Oh, in case you get covered in that repulsion gel, here's some advice the lab boys gave me: do not get covered in the repulsion gel. We haven't entirely nailed down what element it is yet, but I'll tell you this: it's a lively one, and it does not like the human skeleton.
— Cave Johnson, CEO of Aperture Science, Portal 2
What happens if you're exposed to Tiberium? Nothing good. If you come into direct contact with Tiberium, the green matter will start to fuse with your skin within about 20 seconds. You'll feel an intense burning sensation, similar to touching a hot pan or spilling acid on your skin. A full blown infection will manifest if you aren't treated immediately. Your flesh will begin to take on a glassy-greenish appearance as it begins to crystallize; eventually your internal organs will shut down as Tiberium extends rigid crystalline runners throughout your body. If you breathe in the crystal, then it will become embedded in your lungs. You'll lose the ability to process oxygen as your lung tissue crystallizes. Eventually you'll start coughing up blood and will hemorrhage to death.
— Mike Verdu, 'Living with Tiberium'
Warpstone. Darkstone, the curse of mages, the stone more precious than gold: this substance has been a black plague upon humanity through all of history. All scholars recognise its power, yet only the insane would ever use it, for it destroys the flesh with only the lightest touch, and it corrupts all that surrounds it to the ways of Chaos. Yet, to once again prove their perverse nature, it is this cursed stone that is essential to all Skaven society.
—Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Children Of The Horned Rat - A Guide To Skaven
Exposure to the Darkening is not without... consequences. It destroys, corrupts my body, as it does all of Thra. True power demands sacrifice.
—SkekSo the Emperor, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, "Time To Make... My Move"
Yag, we ain't going to use the Torque. You might be thinking "You still use hammers and some people are murdered with them". Right? Eh? "Rivers can flood and kill thousands or they can drive water turbines." Yes? Trust me... speaking as one who used to think the Torque was terribly exciting... it's not a tool. It's not a hammer, it's not like water. It's... the Torque is rogue power. We're not talking crisis energy here, right? Get that right out of your head. Crisis is the energy underpinning the whole of physics. Torque's not about physics. It's not about anything. It's... it's an entirely pathological force. We don't know where it comes from, why it appears, where it goes. All bets are off. No rules apply. You can't tap it – well, you can try, but you've seen the results — you can't play with it , you can't trust it, you sure as goddamn fuck can't control it.
—Isaac, Perdido Street Station
Annie: Temp V is gonna kill you both.
Butcher: Well, it's gonna have to join the queue.
Annie: I was just in the lab. It causes lesions. Okay? It turns your brain into fucking Swiss cheese, so please be honest with me, and tell me, how many doses have you taken?
Butcher: Just a couple.
Annie: Jesus Christ. Butcher... three to five doses kills you.
Butcher: Well, it's gonna have to join the queue.
Annie: I was just in the lab. It causes lesions. Okay? It turns your brain into fucking Swiss cheese, so please be honest with me, and tell me, how many doses have you taken?
Butcher: Just a couple.
Annie: Jesus Christ. Butcher... three to five doses kills you.
— The Boys (2019), "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed"
