The Equalizing Outbreak

The Equalizing Outbreak was a viral infection of the disease Contium Selis that swept across the northern hemisphere of Centaria. It earned its title due to the way it spread indiscriminately among the populous - be they noble or commoner.

History

The outbreak is considered to have started in 431 TGE, in the North-Western portion of Goet. It quickly spread to northern Ciel, Cadax, Shinia, Aclon, and finally Brimfire, primarily via land. Despite the diseases apparent inability to survive in climates found on sea-fairing vessels, nearly all major ports in the southern hemisphere closed for direct trade. Maider, White Shore, and Duerett closed their borders completely to ships hailing from the north, causing significant supply chain disruptions for several industries. Perhaps most notably were the northern countries being largely cut-off from Duerett’s Central Market, a key landmark in global trade.

GOET

The Goetion King Tullit Stanislavovich was quick to acknowledge the severity of the pandemic as soon as it was brought to his attention. While he did not make drastic changes straight away, and the Goetion boarders remained open until late 431 TGE, he ordered strict quarantines in the origin cities of Mokeriety and Pelotus, as well as demanding that all Gidis Celestial Beings currently residing publicly in Goet relocate and tend to the infected. This led to a brief upset in The Church of Gidis (both in Goet and otherwise) who believed the king had no right to make such declarations in a non-Gidis led country, and many in the mortal congregation called for Gidis to recall her Celestial Beings immediately in retaliation for the disrespect. Despite the church’s protests, most Gidis Celestial Beings residing in Goet (as well as those of Amdus, Ilos, and Vestus) did indeed travel to the cities in need. When the quarantine proved ineffective, and the infection spread to the capital Elfit and the east towards Fara, most in the church set their grievances aside to focus on quelling the virus.
By late 433 TGE, The Equalizing Outbreak had spread to cover the entirety of the northern hemisphere. Goet became largely self-sufficient throughout the course of the pandemic, and only opened its borders once a suitable cure had been established in 437 TGE.

CIEL

It is not known exactly why Ciel was the first country to become infected once the virus spread from Goet, given that a majority of their shared border is surrounding Lake Kurka. The most widely accepted theory is that Contium Selis thrives especially in dry, arid environments, which Ciel is comprised a majority of.
The Equalizing Outbreak was first reported in Ciel in mid 431 TGE, just 4 months after its discovery in Goet. While the infection remained primarily in the north for the duration of the pandemic, it was eventually reported in the capital city of Alt, causing Queen Jomnaline Ingotforged to relocate to Juret Castle for the first time in over 300 years.

CADAX

Cadax was the second country to report mass infections, and was the country that coined calling the pandemic “The Equalizing Outbreak”.
Arguably the most notable loss in the pandemic is King Phillip Heret Ragnarsson and Queen Lucilla Sanoria-Fellent Ragnarsson of Cadax. Both contracted the disease when a second wave hit the capital city of Filiross in 436 TGE, and they failed to evacuate in time. This left the country in the hands of their only daughter, Princess Éyela Eglantine-Camden Ragnarsson, who was 16 at the time. The countries’ power was put under an emergency representative council until she was coronated early in 438 TGE.

ACLON

As the infection spread to both Cadax and Ciel, Aclon also attempted to seal its borders while keeping their ports open in the south. This lead to a rush of people attempting to evacuate, despite the reassurances from King Harriot Von Seiat that Aclon would be a “haven from the destruction and pain as we have always been” (most likely in reference to Aclon’s relative neutrality during the 50 Years War). However, due in large part to most southern ports barring entry from ships hailing from the north, most were forced to return to their homes. This caused waves of people re-entering the country right as the infection was confirmed to spread to Aclon. In the port cities of Starmain and Kite, where a quarantine was already in place before their return, special housing had to be established to accommodate the influx of people.

SHINIA

Shinia reported the lowest number of deaths relating to The Equalizing Outbreak, though some have called those numbers into question, saying that the Shinian government has a long history of covering up death tolls to improve their image. Nevertheless, it is apparent that Shinia was the country most able to maintain “normal” way of life, even with the widespread quarantines. They never fully closed their western borders and was the first country to re-open its ports in 436 TGE.

BRIMFIRE

The Equalizing Outbreak is considered to be Brimfire’s first major wide-spread catastrophe. As such, many who study their political history see this time as a frame of reference for how the godless country would handle events going forward. King Ymet Dharxius, much like other monarchs whose countries were affected, hid himself away in one of their families private estates outside of the capital city of Visions.
The people of Brimfire faired relatively well, with Brimfire having the third lowest deaths per capita. Whether this is due to their ability to keep the virus under control or poor bookkeeping is still under debate. There are some who speculate Brimfire and Shinia were accomplices in skewing the number of deaths, for the benefit of their global image and trade. This is largely seen as a conspiracy theory, though, and has been dismissed by academics on the subject.

DUERETT

Duerett took the first step to prevent the spread by closing its northern border as soon as the infection was confirmed to have spread into Cadax, an action that many attribute as the core reason the southern hemisphere was spared the same fate as the north. This decision did not come without controversy, though, as the border closing completely trapped many southern (primarily Zormese) citizens currently visiting Cadax. The border remained under complete lockdown until early 433 TGE, wherein it loosened its restrictions somewhat to allow people to return home and trade to resume. The restrictions were completely done away with in 436 TGE.

ZORMINA

In addition to spending most of the outbreak trying to help their displaced citizens and working to house those who left their countries before the lockdown was implemented, Zormina was most notable for developing the cure that eventually ended the outbreak altogether. A combination of science and magical properties, their cure was quickly distributed throughout the northern hemisphere.

Type

Viral

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon