The Storm Plague

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The Storm Plague is a deadly disease that ravaged Faerie from the mid-Storm Dynasty to the end of the Second Faerie Civil War, where the Eternity Dynasty was able to control and nearly eradicate it. The Plague was first called lightning fever, as it first appeared in the wake of several severe thunderstorms that swept through Central Faerie and initially was suspected to be a variant of River Fever.
Additionally, the disease left its few survivors with lightning shaped scars spreading out from their veins. As the plague spread and the Storm Emperors continued to do very little about the crisis, rumours began spreading that the Plague was a curse brought on by the decadence and laziness of the already unpopular Storm Dynasty. These rumors gave the disease it’s more common name: the Storm Plague, and inspired revolutionary propaganda leading up to the Second Faerie Civil War.

"I was called in after a week. Took one look at those swollen veins and told the mage he needed a funeral pyre more than a healer."

a healer from Ashfire

"Barely escaped the plague myself, but it'll be back for me. These damned scars are a promise."

an aging plague victim

Transmission & Vectors

The disease is incredibly contagious and is believed to pass through bodily fluids (including sweat and saliva). Because of how quickly it spread and how little was (and still is) known about it, the bodies of its victims are burned and the ashes buried in sealed containers.

Causes

While it is clear that the initial spread of the Storm Plague was caused by the unusually severe storms in Storm 450, it spreads most quickly through bodily fluids. So, while the initial wave of infections followed the path of the storms south through Faerie, it is unknown what exactly caused the plague.

Symptoms

The earliest symptoms of Storm Plague closely resemble a moderate case of River Fever: nusea, delusions, headaches, and fever. A week or so after on set, however, the symptoms become much more pronounced and the victim's blood veins start swelling as the disease takes hold. This swelling cuts off circulation, which combined with the fever often kills the victim.

Sequela

If a person should be lucky (or unlucky) enough to survive the plague, it leaves them with horrific, lightning shaped scars. Centuries later, the symptoms of th disease return, killing the victim. While they are not contagious while carrying the scars, the bodies of victims who die this way are still burned to prevent possible contamination.

History

The first reports of “Lightning Fever” began appearing in the wake of several severe storms that blew through Central Faerie one summer in the mid Shadow Dynasty. The disease spread and mutated quickly, but was most prominent in poorer areas where healers were uncommon. International attention was finally brought to the growing disaster when reports came in of several farming villages having been completely eradicated.

While several Wild Mage Kingdoms took initial steps to contain the spread, Glacia was distracted defending themselves from the attacking Faerie Empire and was unable to take appropriate precautions. The Storm Plague spread along trade routes and into the armies of both nations. As the crisis became more and more unavoidable, Emperor Shadow the 16th took the throne and signed a temporary truce with Glacia. He then began enacting policies to get healers to the sight of new outbreaks.

While the plague was becoming more contained under the new Emperor’s rule, the clock had already run out for the Shadow Dynasty. Two years after the Ril Shadow took the throne, he was assassinated on the orders of Clea Nebula, who then declared herself Emperor Nebula the first. Unfortunately for Clea, the rest of Faerie did not acknowledge her claim and the Empire sunk into brutal civil war.

During this civil war, the Storm Plague thrived. It is estimated that the disease claimed over 3 million lives, both civilian and soldier.

"Of all the casualties of this horrific war, no war lord, queen, general, or conqueror can claim to have felled more legions than the vile curse of Shadow."

General Eternity, giving opening remarks at a peace conference

The Civil War ended when General Eternity was crowned Emperor Eternity I, and afterwards a massive and unified effort was taken to eradicate the disease. While the after effects are still keenly felt throughout Faerie, and the shadow of the disease never truly leaves those who were inflicted, the Plague is a mostly distant, horrifying memory.

Type

Supernatural

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• Fae (General)
• Iather
• Elves