Venefica, the Walking Plague
I have compiled what I believe to be a mostly complete history of the Venefica, or walking plague. The story begins in a small town to the North of Piltover.
From the office of Dr. Wrakk. I have recently discovered a new strain of Necrotizing Fasciitis, or flesh-eating bacteria. Higher level magic has been able to contain it, but I have yet to discover an effective treatment, save amputation which does slow it down. This particular strain appears to be most common with Mages or other magically inclined individuals.
Despite my best efforts to contain it, this new strain, which I have dubbed “Magus Venefica”, as it seems to poison the magic of anyone unfortunate enough to have contracted it, has spread through the entire town at speed that I have never seen before. The good news is, a cure listed in some of my more obscure tomes for magical parasites is proving somewhat effective. I have begun work on adapting it to be more effective towards this particular strain. I must confess to being somewhat worried at the implication that this is a magically enhanced flesh-eating bacteria, and thus, that somebody made it.
It’s done. The cure, along with the notes on how to cast it can be found on my desk. I wish I could be happier but, it is a difficult spell that is beyond anyone else in town. I would begin curing the townsfolk, but I am coming down with the symptoms of the Venefica, and any cures I could cast would only reinfect them. I do not think that anyone here will survive until help arrives. I am commandeering a boat and taking the survivors to Piltover, to force them to help us.
I must be delusional. There is no possible way that I am where I think I am. Sailing East should have taken me in the exact opposite direction of the Shadow Isles, and yet here I am with a boat full of corpses. I give up. If that is where I die, then so be it. My last deed shall be burning this accursed boat and its rotting crew. I just wish I could have saved at least one person.
At this point that the trail goes cold for a time. As best I understand, either Dr. Wrakk died before he could burn the corpses, or failed to burn himself. Afterwards, the magics used to create the disease mixed with the vile magics permeating the Shadow Isles. The first appearance of Venefica as we know it is approximately 1 week later, in the last writings of a Demacian Sergeant patrolling the coast. It should be noted that the cure Dr. Wrakk discovered is no longer effective against this waling plague.
Sergeant Mathis Incident report. After receiving numerous missing person reports in the Northern part of our regular patrol route, our squad decided to investigate. En route we saw a cloaked figure with a mask similar to that of the plague doctors of old. Pte. Gainsborough approached the figure. When she called out to it, its mask swiveled 180° to look at her, and it walked backwards towards her. It reached out to her, Pte. Gainsborough reached out to shake its hand. After her hand made contact with it, it started walking away. We made to pursue, when Pte. Gainsborough collapsed. I was among the group sent to bring her back to the camp. It has been 2 days and we have yet to hear back from the rest of the squad. Pte. Gainsborough screamed the whole way back. When Cpl. Wilson took the Private's vitals, she had no pulse, and her skin was ice cold. With no signs of life, save an unending scream, we declared her dead and burnt her corpse. Cpl. Wilson collapsed shortly after that. We burned him when he stopped breathing in to scream.
That is the only surviving report from that squad, it was found amidst the ashes of the campsite. There are scattered reports of a similar figure wandering all over Runeterra, as if searching for something, perhaps it's creator. I hope it doesn’t find me. That strain was never supposed to be released upon the world, but apparently the thief didn’t see the scholarly value of my sample and carelessly threw it away. My only hope is that this information will help a prospective hero vanquish this walking plague.
Passive: Forced Symbiosis: If an enemy is healed within 3 seconds of taking damage from Venefica, Venefica is healed for half that amount.
Q: Infection: Mana Cost: 40 Cooldown: 9/9/8/8/7 Venefica infects target enemy, dealing 60/90/120/150/180 (+0.15 AP) over 3 seconds. Spreading to uninfected enemies that nearby for at least 1 second.
W: Infectious Flesh: Mana Cost: 50/60/70/80/90 Cooldown: 13/13/12/12/11 Passive: Basic attacks deal 10/20/30/40/50 (+0.2 AP) bonus magic damage over 3 seconds stacking up to 2 times.
Active: Deals 10/20/30/40/50 (+0.1 AP) damage to all enemies within 400 units, and a further 20/30/40/50/60 (+0.2 AP) magic damage over 10 seconds.
E: Magical Plague: Passive. Enemies receiving damage from Venefica lose 5/10/15/20/25 mana every 5 seconds (Halved for Energy Champs).
R: On a Pale Horse He Rides: Mana Cost: 120/150/180 Cooldown: 150/120/90 Venefica dashes to target champion that has taken damage from Venefica within 3 seconds, dealing 80/160/240 (+0.5AP) Magic damage over 3 seconds, can be recast for free within 5 seconds to any valid champion that hasn't been dashed to.
Edited a few values.
