Fueling

Placeholder Giblin by Katy Smith

The goblins that held the lowest parts of the world were vast in number but unfortunately prone to all forms of ailments. Fueling was unfortunately one which could never be eradicated. This ripped through swathes of the goblin population and almost all of those affected had lost fingers, limbs or chunks of themselves. The only upside to this was that the rodent cattle of the industrial districts were happy for the increased volume of feed, hence the grim name the goblinfolk had given the illness.
If it wasn’t for the high reproductive rates of the goblins, they would have surely been wiped out by now. In combination with their more recent technological discoveries, lifespans were actually being increased albeit slowly.
The disease itself takes hold in the lungs initially and the first signs would be blood when coughing. This isn’t always clear though as goblins usually hawk up some blood from time to time, illness or not. The next indicator is in the sensitive regions of skin. Developing rashes, sores and other open wounds. Following that, the nerve endings to the affected are heavily damaged, resulting in being unable to feel those extremities. Unfortunately, it is seen as a benefit to chaotic and warring goblins to be unable to feel pain and as a result, only fills them with more fervour. Resulting in a large amount of loss of those extremities before the disease actually gets a chance to wither them away itself.
The other clans that have come into contact with the disease are able to recognise it as such and either kill or exile their infected before it reaches the main bulk of the populace.
It’s lucky that the rodent cattle seem to be immune to the disease. Otherwise, the mess created would never get cleared up.

This is a submission for my first ever Summer Camp in 2024 - I hope you enjoy my writings and I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback!