Creeping Stone Disease is an affliction that has begun to appear in Barat Rkund in the last few decades. Those with the condition slowly turn to rock, especially when injured; instead of healing normally, the damaged tissue is replaced with stone. While some take advantage of this in the early stages, as they become tougher and stronger, this only accelerates the spread of the stone. Eventually, those with the condition lose the ability to move before they calcify entirely. The disease’s cause is unknown, though it is rumored it might be caused by interaction with some type of exotic mineral deep underground. No treatment is known either, besides trying to comfort patients. The affliction seems resistant to magical healing - attempts at magical treatment might appear to work temporarily, but in reality only cause a slight remission before the affliction is back and worse than before.
The disease does not only affect dwarves, but they make up the vast majority of known cases.