Sores, blisters, and boils fester across the creature's body, oozing with a dark, contaminating ichor.

Stage 0: The target recovers from the disease.
Stage 1: While affected by this stage, the target takes a -2 penalty to Fortitude.
Stage 2: While affected by this stage, the target takes a -2 penalty to Fortitude. In addition, the target regains only half the normal number of hit points from spending a healing surge, and the target's hit point total cannot exceed its bloodied value.
Stage 3: While affected by this stage, the target suffers the effects of stage 2 and has an aura 2 (poison) that cannot be deactivated. Any creature that ends its turn in the aura loses a healing surge.
Check: At the end of each extended rest, the target makes an Endurance check if it is at stage 1 or 2.
12 or lower: The stage of the disease increases by one.
13-17: No Change
18 or higher: The stage of the disease decreases by one.

Published in Dungeon Magazine 209.