February 2: Vault Communities OR Radiation Headcanon below!
The process of becoming a ghoul has long been one of rumor and fear. With the discovery of personal notes of the mythical Lone Wanderer, however, we now have a greater understanding of the process thanks to her medical background.
The Lone Wanderer distilled the state of being a ghoul to four stages that are generally shared among the diverse population. Stage One: While some may call this the default ‘human’ state, the Lone Wanderer was emphatic that due to the general background radiation of the Capital Wasteland those that dwell within it share a few characteristics with ghouls not found in the ‘clean’ genetic pool of Vault Dwellers and the like. While appearing human outwardly, increased radiation resistance, dark circles under the eyes and easier bruising are common.
Stage Two: It is this stage where one realizes they are destined to be a ghoul and quite frightening if unexpected. The Lone Wanderer herself had some inkling of her fate after her surviving the events at Project Purity and was fortunate enough to have ghoul comrades to guide her through the process. This stage begins with hair losing its lustre and skin bruising easily. The eyes grow bloodshot and darken. Over time, hair loss occurs and bruises turn into sores .Skin begins to fall off, first aggravated by wounds but later occurring in places where muscles move the most (around the mouth and eyes, arms, stomach). Extremities like the ears and nose darken and grow necrotic before falling away. The process is not painful. As the stage progresses, one is able to ‘sense’ radiation naturally.
Stage Three: This is the stage most think of when they think of ‘ghouls’. It can take anywhere from years to decades to reach this point. Hair loss is drastic, the eyes have grown cloudy, part of the nose if not the entire nose has disappeared, and radiation feels energizing. The Lone Wanderer describes this state as feeling strangely ‘natural’, and believed that her body had ‘settled’. Despite appearances the skin is smooth and dry, akin to brahmin hide. Stage Four: In time - however much is uncertain - the brain deteriorates and ghouls reach the stage known to the wasteland as ‘feral’. In her research the Lone Wanderer hypothesizes that the process may be sped along by massive exposure to radiation. The last of her notes were seeking a ‘cure’ for this state, or at the very least preventative measures. We were unable to find any describing success in her endeavors. The Lone Wanderer has not been seen in over twenty years, and most suspect that she, at last, has succumbed to the fate of all ghouls. - The Wasteland Survival Guide, 9th Edition
