell called "Plague" which causes 20-70% of the population in a 1 mile square area to be incapacitated for 1–4 weeks as well as killing many of them.

** The 2E supplement ''Tome of Magic''. The 7th level priest spell Breath of Death (reversed Breath of Life) affects an entire community. Anyone who fails a saving throw vs. death magic is infected with a disease that is fatal in ~~1-6~~ weeks.

** The 2E supplement ''Tome of Magic''. The 7th level priest spell Breath of Death (reversed Breath of Life) affects an entire community. Anyone who fails a saving throw vs. death magic is infected with a disease that is fatal in 1–6 weeks.

** [[Forgotten Realms]] has a lot of canon examples. It "helps" that the place got followers of Talona - Goddess of Plague and Poison. Calimshan/Shoon Empire alone had several (not counting seemingly normal diseases):

**# c.-4,900 - The Warriors' Plague: berserk rages and battle madness in afflicted, spread by blood contact; death toll 40% of populace, mostly among military forces.

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**# 75 - The Fog Fever: clinging night fogs lead to raging fevers and delusions if breathed in; those who die of this fever exhale their last breaths as identical fog; 31% in Calimport.

**# 320 - The Infernal Death: mild fever and mania, noticeable heightened color in hair, eyes, and skin. Most assumed it was "healthy color" and that victims were in best of health - until sudden collapse and death; bodies combust upon death; 9%, in Calimport 4%, as it was contained, but also 6% in that area died of ensuing fires.

**# 755 - Crimson Death: magical curse/plague that effectively bleeds victims to death ''and transforms them into crimson deaths''<ref>humanoid blood-draining mist, not considered undead</ref>, which immediately seek to replace all blood lost; 41% total area's people.

**# 755 - Crimson Death: magical curse/plague that effectively bleeds victims to death ''and transforms them into crimson deaths'',<ref>humanoid blood-draining mist, not considered undead</ref> which immediately seek to replace all blood lost; 41% total area's people.

*** 1370 - "Burning Plague" in Almraiven, with mists causing people to sponaneously combust; though it's not clear whether it truly propagated like a plague.

* ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'': Nurgle mages get these kinds of spells, as do the Skaven.

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** To clarify; not 90% of Creation's people. 90% of ''everything''. Plants, animals, spirits, gods... anything that could basically constitute "alive" in Creation was fair game. On top of that, the disease was so infectious that ''mystically observing it'' was capable of contracting it.

* One rise scenario from zombie game ''All Flesh Must Be Eaten'' has the PHADE virus, which is the zombie plague... as an STD. The whole thing started when a guy was so bereaved about the loss of his girlfriend, he used necromancy to bring her back for [[I Love the Dead|one last fling]]. And then he decided he wasn't that into her, and slept with someone else, and it just spread from there.

* ''[[Ars Magica]]''. The spell "Curse of the Unportended Plague" starts a plague in a city over a period of ~~6-12~~ months. It will kill 10% of the city's population over a period of a few months.

* ''[[Ars Magica]]''. The spell "Curse of the Unportended Plague" starts a plague in a city over a period of 6–12 months. It will kill 10% of the city's population over a period of a few months.