Ancient Apparatus

Trigger The ancient apparatus takes damage or an attempt to disable it fails --- Effect The ancient apparatus begins to grind and churn faster. Its soft ticking whirs up to a discordant buzzing sound, and the entire thing begins to glow with an unsettling rust-colored light. All living creatures in area D3 experience the unsettling taste of rust in their mouths and must succeed on a DC 18 fortitude save to avoid becoming Sickened 1. The ancient apparatus then rolls initiative.

Those afflicted by rust creep develop uncomfortable rust-colored bruises on their flesh and endure full-body aches like those one might experience after a long workout. As the affliction progresses, their bodies—as well as the clothing and items they wear or carry—increasingly break down until a painful death occurs. If a character successfully resists contracting rust creep, or recovers from a case of rust creep, they are temporarily immune to future rust creep infections for 24 hours. Saving Throw DC 15 fortitude Stage 1 –1 status penalty to Athletics checks (1 day) Stage 2 as stage 1 (1 day) Stage 3 Enfeebled 1 (1 day) Stage 4 enfeebled 1 and Stupefied 1, plus any armor, clothing and items you carry and that are of a level equal to or less than the disease become broken as the decay spreads to them (1 day; broken items remain broken) Stage 5 Unconscious (1 day) Stage 6 unconscious (1 day) Stage 7 death