3.9 KiB
The Skaven carries a rare infection known among miners as Meridian Rot. It is believed to originate from contaminated biological material that was exposed to Black Meridian ore deposits deep in Authority mines.
The disease spreads only through highly concentrated bodily fluids. Casual contact is not enough. Infection requires open wounds and a significant amount of contaminated fluid.
For most races the infection progresses quickly and kills within weeks. Skaven physiology slows its progression significantly. The disease remains in an early dormant stage, allowing the Skaven to survive while still carrying the pathogen.
The Skaven’s long-term motivation is to eventually remove or cure the infection. Until then, the infection changes how his body chemistry behaves.
One side effect is that his saliva becomes chemically unstable. When exposed to air it reacts with oxygen and biological tissue, allowing him to produce reactive venom.
Core Mechanic - Venom Coating
The Skaven can coat his weapon using infected saliva.
Apply Venom
Action: Bonus Action
Target: One weapon currently held
The venom remains active for:
- 3 successful hits
- or 3 rounds, whichever comes first After that the coating breaks down and must be reapplied. Only one weapon may be coated at a time. Applying venom does not cost Ether.
Venom Charges
The Skaven can produce a limited number of coatings before the infection becomes unstable.
Venom Charges:
- Base charges: 2 per combat
- Charges refresh after Short Rest
Using a charge represents producing enough infected saliva to coat a weapon.
Infection Stage System
The plague slowly evolves over time. It has four stages, each unlocking stronger venom effects. The Skaven begins at Stage I (Dormant Carrier). Progression is narrative and tied to the campaign.
Stage I - Dormant
The infection exists but is mostly suppressed by Skaven biology.
When a venom-coated weapon hits:
- Apply Rot Poison to the target for 2 rounds Rot Poison:
- Target takes 1 damage at the start of its turn
- Target suffers -1 Posture Regain
Stage II - Reactive
The pathogen adapts to the host. The saliva becomes more chemically aggressive.
Venom Charges increase:
- 3 charges per combat
Rot Poison becomes stronger:
- 2 damage per round
- -1 Posture Regain
- Target suffers -1 Constitution checks
Stage III - Symbiotic
The infection begins feeding off the host’s bloodstream. At this stage the Skaven can control venom more precisely.
Venom Charges:
- 3 per combat
Venom coating lasts:
- 4 hits instead of 3
Rot Poison now applies:
- 2 damage per round
- -1 Posture Regain
- -1 Dodge Throw
- Target suffers **-1 Constitution checks
The infection interferes with reflexes.
Stage IV - Mutated
The plague has adapted almost completely to the Skaven. Removing it becomes extremely difficult.
Venom Charges:
- 4 per combat
Rot Poison becomes Mutated Rot:
- 3 damage per round
- -2 Posture Regain
- -1 Dodge Throw
- Target suffers **-1 Constitution checks
- If the target becomes Staggered, poison damage doubles for that round.
Infection Risk
Because the venom comes from a living infection, it can theoretically spread. However transmission requires:
- Open wound
- Repeated exposure
- Large quantity of infected fluid
In combat this rarely happens. DMs may choose to apply infection if:
- The Skaven deliberately infects someone
- Someone consumes the venom
- A character is exposed repeatedly
For most encounters it remains a combat toxin rather than a contagious disease.
Biological Strain
Producing venom repeatedly irritates the infection. If the Skaven uses all venom charges in one encounter, he suffers:
- -1 to Constitution checks until the end of combat due to inflammation around infected tissue.