Soul Blight

The soul blight is a curse upon every mortal in the Halcyon Domain, inflicted when the Veiled Gods sundered the cycle of the soul during The Apostasy. This mark ensures that upon death, every person will rise again as a corrupted revenant bent on destroying everything they loved in their former life.

The Curse

The soul blight is not a disease that can be cured or a condition that can be avoided. It is a fundamental corruption of the natural order, a consequence of the gods' wrath and abandonment. Every child born since the Apostasy carries this mark, as did their parents, and their parents before them.

When a blighted mortal dies:

1. They rise again as a corrupted undead creature—a shambling zombie driven by hatred
2. This revenant seeks out and attempts to kill everyone they cared for in life
3. If their risen body is destroyed, their soul does not find rest
4. Instead, their corrupted spirit withdraws into The Umbra, seeking others to haunt and corrupt
5. These lost souls may merge with creatures, creating ever more powerful Umbra-Touched monstrosities

Living with the Blight

The Age of Umbra/01 Setting/Key Concepts/The Enduring have developed various traditions and practices around the soul blight:

• Mercy protocols: Many communities have designated individuals who will end a person's life and destroy their risen form quickly, before they can harm loved ones
• Final rites: Rituals performed before death to try to ease the transition and potentially weaken the revenant's connection to its former life
• Separation: Some choose to exile themselves from their communities when death approaches, dying alone in the wilds so their risen form cannot find those they love
• Sacred Pyres: Sacred Pyres can keep revenants at bay, making them essential for protecting settlements

Whispers of Hope

Despite the universality of the curse, whispers speak of remnants of divine power lingering within lost shrines and holy sites that might be able to rebuke the soul blight. Some say there are fanes and sanctums where the corruption can be cleansed, or even where those touched by the blight can find redemption. Whether these rumors are true or merely desperate hope, many of the Enduring dedicate their lives to finding out.

Game Mechanic

If a humanoid NPC or any PC dies, the GM can spend a Fear to immediately raise them as a Shambling Zombie—or 2 Fear to raise them as a Brawny Zombie—who tirelessly seeks to kill everyone they once cared for. Once their zombie form has been destroyed, the victim's blighted soul withdraws and joins the Umbra. Their features can appear on future Umbra-Touched adversaries.