Zombification

Zombification is transmitted via open wounds that are contaminated with the Literomantic spell Curse of the Undead. If the infected dies before the illness completes its course, the effects are accelerated, and the infected is raised as a Zombie within seconds. Otherwise, the infection is fatal after 6 to 12 hours of symptoms.

The most visible symptoms of Zombification are the blue patches of ice that appear on the skin and the rapid deterioration of flesh in the later stages of the disease. Despite those severe symptoms, most who have been cured (or revived) state:

The worst of it was the itching. The numbness that took over once it went away wasn't fun either, but at least I could sleep.

— Private Maisie Royle, British Colombia Dragoons

  Documented symptoms include:

Stage 1 (Early Stage) Symptoms — lasts for 2 to 4 hours

Extreme itchiness

Uncontrollable scratching

Uncontrollable shivering

Sore throat

Stage 2 (Middle Stage) Symptoms — lasts for 2 hours

Destroyed synapses of sensory neurons

Icy, blue patches on the skin that appear, disappear, and reappear randomly

Hypothermia

New or worsened open wounds

Stage 3 (Late Stage) Symptoms — lasts for 2 to 6 hours

Frostbite

Rapid-onset necrosis

Unexplained aggression

Rapid keratin growth

After the end of Stage 3, the infected dies and is raised as a Zombie in less than a minute. As the length of Stage 3 symptoms is highly variable, doctors treating patients at this stage are recommended to exercise extreme caution.

First you clean the wounds with the alcohol. Then apply a paste of 1 part silver powder, 1 part powdered frankincense, 1 part powdered myrrh, 1 part powdered garlic, 1 part powdered bay leaf, 3 parts honey preferably manuka. The wound must be re cleaned every day with the alcohol and re poulticed until the end of November only then will it heal.

— Princess Rowean of House Lapin

  The early stage of Zombification can by treated with a mixture of silver, frankincense, myrrh, garlic, bay leaf, and honey. This was discovered by Princess Rowean of House Lapin during the course of the Second Word War.   Later stages require more intensive treatments, but are curable with proper care, a good dose of luck, and healing Literomancy.