Shadow Plague of Sercadia
Eight years ago, one of the largest and most technologically advanced cities within the Caidanadian Concentration, Sercadia, fell to a mysterious plague of shadow demons. The event marked one of the greatest tragedies and darkest secrets in the Concentration's history. Known only in whispers as the Sercadian Shadow Plague, the outbreak has been shrouded in secrecy, with the Concentration vehemently denying its existence to the outside world.
The Outbreak
Initial Symptoms:
The outbreak began subtly, with reports of citizens experiencing unexplained shadows moving in their periphery, whispers in empty rooms, and feelings of being watched. These occurrences escalated over weeks into violent possessions, bizarre murders, and reports of the dead rising to attack the living.
Spread and Escalation:
- Within months, the shadow entities—dubbed Umbrafiends—overran most of the city.
- Possession: The Umbrafiends could inhabit living hosts, turning ordinary people into deranged killers or stealthy agents of destruction.
- Reanimation: Dead bodies were reanimated, their forms twisted by the shadows, turning the deceased into relentless predators.
- Plague Characteristics:
- The shadow demons seemed to thrive in darkness and could move between shadows effortlessly.
- Light, especially ultraviolet or fire, weakened or repelled them temporarily.
- Hemomantic magic and certain Báuturíí rituals could harm or trap them, though such methods were unreliable and dangerous.
The Fall of Sercadia
Initial Response:
The Caidanadian military mobilized quickly, sending elite forces armed with advanced weaponry and hemomantic-enhanced technology to combat the plague. However, the Umbrafiends adapted rapidly, spreading faster than the Concentration could contain them.
Key Events:
- The Battle of Crown Station: One of the most devastating engagements, where the Concentration’s forces tried to hold Sercadia’s central transport hub. The Umbrafiends overwhelmed them, and the station was lost in less than 24 hours.
- The Grand Quarantine: After nearly a year of fighting, the Concentration retreated, sealing the city off with massive walls and deploying drone patrols to monitor its borders.
Quarantine Measures:
- Walled Perimeter: A 200-foot high, reinforced wall now surrounds Sercadia, with automated turrets and magical wards designed to destroy anything attempting to leave.
- Aerial Exclusion Zone: No aircraft are allowed near the city, with Concentration forces maintaining strict surveillance.
- Digital Erasure: All records of Sercadia’s existence have been scrubbed from Concentration databases.
The Shadow Demons (Umbrafiends)
Nature and Abilities:
The exact origins of the Umbrafiends remain unknown, though theories range from a rift in reality caused by hemomantic experimentation to an ancient curse unleashed by Lumea Sangelui.
- Possession:
- Umbrafiends can inhabit living hosts, amplifying their physical abilities while corrupting their minds.
- Hosts exhibit erratic behavior, superhuman strength, and resistance to pain.
- Reanimation:
- Corpses reanimated by the Umbrafiends are faster and stronger than living hosts, with grotesque, shadow-infused forms.
- These undead creatures do not tire and can persist even when heavily damaged.
- Mobility:
- Umbrafiends can move between shadows almost instantaneously, making them highly unpredictable.
Weaknesses:
- Light: UV light and fire disrupt the Umbrafiends’ connection to the physical plane.
- Hemomantic Magic: Certain spells can trap or harm them, though these methods are difficult to execute and often come at great cost to the caster.
- Isolation: Umbrafiends cannot spread without proximity to new hosts, making containment a viable, though imperfect, solution.
Caidanadian Secrecy and Denial
The Caidanadian Concentration has taken extreme measures to conceal the fall of Sercadia:
- Disinformation Campaigns:
- The Concentration has erased all public records of Sercadia’s existence, claiming the region was never inhabited.
- Fake natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, have been used to explain the quarantine zone to outsiders.
- Strict Internal Policies:
- Speaking of Sercadia or the plague is punishable by imprisonment or exile.
- Survivors of the initial outbreak who managed to escape are monitored closely and often "disappear" under mysterious circumstances.
- Lumea Sangelui’s Role:
- Lumea Sangelui is believed to have provided assistance in the early days of the outbreak, offering hemomantic artifacts and rituals to slow the spread. However, their involvement is another closely guarded secret.
Lingering Threats
Though Sercadia is quarantined, the Umbrafiends remain active within the city, and the plague poses a constant risk.
Potential Breaches:
- Drones monitoring the city have reported mysterious movements near the walls, suggesting that some Umbrafiends may be testing the boundaries.
- Rogue individuals have attempted to breach the quarantine zone, often disappearing entirely or returning as shadow-corrupted husks.
Survivors:
- Rumors persist of small groups of survivors still trapped inside the city, fighting a losing battle against the plague. These survivors, if found, could offer valuable insights into the nature of the Umbrafiends but are considered a low priority by the Concentration.
Theories and Speculations
The true cause of the Sercadian Shadow Plague is unknown, but several theories circulate among those privy to the secret:
- Hemomantic Experiment Gone Wrong:
- Some believe the Concentration was conducting experiments with Báuturíí blood or Máncátír transformations, inadvertently creating a rift that allowed the Umbrafiends to enter.
- Mazhel Influence:
- Others suspect the Mazhel, shadow spirits revered by Lumea Sangelui, may have unleashed the plague as punishment for the Concentration’s interference in their sacred lands.
- Pure Bloodline Corruption:
- A more sinister theory posits that a rogue pure-blood Máncátír triggered the outbreak, either intentionally or accidentally, by losing control of their Consummis Form.
Impact on the Concentration and Lumea Sangelui
Caidanadian Concentration:
- The fall of Sercadia has severely weakened the Concentration’s resources and morale, forcing them to divert military and technological assets to contain the plague.
- Internal dissent is growing, with factions questioning the government’s ability to maintain control or its decision to suppress the truth.
Lumea Sangelui:
- The incident has strained the pact between Lumea Sangelui and the Concentration. Some Báuturíí and Máncátír suspect the Concentration may have attempted to weaponize their abilities, leading to the disaster.
- Conversely, Lumea Sangelui benefits from the Concentration’s weakened state, as their reliance on hemomantic knowledge and artifacts has deepened.
The Future of the Quarantine
As the plague festers within Sercadia, its true nature and ultimate resolution remain uncertain. The Concentration faces mounting pressure to deal with the outbreak decisively, but the cost—both political and existential—may be greater than they can afford. Meanwhile, the shadow of Sercadia looms as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of both nations' secrets.
