The Taint of Skin
She shall come on the third day, in silken robes woven from the bodies of her servants, and with a stern countenance.
An old legend told among the adepts of Mirna–Arcus says that the first acolyte of the Taint of Skin, Lady Charlotte Lharaell, wrote her gospel on the bodies of court favourites vying for her attention. The men showed an almost fanatical devotion, and some of them gave their lives just to help Lady Lharaell immortalise her revelation.
If the testimony of Lady Lharaell’s chronicler is to be believed, the skin of those infected with the Taint begins to grow rapidly, soon forming repulsive, overlapping folds. Layer upon layer covers almost the entire body of the sufferer, until they can barely hide the distortion they have fallen victim to.
Curiously, those infected with the Taint of Skin were also said to cling to one another by instinct and to seek out their companions in misery. Lady Lharaell never explained the reason for this behaviour.
Symptoms
Onset of the Disease
In its early stage, the Taint of Skin shows itself through characteristic changes of the skin: of its colour, texture and elasticity. The first symptoms are not particularly severe, however, so many Savants simply ignore them.
The Savant’s skin loses its colour and becomes unusually smooth and cold to the touch. These changes do not affect the adept’s physical abilities, but once noticed they unsettle bystanders.
Taints
