1.4 KiB
The term Scourged describes all creatures tainted by an otherworldly corruption—beasts of unnatural form, twisted undead, and entities of darkness that defy the natural order. They are forces of chaos and danger and cannot be truly understood by natural laws—only fought, hunted, and resisted.
A specialized order of fighters known as Hunters are often sent to combat these creatures, equipped with rare weapons such as pistols and silver-coated rapiers. While anyone can fight a Scourged creature, only Hunters possess the unique skills to track them and combat them without being affected. Others often succumb to the very corruption they face—madness, disfigurement, or a slow descent into becoming one of the tainted themselves.
The persistence and unpredictability of the Scourged make them a constant hazard. Rural settlements, trade routes, and the outer fringes of cities are most at risk, as they often stalk the shadows of forests, ruins, and other untamed areas. When an area is overtaken by Scourged, the land often rots and the waters become poisoned. Only their removal will allow the area to heal.
The true nature of the Scourged remains shrouded in mystery. Legends speak of dark rituals and ancient curses, fragments of knowledge that hint their existence is not an accident of fate, but a consequence of something far more deliberate—and far more dangerous.