Virmen

Virmen, also called the Stricken or Infestati, are hideous, rat-like monsters. They originate from an ancient plague, often considered a form of curse, that can afflict Men and Dwarves (Elves are unaffected). The process is slow, painful, and revolting, and the victims nearly always go mad, becoming violent and spreading their terrible disease.

Names

Both the plague itself and its victims have many names. Perhaps most common name for the infected is "virmen," though the Venatori use this word only to refer to the final stage of the victim's transformation. In the Achaean Empire, the diseased are also called Infestati (singular Infestatus), and in many regions, "the Stricken." These names can refer to the infected in any stage of the illness. However, ultimately, they will become creatures not unlike horrible humanoid rats, and it is for this reason that some refer to virmen colloquially as "wererats," despite them having no known connections with, or even similarities to, werewolves.

Disease

The Virmen plague is one of the foulest illnesses to ever curse Midgard. How victims are infected is not well known, but it is speculated to be spread through bad air, especially the air of sewers. For this reason, practitioners of elemental medicine believe it to be related to the Earth humor, curable by exposure to purified air. Some also believe it is related to water and can be spread through contact with fluids of the infected, including blood and saliva. Food and drink can also become infected by the cursed disease.

Stages & Appearance

The initial signs of infection include sores and scabs on the flesh, discolored skin, and bloodshot eyes. Some Venatori believe victims become more sensitive to light, sound, and smells. Some also mention victims starting to emit a terrible body odor, described variably as decaying flesh, filth, and general rot.

As the infection continues, the victim will experience more profound physical changes. Their limbs will grow longer, wiry but powerful muscle will develop, and teeth and nails will become longer and thicker. The individual's features steadily become more bestial and hideous. Patches of flesh have been observed to slough away, leaving behind mangy, thin, and stiff fur of various ugly colorations. Eventually, after much pain and suffering, the victim loses their humanity and becomes a monster.

The final form is what is referred to properly as a true Virmen. They are always taller than a man and very lanky, with a rat-like head, tail, and feet. Their eyes grow pale and sensitive to light, shining red when illuminated. At this point, any semblance of sanity that the infected may have managed to retain throughout the illness typically disappears, leaving them little more than mad beasts.

Behavior & Nature

Virmen nearly always lose their minds over the course of their illness, driven to bestial insanity. Many go mad before the illness has fully turned them into their most monstrous form, but nearly all are lost by the end. They become simpleminded, consumed by hunger, a compulsion to steal and collect shiny objects such as gold, and a sick desire to spread their plague.

Virmen generally live in groups, which grow larger as they spread their disease and expand the colony. They hate light and dwell in darkness, often hiding in sewers in cities or cave systems in the wilderness. Abandoned mines are also a favorite hideaway of these beasts. At night, they will emerge to hunt for food and steal treasure, which they hoard in their filthy abodes; they have a preference for anything that twinkles or shines, such as gold and jewels.

The Venatori note that it is not unusual for virmen to display a disturbing level of almost human-level intelligence when stalking their victims. They seem able to communicate with each other in some unknown way, and they can sense or smell when someone is infected. A stricken individual, even one who does not yet display symptoms, may walk undisturbed among the virmen, so long as they show no signs of hostility. Some Venatori even claim that a few virmen can speak broken words in their original human languages. Still, due to the danger posed by their disease, it is Venator policy to kill virmen on sight and exterminate their nests.

Weaknesses

As recorded by the Venatori, virmen are extremely sensitive to silver, as are many monsters, and the Venatori use this to slay them. The infected also detest and avoid light of any kind, and thus they hate fire, which hunters use to burn away the virmen and their plague. However, the virmen are remarkably unaffected by holy artifacts, which would seem to show their disease does not have a demonic origin.

Recent History

No current outbreaks of the virmen plague are known, but it is believed some nests of these monstrosities exist, hidden away. They are clever enough to avoid confrontation when possible, which makes them incredibly dangerous and difficult to discover. The Venatori remain in constant vigil for any signs of a plague outbreak, as once it begins, the illness and its victims are extremely difficult to contain. The possibility of a widespread epidemic of the virmen plague is something all monster hunters fear.