Eye Wither

Shah's Curse

The Wastes have become a very harsh environment since the forest died out. The amount of vegetative decay mingled with the dust, fungus, and spores in the air have led to a number of possible infectious and communicable diseases becoming prevalent in the area, the most notorious of which is Eye Wither, a dreaded malady that literally causes the eyes of the host to lose viscosity and decay while still in the socket over a relatively short amount of time leading to permanent blindness.
Diagnosis The symptoms of this infection are easy to miss or mistake for simple allergies or irritation. They start with a mild discomfort and excessive watering of the eyes. Within the next 24 hours, the exposed membranes around the eyes will become inflamed and irritated, leading to a -1 penalty to all rolls requiring sight or concentration. By the beginning of day three, the eyes will be swollen shut and issue continuous excretions of tissue fluid and small amounts of blood. At this point the patient is effectively blind. Should this condition remain untreated, the eyes will lose the aqueous and vitreous humors that fills the eye through the pupil causing the eye loose shape and deteriorate physically until the tissue itself dies the damage becomes irrevocable. This process takes a mere two days following the initial three day symptomatic period.
Pathology The particles of decaying organic material that permeate the Wastes are a combination of organic materials from both flora and fauna that were at one time rife within the area. The materials, still tinged with the energy and magics that once permeated the area have led to a rather virulent form of bacterial infection. The infection is incredibly aggressive and once it has taken hold of a host will multiply rapidly, feeding off of the aqueous and vitreous humors until nothing remains.
Epidemiology The entirety of the Wastes is a barren and desolate landscape, filled with the remains of dead trees and animals whose decay has been slowed by their slightly magical nature, but not stopped. After nearly a century of massive amounts of decomposition, the air is thick with the dust left behind and with the grasses and other smaller plant forms gone, the earth itself has taken on a dusty, loose property leaving the entire region more desert-like than anything. Even the slightest breeze lifts up copious amounts of this material and spreads it throughout. Any time spent within the Wastes without proper eyewear leaves a 15% chance of infection per day.
Etiology If diagnosed within the initial 24 hours of infection, a simple eye wash of clean water will avoid further complications. Should the infection be allowed to take hold, the eyes will need a full disinfectant wash with added antifungal agents and a Leek's Eye poultice that must remain on the patient's eyes uninterrupted for a full 24 hours which will remove any infection and restore full functionality.
Thanatology This infection requires no special needs for destruction or preparation of the body should someone expire while infected.

Type

Bacterial