View source for Fiendish Taint

Fiendish taint, also known as [[demon]] taint, and any other number of names refers to the effect on the world that exposure to the otherworldly has.  The world-bending, law-defying powers that these creatures wield so easily can have adverse effects upon all that come into contact with them.  Usually, demons, ghosts, and any number of unnatral creatures are only on the Material plane for a relatively brief amount of time and thus, do not leave a lasting footprint upon the world.  It is when particularly powerful, numerous, or just plain vile creatures not of this world remain for extended periods of time, or actually focus upon spreading taint, that it becomes a problem.  The taint can manifest itself in many ways, but in particular, it is often the flora that is first affected.  Frequent reports attribute some of the following characteristics as common in plantlife exposed to fiendish life.

* Unusual plant growth
* Plants exhibiting movement
* Foul odors coming from certain plants
* Fruits that bear the shape of living creatures, and which may indeed, spawn creatures.

In fact, most effects involve the plants gaining properties that are more similar to those of animals in one way or another than plants.  However, effects can and will vary.  Demons and their kind are unnatural by nature, and they will naturally defy categorization, as will their abilities and their effects on natural life.

In addition to the effect on plants, animals will become affected as the taint grows power powerful and spreads.  Initially, animals may attempt to leave the immediate area.  Those that don't leave, will generally become more belligerent, grow larger, and perhaps become smarter.  It is also not uncommon for those animals that die in tainted areas to come back as undead.

In the final stages of a fiendish infection upon the land, the demonic ecosystem will attempt to wrest full control of the land.  Full-fledged demons will attempt to occupy the land, humans may become possessed, or may experience hallucination, or mental illness.  Reality will bend, and spaces may shrink, or grow.  At the very last parts of an infection, many lands that are too far gone will suddenly disappear, never to be seen again.

These reasons are why [[demon hunters]] and [[exorcists]] tend to be fastidious in destroying demons, and cleaning areas that they have done battle in.  Even a few hours of a demon's body sitting on the ground might cause a small amount of taint that has the chance to spread, if its quasi-biological filth is introduced into the plant or animal life of an area, and likewise, exposure to a demon's blood can cause all manners of horrid, contagious diseases.

[[Category: Creatures_&_Monsters]]