Red Thirst

Red Thirst is a syndrome that is acquired after the disease Haemodiudic Necrosis has infected the body. The body of the infected undergoes several changes, most notable the need to consume flesh and blood for sustenance.

Contraction
Haemodiudic Necrosis can be contracted incredibly easily. Contact with any bodily fluids of the infected with lead to a high chance of contracting the virus. Because of this, engaging the infected in combat while you have open wounds is a stupid idea. Saliva and blood are the most common routes to infection.

After being infected, it takes 6 to 9 hours before symptoms begin to show and the victim can truly be said have succumbed to the Red Thirst, and become  Anthropophagis Sanguinus.

Types
There are two stages of affliction. The transition between these two stages/types depends entirely on the feeding habits of the afflicted. When well fed, afflicted remain in the first state. Starvation moves them through the transition to the second state.

Anthropophagis Sanguinus Sobrius
Anthropophagis Sanguinus Sobrius, or the Sober State, is the harder to track of the two. In this state, afflicted have total control over themselves and look entirely normal, leaving them indistinguishable from uninfected.

Abilities
Thirsters in the sober state have a bolstered healing factor, allowing them to recover from what would normally be considered lethal in moments.

They also remain in constant perfect physical health and fitness, giving them slight yet noticeable advantages in strength and speed over the uninfected.

Their mouths can stretch and grow on command, producing long needle-like teeth used to rip and tear into their victims.

Anthropophagis Sanguinus Demens
Anthropophagis Sanguinus Demens, or the Demented State, is easier to track. In this state, Thirsters tend to lack self control and due to the total lack of any healing factor, the afflicted look sallow and corpse-like at best, and like animated, rotten carcasses at worst. The transition from Sober to Demented is linked with the hunger the afflicted feel. After a certain period of starvation, the hunger for blood and flesh becomes so great that the afflicted cannot sleep - the call to eat is too loud. This lack of sleep eventually drives them insane. Feeding can reduce the call to feed and allow them sleep again, but it is unknown if this can remove or negate their instability. Starvation cannot kill them.

Abilities
Thirsters in the demented state have no healing factor whatsoever, leaving them looking more corpse-like. When fully unstable, they ignore pain. Despite their lack of what makes their sober counterparts so hard to kill, their ferocity, lack of self preservation instinct and disregard for loss of limbs make them hard to deal with.