Lambent Infection
The glowing plague that consumed the world.
The Lambent Infection represents a catastrophic biological evolution triggered by prolonged exposure to Imulsion energy. Initially appearing as a secondary threat during the Locust War, it eventually became an existential crisis for humanity, consuming all organic life within the Serene Basin and beyond. It transformed the battlefield from a war of attrition into a desperate struggle against a mutating environment that threatened to erase civilization entirely. This parasitic phenomenon did not distinguish between friend or foe, infecting humans, animals, and even the Locust themselves. Its progression marked the final chapter of the initial conflict on Sera, forcing COG leadership to make an unthinkable sacrifice to contain the spreading glow before it consumed the entire planet.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Imulsion Contamination
- Affiliation
- None (Parasitic Phenomenon)
- Status
- Eradicated via Lightmass Bombing
- Hosts
- Humans
- Animals
- Locust Horde
- Weakness
- High-Explosive Thermal Energy
- Key event
- Fall of Jacinto Plateau
- Visual trait
- Bioluminescent Green/Blue Glow
Lore & Background
The infection began as a side effect of the Locust's heavy reliance on Imulsion, which seeped into the atmosphere and groundwater. Over time, this radiation-like exposure caused cellular breakdown in exposed organisms. Early victims displayed aggressive behavior and physical distortions before fully succumbing to the crystalline transformation that characterizes full Lambent status. As the threat grew, it became clear that the infection was not merely a disease but an ecological reset button driven by energy consumption.
It turned forests into glowing necropolises and cities into death traps. The Locust Strongholds eventually fell victim to their own power source, with many emerging from the underground only to be consumed by the very substance they worshipped. Humanity's response shifted from tactical warfare to survivalist containment. The realization that standard weaponry could not stop the spread led to the development of Lightmass technology.
This culminated in the activation of bombs designed to incinerate the infection, a move that saved the species but buried their cities under tons of rock and ash.
Reader's Guide
The Lambent phenomenon stems from the unique properties of Imulsion, a volatile energy source that acts as both fuel and biological catalyst. When organic matter absorbs high concentrations of this substance without protection, cellular structures destabilize and mutate rapidly. This process transforms living tissue into crystalline biomass radiating thermal energy, effectively turning victims into vectors for further spread. Historically, the infection escalated in phases.
Early stages presented as aggressive mutations among fauna, while later iterations produced intelligent, hive-minded horrors capable of strategic coordination. The Locust Horde eventually succumbed to this plague within their own Strongholds, proving no species was immune. Environmental records indicate that entire ecosystems collapsed into glowing wastelands known as the Hollows. Scientific analysis suggests the infection seeks to convert all available biomass into a singular, energy-dense state.
This metaphysical drive explains its relentless expansion until the application of extreme heat via Lightmass weaponry disrupted the molecular bonds holding the corrupted matter together.
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