[Foodstamp]

1. The death bless works on any damage dealt by the blessed target. This includes combat spells, ranged attacks and melee attacks. This only applies to the affliction bonus. The damage bonus only works on melee attacks. It has been speculated that the affliction chance works on ritual province targeting spells as well, but I don't see how this is possible unless the prophet is casting the spell, or maybe through the shroud of the battle saint.

In response to your question about the horror marked barbarians, it is not common but can happen. It could be the result of another player's or AI nations actions, or through a random event of some sort possibly.