Crystal Plague

The Crystal Plague is a masterwork artifact crafted by Betheic artificer and enchanter Galahagh Phazhcaen. It is known to be extremely volatile, sometimes unavoidable, which has given it the name of a plague. There are three major parts of this artifact: the ring itself, the crystal zombies, and the crystal guard.

Appearance
The ring's appearance is extremely, and terrifyingly, simple. It is a circle of irregularly-shaped magenta quartz, smooth on the inside yet heavily spiked and sharpened on the outside. It has been observed that the ring can clean itself of any fluid that touches it by magically repelling the fluid off of it.

Behavior
The ring itself has no personality or ability to move or relocate itself.

In terms of power, the ring will seem to tighten onto anyone who wears it. It will then push its crystals into the user's skin. The skin and outer flesh of the user begins to change, transforming the user into a mindless Crystal Zombie.

Appearance
A Crystal Zombie's appearance depends on what they were in life. They tend to keep a similar body shape and height, yet their outer flesh and skin has been replaced with the same irregular magenta quartz as The Ring is made of. Typically, one arm is larger and has more spikes than the other. When a Crystal Zombie walks, they typically must drag any now-useless limbs behind them.

Behavior
Crystal Zombies will run after and charge at any living creature they encounter. They are extremely hostile and persistent, and will often try to charge through or destroy any road blocks that get in their way. They cannot communicate in coherent sentences (rather they make distorted yells), but they seem to understand verbiage spoken in languages that they understood when alive. Crystal Zombies can be killed.

Appearance
The only time the guard has been seen by the party is when some crystals from fallen Crystal Zombies were found to reform into arms.

Behavior
Much like the Crystal Zombies, this class of the plague is extremely hostile, and will attempt to strike anything within reach.