Buried beneath lovely Greenery and bright colors, the spices themselves have decided they want to do more than burn; now they breathe, ready to bite back.

⚠️ Warning: apocalypse infection, end of the world, and all things that entail ⚠️

Good evening, I am Richard Hawthorne with Silver Lynn News. Sadly, I must interrupt your evening plans with a grave warning. Some researchers have published a new discovery: a terrifying bacterium that is spreading through spices; it is commonly found in black pepper, sea salt, saffron, nutmeg, and cane sugar so far; however, they're continuing to test other spices and seasonings. Because of this, researchers strongly warn against the use of spices, especially fresh spices, recommending that they be thrown away. The bacteria causes aches and pains in the stomach as well as dizziness and mood swings in those infected. More information will be shared as research progresses.

(Infection: feel free to skip)

1. Stage one: initial infection caused by consumption of infectious spices or prolonged contact with infected individuals. It can take up to 4 weeks after initial infection before an infected individual displays noticeable symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to, issues such as diarrhea or complications, nausea, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, headache, mild fever, and agitation. The longer an individual is exposed to the infection, either through repeated consumption of infected spices or prolonged exposure to other infected individuals, the more the infection will spread through the body, as well as greatly increase the chance the infection mutates as it progresses.

2. Stage 2 can begin anywhere from 5 weeks to 6 months after initial infection, depending on exposure. At this stage, previous symptoms continue and get worse, accompanied by a feeling that something is wrong with the body, though infected individuals Express uncertainty about exactly what is wrong, just feeling a sense that something is wrong in their body. New symptoms at this stage can also include cold spells, a scratchy throat, dizziness, severe nausea, loss of appetite, increased hunger, increased thirst, lack of thirst, high fevers, and paranoia.

3. Stage 3 can begin anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months after infected individuals have reached stage 2. At this stage, previous symptoms will continue and worsen, accompanied now by physical changes to the body; great difficulty regulating emotions is very likely to lash out or break down at this stage. New symptoms at this stage may include, but are not limited to, fainting spells, forgetfulness, panic attacks, uncontrollable rage or agitation, unstable emotions, laughing fits, screaming fits, and physically harming others. Physical changes may include, but are not limited to, changes in Iris and pupil shape, rapid hair growth, rapid hair loss, tiny needles or spikes growing from the skin, the skin becoming thicker, and skin taking on odd Shades or colors, most commonly shades of green. At this point, infected individuals are considered an immediate threat to most, if not everyone, around them. There are some occasions where they may latch onto and become extremely protective of others or areas, but due to mental instability caused by the infection, they are still considered a grave threat to all those around them. Despite mental and emotional instability, they are still aware of their situation and the changes occurring to them mentally, physically, and emotionally, but are unable to do anything about it. This is believed to be the last stage in which it is feasible that, if a cure is to be created or discovered, someone would be able to take it without suffering permanent, irreversible physical repercussions.

4. Stage 4 can begin anywhere from 3 weeks to a year after stage 3. Defects of the stage are believed to be irreversible; even if a cure were to be created, the transformation and effect on the body would never be able to be fully undone. The stage has been nicknamed the Specialist stage, as infected individuals who reach this point very drastically in physical transformation based primarily on what seasonings were the catalyst for the initial infection. If infected by another infected individual, this stage becomes extremely unstable and has an extremely high chance of mutations and extremely abnormal and uncontrollable Transformations and effects. Previous symptoms will continue and become amplified; symptoms of sickness will slowly begin fading in favor of physical transformation. Physical transformation can vary drastically and massively from one infected to another; some will embody a single type of plant seasoning or spice, while most will end up displaying physical traits of multiple. Examples of physical transformation traits and symptoms include leaves beginning to grow out of the body, limbs becoming thicker, vines beginning to spread out from the skin or hair, organs becoming thicker and transforming into plant matter or minerals, fingernails, toenails, and teeth elongating or falling out, blood beginning to become translucent, the body beginning to produce high amounts of chlorophyll, and bones becoming brittle. At this point, most infected will experience extremely high amounts of pain and discomfort; this, combined with both the physical transformation and the continued mental and emotional degradation, makes death a mercy. Even if a cure were created, due to the physical and biological changes to the body, it is very unlikely that they would ever be able to truly be cured, and if successful, neither the body nor mind would fully recover. Depending on the rate of transformation and the spread of the infection, infected individuals may still be semi-conscious and present; it is possible they would be aware of their situation, but with nothing that can be done, sedatives, painkillers, and similar meds or drugs I have come back with mixed results bearing drastically based on transformation and the individual state of the infected. Infected at this stage are considered extremely aggressive and an immediate threat; the recommended course of action is that they be killed and quickly burned.

5. Stage 5: total transformation. This can begin anywhere from 2 months to 3 years after one has reached stage four. This stage is the complete physical transformation of infected individuals; the mind has completely fractured from instability and strain from the infection, as well as the transformation process. Much like stage 4, stage 5 infected can vary drastically based on how the initial infection entered the body. What seasonings and spices caused the initial infection can also vary drastically, as the transformation process has a very high chance of mutating, so even those infected the exact same way can still vary drastically. By the time Stage 5 has finalized, the entire body is entirely made up of spices and seasonings; every cell in the body has been completely transformed, and the body has been ripped apart and reforged. Some physical Transformations include, but are not limited to, salt crystals growing out of the body, especially along the spine; vines and plants growing out of the skin; small spikes and flowers blooming from breaks in the skin and orifices of the body; twisted limbs; loss of limbs; roots that grow from the body and embed themselves in the ground. Infected individuals at this stage are considered extremely dangerous and heavily recommended to avoid them at all costs; should they be encountered, it is recommended that they be immediately killed and burned. Gas masks and other protective gear, such as gloves and padding, are heavily recommended. As infected individuals proceed through Stage 5 money will begin emitting infectious pollen and producing infectious spores as the body twists and morphs, with parts of the body grinding together during this transformation process. This often results in infected individuals, throughout this process, leaving behind a trail of the very spores that likely caused their infection. Coming into contact isn't enough on its own to infect an individual, but inhaling, consuming, or having the infection's pollen or any infectious parts of the infected individual enter the body and bloodstream is guaranteed to cause infection, whether through bites, scratches, conception, or inhalation. Recommended course of action: avoid at all costs and incinerate. It is possible that there may be other stages of the infection, though given how drastically infected individuals can vary in appearance traits, etc., it is very difficult to differentiate a mutation from a whole new stage of the transformation process. It is recommended that each infected creature is treated as its own thing and its own threat due to how drastically they can vary in size, capabilities, appearances, and behaviors. The most common variant of stage 5 infected are stationary infected; these are variants of the infected individuals that have grown roots, or the body has Twisted morphing, with some part of the terrain preventing them from physically being able to move. Zooming infected: this is a variant of infected individuals that very often have had their bodies twisted into something smaller, often crawling on all fours and even developing extra limbs to move faster through uneven terrain. They tend to be quite loud but also quite quick. And finally, entangled variance: this is a variant of infected individuals that have either changed and transformed to become a massive, hulking Behemoth or, in some cases, have even merged together with other infected individuals. This results in them often being very slow, often shambling, and getting caught or tangled in parts of their environment.

Intro 1 blank. Intro 2: strange news report. Intro 3: everything is banned.