Diseases
With the relative prevalence of magical healing and cleansing, mundane diseases are fortunately rare in the larger cities. The most dangerous diseases are either mundane diseases which have developed a resistance to magical cleansing, or magical diseases which are often more dangerous and fast-acting than any ordinary illness.
Incubation: period during which the disease is ramping up, but is not currently in effect. Duration: Period during which the disease and its effects are active. Transmission: how the disease may be transferred/given to other targets.
Common methods of transmission:
- Contact: Physical contact with an infected target.
- Consumption: Consuming food or water contaminated with the infectious agent.
- Airborne: Spending >15 minutes within 3 yards of an infected creature.
- Bloodborne: Blood transfusion or consumption of flesh.
Mundane Diseases
Biological in nature, mundane diseases can be contracted through any number of methods. When faced with a mundane disease, the target makes an initial Disease Resistance roll vs. the disease's Potency to avoid becoming ill.
Rank 1
Parasitic Anemia
A long-term infestation of lice, fleas, or other parasites causing fatigue and weakness.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8d10 | 1 day | 14 days | Noncommunicable | -1 Fatigue Penalty. |
Wicked Warts
Diffuse warts contracted through touching other people. Social stigma attributes this to wickedness, sinning.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8d10 | 5 days | 7 days | Contact | -1 to all social skills. |
Rank 2
Fenbane
Improperly handled food can cause gastric upset, nausea, which leads to dehydration and fatigue.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9d10 | 1 day | 3 days | Consumption | -2 fatigue penalty. Vigor recovers at ½ speed. |
Spring Blight
Illness commonly contracted in Spring. Constant fevers, clouding of sensorium, and inability to concentrate are its main symptoms.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9d10 | 7 days | 10 days | Airborne | -1 to INT-based skill checks. Concentration may not be maintained for more than 5 rounds. |
Queenskin
Infection/inflammation renders skin dry, itchy and tough, impairing movement.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9d10 | 5 days | 10 days | Contact | -1 to DEX-based skill checks. |
Rank 3
Forest Fever
Forest Fever leaves its victims with body aches, stomach cramping, and stomach upset (diarrhea, vomiting). This leaves its victims unable to heal properly.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10d10 | 1 day | 4 days | Consumption | The target cannot passively recover vigor. Vigor is only recovered after a long rest or with magical healing. |
Kingseye
Inflammation and irritation of the eyes causes tearing, discharge, and obstructed vision.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10d10 | 5 days | 7 days | Contact | -2 penalty to vision-based skill checks. |
Rank 4
Creeping Cold
A silent killer, the long incubation period of this illness hides plenty of damage being dealt to the body, which becomes readily apparent when the target is suddenly overcome with fever and weakness.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11d10 | 12 days | 3 days | Airborne | Each day while incubating, roll 1d10. On failure, add 1 point to a pool of accruing lethal damage. When the illness becomes active, the target is rendered insensate (unconscious) for one day, and takes ½ of all accumulated damage as well as a -4 penalty to skills. Any remaining damage is split evenly between days 2 and 3. |
Necrotic Warts
Small, raised areas of white begin to appear on the palms of the hands, they enlarge within a day or so of appearing, and spread across the anterior surface of the hands. They can be spread to the mouth/throat and often leave scars.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11d10 | 5 days | 14 days | Contact | -2 to skill checks. Damage requires twice as many points of healing to cure wounds. Magical healing still functions as normal. |
Rank 5
Mortem Manducare
Those who consume the flesh or blood of infected creatures (often other mortals or sometimes infected livestock) run the risk of contracting this prion disease, which eventually renders them insensate and has a high rate of death.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12d10 | 1 days | 12 days | Consumption/Bloodborne | Each day while active, the target makes a new Resistance roll vs. Potency. If failed, the target’s max HP, INT, and WILL are reduced by 1. INT and WILL may not be reduced below 1, however, if the Max HP reaches 0, the target dies.
Penalties to INT, WILL, and HP remain unless the target is magically cleansed of the disease’s effects. |
Dragonpox
A highly deadly and communicable illness, Dragonpox causes red, painful pustules to appear over the entire body that eventually scab and fall off, oftentimes taking surrounding tissue with them. This can lead to significant scarring and loss of limbs, if the victim manages to survive at all.
| Potency | Incubation | Duration | Transmission | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12d10 | 5 days | 12 days | Contact | Each day while active, the target makes a new resistance roll vs. Potency. If failed, the target’s max HP, STR, and DEX are reduced by 1. STR and DEX may not be reduced below, 1, however, if the Max HP reaches 0, the target dies.
Penalties to STR, DEX, and HP remain unless the target is magically cleansed of the disease’s effects. |
Magical Diseases
Magical diseases do not have a natural Potency, as this is determined by the power of the caster's roll. They also do not have an incubation period, and go into effect the round after being cast when the target fails its Magical Resistance roll.